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The historic Hotel Eklund currently has 24 guest rooms, as well as 2 dining rooms and one of New Mexico's most iconic bars. We serve delicious steaks, authentic New Mexican dishes, and classic comfort foods, along with an excellent selection of regional beers and wines. For over 100 years The Eklund has been Clayton's premier boutique hotel, dedicated to preserving the Wild West Experience for the modern traveler. The current owners, Keith and Jeannette Barras, both professional architects with experience in the restoration and preservation of historic properties, purchased the hotel in 2011 and are directly involved in day-to-day management.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Charming
Location
15 Main Street, Clayton, NM 88415
Hotel Eklund
4.2 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Hotel Eklund is a registered Cultural property, the structure was built in 1892. It is a small, quaint hotel full of charm & character. It is owned by Keith & Jeannette and they CLEARLY Take great care in making sure everything is perfect (Keith also happened to be tending the bar on our visit.) Our small historic room was spotless & just perfect. We ate at the hotel - our appetizer, salad, salmon, wine & and couple beers were delicious and extremely reasonable (under $50!) DEFINITELY have dinner there if you are fortunate enough to stay & enjoy this bit of Americana! We drive from TX to CO on occasion & a friend recommended stopping & staying here- it’s @7hrs from DFW - SO glad we did! We will now drive to Clayton (instead of Amarillo) when heading to Colorado!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â We recommend staying here in between TX & CO - make a reservation for both the room (small hotel)...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was the most interesting and lovely hotel I've ever stayed in and the staff was wonderful to talk to. What you're looking for will determine what you'll finally make of this place. As for me, I saw the beauty in the history and continuity of the building and its business. It's a rare gem that must be experienced. Where I'm from there are many Victorian homes that have been converted to bed & breakfasts. many have gone way over the top to create a pampered experience. It winds up feeling a little fake. Romantic and comfy, but not authentic. This place keeps its original Western heritage and provides a nice upscale approach to a better hotel experience. Visually, everywhere you look there's an interesting story and don't let this go past you. Take the time needed here to soak it all in. Don't just check in and check out like usual. Breakfast is served on decent china, not styrofoam and paper. The food can be made to order and the morning coffee is wonderful. Take a bunch of pictures!
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
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Location
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I made special plans so I could stay the night at the Hotel and I was not disappointed. I love historic hotels and there are not a ton of small town America downtown hotels left. There is plenty online about its history so I won’t go into that. I arrived and parked on the street right in front of the hotel. The lobby is well done and they have local artisan crafts for sale as well as classic decor. They have an elevator as well as a nice staircase for the 3 story property. I had a room on the third floor that faced the Main Street. The room was spacious and the bed was comfortable. They use actual keys for the rooms and it comes with a fresh homemade breakfast in the morning. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Now, historic hotels are not for everyone but I love the quirks. The floors creak, the train comes by several times a night and you can look out the window and see the lights from the 1916 Luna Theatre. There are thick curtains that shield the light but I loved the ambiance of it. The restaurant and saloon that is in the building is excellent as well.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Old hotel with history, I like old hotels with character but this hotel has some concern to me. First the hotel doors are closed and locked with no on duty clerks until 4PM. The room we had was in good shape except the windows were in dire need of scraping and painting. The lobby area hasten my opinion way to many items in it. Items of interest but really looks cluttered. The restaurant is only open certain days. Breakfast which was included n the rate was self serve. Hot eggs dishes were available but very limited. Dinner menu fairly basic. Has stayed here before but probably not again. Too bad.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â We like the front facing rooms with a balcony. The road in front is not busy , but the nearby...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here for 3 nights over 2 stays. We were traveling with our dog and stayed in various pet friendly hotels. This one was the best . It was genuinely hospitable in many different ways. From welcoming us and our dog to helping make sure my ice packs were frozen, these little details were all part of the welcome. While we couldn't (and shouldn't) take our dog into the breakfast area, we were able to sit under the juniper trees outside and enjoy my coffee and breakfast, which had a variety of options. The aroma of the trees was a treat in itself! We enjoyed our stay so much we went out of our way to return there on our way home. Rooms were clean and comfortable. I had my best sleep in all the days we were on the road at this hotel. Kudos to Christie and Keith!
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We decided to stay at the Hotel Eklund for a unique stay in a historic Hotel. We were happy we did. We stayed in the middle room with the balcony. There is a nice view from the balcony, even though we didn't sit out there because it was cold during our stay. The room and bed were comfortable and clean. They offer cable TV and wifi. the wifi signal was strong and easy to sign into. The bathroom was modern and clean. They do not provide a hair dryer, and there is very limited shelf space for your toiletries, but that just kind of goes with the architecture of the room. The staff is very friendly. When we checked in we were surprised to get a key to our room. An actual key on a hand painted keychain! No keycard. They had just opened the bar on weekends where you can sit and have drinks or order food. We met some locals in the bar area who were very friendly. The restaurant was still closed due to covid. Its a shame, because the dining room is nice, and the outdoor eating was also very welcoming. The staff was happy to answer any questions, take our picture, tell us a little history of the town, and show us the famous bullet holes. There is not an ice machine, but the staff was always happy to fill my Yeti cup from the kitchen. They are serving breakfast in the restaurant for guests. It was the best breakfast I have ever had at a hotel. This is not crap from Costco served at most hotels. Everything was homemade in the kitchen. Both ham quiche, and green chili quiche, homemade biscuits, gravy, oatmeal, fresh fruit, croissants, cereal, coffee cake, boiled eggs, milk, OJ, Coffee. I went back for seconds of the green chili quiche and biscuits. All the food is served cold, they have two microwaves you use to warm it up. Staying here was a unique experience. Ask about New Mexicos only hanging that happened a few blocks away. It's an interesting story. One negative I would have is that there are train tracks a block away, and the train will wake you up in the middle of the night. Not the hotels fault, just a warning for anyone thinking of staying there. Check out is easy, just drop the key off in the key drop.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Balcony room was nice.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cute little hotel. When we stayed here for one night, nothing was open in Clayton! The staff was super nice and friendly. We didn’t sleep real well since the railroads are close by ( which isn’t their fault) but I guess the hotel is so old and walls so thin that we got woken up by the couple next to our room , we could clearly hear her throwing up and then they turned their TV on ( 1A.M) and we couldn’t sleep, so do keep that in mind unless thing don’t wake you up easily. Dinner was ok, greasy . Breakfast was cold, there was a microwave to warm up your food, there was a quiche and bananas were cut in 3 pieces sitting there browning. Nothing like the stuff we had seen on their reviews , maybe it was just when we were there that they didn’t have more options for dinner or breakfast. Anyways, next time we will probably just stay in Amarillo if we drive to Colorado again.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Historic hotel, accommodations were fine, nothing fancy but charming and as expected for an historic hotel. Service was outstanding from the restaurant to the front desk to the breakfast area to the management. I left a personal item at the hotel, called the next day and was told that it was located and they would mail it to my home (for the cost of postage and a very minimal additional fee, which I was more than happy to pay.) I'll definitely stay again, and recommend it.
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Masks are required by the state. Let’s keep that in mind as the story progresses. The proprietor demanded we wear one when we arrived. One mask was available at the desk. Neither bordering state requires them and we were traveling through. The room was fine. Old hotel is quaint and we are glad it is still operating but the staff was lackluster at best. Breakfast was a spread of cold leftovers or pre- made elements. Walking into the dining room we were told by a woman sitting in the lower area that we could not sit in the lower area but must sit “over there,” among those already seated. Spying the spread we chose to check out and leave. The same woman appeared at the desk, summoned by the bell, ironically, sans mask. My wife returned the key and requested a receipt, which was denied. The woman stated a receipt would be emailed. When my wife pointed out that they did not have our email, she was again denied a receipt, followed by the same statement, “we will email it to you.” Again my wife told her they didn’t have our email address, pointing to the printed receipt held in the hand of the woman. The woman stated that their printer was broken. My wife then asked to photograph the receipt which had somehow been printed. Generally speaking, the hotel is nice but the staff seems burned out or just inhospitable. Perhaps it was just a bad day. We won’t be back any time soon to find out. It is unfortunate because we always enjoyed seeing the place when passing by and once enjoyed lunch there many years back.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Avoid the Eckland.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I consider myself really picky when it comes to hotels, but the Hotel Eklund really surprised me with how comfortable our stay was. They do all of the essentials well: soft beds, arctic-blast air conditioning, and very hot water with tons of water pressure. The restaurant was solid, and especially the homemade pie with ice cream for dessert. A very comfortable, unique place to stay.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Clayton area.
PRICE RANGE
$136 - $136 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
eklund hotel clayton
LOCATION
United StatesNew MexicoClayton
NUMBER OF ROOMS
26
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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