"The beauty of the Black Range cannot be described by man, for at times, especially after a rainy season, with its forests, flowers, and wild animals, it is a perfect paradise."
-- "Uncle Jimmy" McKenna, Black Range Tales
Step into the old west when you enter the Lodge's spacious lobby. Its massive stone walls and log-beamed ceilings - built from the tumble-down ruins of Pretty Sam's Casino and the Monarch Saloon - were completed in 1940. The original plastered brick construction dates back to the 1880s, when the Lodge housed miners and cavalry.
Furnished for comfort, the Lodge invites you to relive Kingston's wild and wooly past, with modern conveniences. All guest rooms have private baths, thick towels and cozy down comforters. Via satellite we have a wireless high-speed Internet connection, and recent renovation makes the lodge more wheelchair friendly.
The first floor lobby offers area information and history books. An adjacent game room invites guests to play pool or try out the “antique” PacMan video game. Also, a computer connected to the Internet allows surfing or email. Or bring your own laptop, and make use of our “wi-fi” connection.
All guest rooms are on the second floor, and open into a large common room, where you can curl up with a book, watch a movie on the VCR, or challenge your mate to Scrabble. Or just relax and enjoy the fresh mountain air from a balcony or patio.
Nestled in the foothills of the Gila National Forest, the Lodge provides easy access to its three million acres of wild, natural beauty. From our front door, a short walk in the clean air takes you across Percha Creek and into the shade of tall Ponderosa pines. Serious hikers or mountain bikers will enjoy the miles of trails in the region.
For up-to-date info about regional activities and attractions:
www.sierracountynewmexico.info
Interested in birds? Bill West knows where and when to find some rare species in the Southwest.
Bill West, Professional Birding Guide
Thinking about Kaua'i? Try my brother Rick's place on Kauai - the Sleeping Giant Cottage!
For spectacular hiking or skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado, check out my brother John's vacation condo.