Real history here and quiet quality ambience. Ever dream what it would be like staying in one of those museums you have toured where rooms are cordened off for viewing only? This is the place. No television or phone noise irritating you from other rooms. Guest actually talk with one another instead of by passing and ignoring each other.
Yes it is old, that's the point. Some doors may be asque, it's old. So is granny but you love her anyway. And it is unique in it's charm. Chain hotels and motels have no life or charm, St James Hotel certainly does as well as other historicl buildings.
We stayed three days and loved it. The breakfast were huge and very good. Lunch was quick and tasty. And dinner was very good and served to you as if you were a person, not a table of numbers to move out of the way.
The ghost are fun too.
Kareth & George BodmanMoore

I first saw the St. James in 2001, while attending the Philmont Scout Ranch. In Oct. 2006, my wife and I stopped there on t here on our way to Colorado. The place was filthy. If we had taken a good look in our room when we first arrived, we would not have stayed. The place looked as if it had not been dusted for weeks. There was mold in the bathroom and the toilet was not clean. We knew about the lack of amenities in the rooms and we had no problem with that. But we did expect clean! The dining room was OK, but overpriced for the area.

Stopped to have dinner and possibly stay at this hotel on the way to Taos. We had high hopes given the age and the history of this hotel. While much of the lobby and dining area has been kept true to its past, the carpet is pretty nasty and the upholstered chairs look and feel as though they have been around since the 1970's. Not exactly in keeping with the historical theme. The menu was varied and relatively pricey for such an out of the way place ($20 and up) and we were hopeful. The food was dreadful and the server indifferent. After the dining experience we were scared off from staying there. Too bad, the place has possibilities.

This is an old hotel with a lot of personality. It has been a working hotel since the first bullet holes were fired into the original tin ceiling, and there hasn't been a major remodel since before women could vote.

If you're looking for a nice and elegant "themed" hotel, then stay away. This is the real thing. City slickers will ooh and ah over the accomodations -- many original and old. Some City Slickers, however, will be dismayed that it isn't up to 21st century standards for comfort.

The wallpaper is peeling in places, there are cobwebs and dust in some corners, and fresh paint isn't a priority. That's why this place is "real". It's a hotel in west, in a ranching community, and has ghosts and bullet holes in it. It wasn't built for or intended to be patronized by people used to "fancy digs." It's a hotel, an old hotel, but with wonderful charm. It's authentic because it hasn't changed in a century; it hasn't been "restored."

The locals are nice, the dining room is iffy, but all in all, it will be a memorable stay. If you're just looking for a place to sleep, motor on in to Raton or Taos. If you want an experience, stay here.