Constructed 1937.
There has been a hotel at this location since 1820. The first establishment, called the St. Vrain Mercantile Store, supplied locals and travelers with everything from tack and seed to rooms and a saloon. While there were numerous fires in the Plaza, the hotel was never affected. In 1880, Aloysius Liebert built the Columbian Hotel and Bar on the site. It was a popular gathering place. In 1900, Robert and Maclovia Poole purchased the hotel and bar and ran it until Robert was shot by a disgruntled customer in 1909. Maclovia Poole’s heirs sold the property to the Karavas brothers in 1932.
They began a major renovation in 1937 when they expanded and added a second story to the complex. They changed the name to the Hotel la Fonda de Taos. In 1952 Saki Karavas, son of James Karavas, bought out his uncle’s share and ran the hotel until his death in 1999. Saki was an admirer of D.H. Lawrence and owned many first editions of his literary works. He also purchased a group of controversial paintings by Lawrence and these currently hang in the hotel gallery. The hotel is now owned by the Sahd family and underwent a complete renovation in 2002.
108 So. Plaza Taos, NM 87571 | 575-758-2211
