Original photograph of the Adobe Rose taken by Helen Peters of New Mexico Magazine

The following has been taken from the
March 2000 issue of New Mexico Magazine...

Artesia B & B a true work of art

BED AND BREAKFASTS often spring from conventional designs, such as a Victorian home returned to its former glory or a farmhouse restored to country charm. The Adobe Rose Hacienda in Artesia managed a more astonishing makeover. Under the artistic supervision of its owner, Sunny Dilts, the Adobe Rose metamorphosed from a former art workspace built in the late 1960s into one of the most charming accommodations in southeastern New Mexico.

When the College of Artesia opened its doors in 1966, buildings were available for dormitories and classes, but not for the arts. The philosophy of the college was to offer students opportunities for hands-on experience, and what could be more hands-on than designing an art building from foundation to roof?

Under the direction of the art department, the "art hut" began to take shape. Using clay found near the building site, students formed the adobe blocks that make up the walls of the building. They persevered through muscle-numbing heavy construction, until the money ran out. But their effort for the arts did not go unnoticed. Among professional artists who donated their works to help finance the art hut was Peter Hurd, already a well-known New Mexican artist. He offered some of his lithographs and original paintings for an auction to benefit the cause. Hurd's support helped raise $6,000, and in the fall of 1967 at its dedication, the art hut became the Peter Hurd Gallery in appreciation of the artist's generosity.

Today, the original adobe blocks are still visible on one wall. Verandas shade both north and south sides of the building. Four comfortable guestrooms are available, each with a modem/fax line for computers. All of the Adobe Rose's furniture is custom-made from lodgepole pine, and a mammoth, mirrored sideboard that once dominated a Western saloon now dominates the spacious Common Room. Continental breakfasts and late afternoon snacks are offered along its ample counter.

For more information about the Adobe Rose's 21st-century convenience and 19th-century hacienda hospitality, call 1 (888) 909-ROSE (7673), or e-mail AdobeRoseNM@aol.com.*

—Helen Peters

* The contact information has been updated above from the original article publication to keep it accurate.

 

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