New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment—and many visitors are enthralled by the vibrant culture, rich history, and majestic scenery of this beautiful state. Nowhere is this history more prominent than in Santa Fe—but this beautiful city also holds many destinations filled with mystery and intrigue.
Explore these five mysterious destinations to add to your next trip to Santa Fe.
Loretta Chapel Staircase
The Loretta Chapel Staircase is a Santa Fe legend shrouded in mystery. When the chapel was completed in 1878, there was no way to access the choir loft. According to local legend, the sisters at the chapel prayed for nine days for a solution. On the ninth day of prayers, a strange carpenter appeared and began building the elaborate staircase. After the staircase was finished, the man disappeared without a trace and was never seen again, leading some to believe it was St. Joseph himself as an answer to the women’s prayers.
Aside from the mysterious carpenter, the “Miraculous Staircase” is an engineering enigma. Many design elements of the stairs were ahead of their time, and it was built with two 360-degree turns and no visible supports or nails—just wooden pegs.
La Fonda Historic Hotel
Built on the site of Santa Fe’s first inn, the La Fonda Historic Hotel’s history stretches back into the 1600s. The current structure was built in 1922—but the La Fonda’s long past has picked up a few ghosts along the way.
Some guests have reported seeing the ghost of John P. Slough, a judge who was killed after an argument in the hotel’s lobby in 1876. Others have caught the sight of a young bride murdered on the night of her wedding, who now haunts Room 510. Diners at the La Plazuela restaurant have seen the apparition of a businessman who gambled away his fortune, then jumped headfirst into the hotel’s well. Whether you think these sights are fact or fiction, the La Fonda Hotel is a perfect spot for those who like their history linked with a good ghost story.
La Posada
While the La Fonda boasts a host of haunted apparitions, the La Posada Hotel features one woman’s tragic story. La Posada was originally built as a three-story mansion for wealthy businessman Abraham Staab and his wife, Julia. The couple lived in the home for nearly two decades, raising their seven children. However, after the death of her eighth baby and several miscarriages, Julia’s health began to decline, and she passed away in 1896 at the age of 52.
While Julia’s ghost has been sighted by several guests, her presence is not noted as frightening or unsettling. Rather, recorded incidents included moving chandeliers, disappearing items, flickering gas fireplaces, and the scent of roses—Julia’s favorite flower.
Santa Fe Shatter Cones
If you’re a geology lover, look no further than the Santa Fe Shatter Cones. Nearly 1.5 billion years ago, a giant meteor vaporized what is now Santa Fe. As the years passed, the crater was eroded, then uncovered, revealing the “shocked” rocks below. While it’s no mystery how these rocks got their shapes, their strange formations and unnatural structures allow the mind to run wild about life on earth.
109 East Palace Street
For 20 years, this unassuming storefront was the gateway to one of the United States’ most top-secret missions: the development of the atomic bomb. This location was the hub for all things connected to the Los Alamos Laboratory, from processing and transporting employees and researchers to coordinating housing and childcare for those involved with this confidential research program. Today, this storefront is marked by a plaque, which honors the work of those involved with this historic project.
Want even more mysteries with a hint of Santa Fe flavor?
Dive into the Scott Hunter mystery series for twisting, psychological reads that will keep you turning pages long into the night.