St James Hotel

I stayed in the annex section of the hotel. The bed was comfortable and the sheets were clean. The window AC also worked very well. The old carpeting on the floor was infested with carpet beetles. When I came in for the evening, I even had to knock two of them off my bed then stomp on them. It was hard to sleep knowing there were so many bugs. I’ve stayed in MANY hotels in New Mexico, and never seen even one beetle in my room, so they have no excuses. The carpet should be torn out and replaced with non-​carpet flooring. Also, the vintage electric heater baseboards are no longer used and they should be torn out as well. I’m sure they make great homes for the beetles. When I got out of the shower, there were already bugs on my floor mat. There was an ugly sign threatening a $ 20 fine for having makeup on a towel, so I wondered what the fine was for the beetles I left squashed on the floor mat.
When I checked in, I asked for the Wi-​Fi password. When the clerk gave it to me, he said, «Good luck getting on though.» He was right. I couldn’t get on the internet even in the lobby. If they don’t have internet, then they should just say so up front. I had work I needed to attend to. When I tried calling a friend who had already checked in, I was surprised to get a busy signal on her cell phone. When I commented on that being odd, one of the employees commented sarcastically, «{We don’t have very reliable cell service here, which of course is exactly why we live here. (I guess people in Cimarron don’t use phones then?)
My room was approximately 12’x18’ feet and had exactly one table lamp. That was it. And of course, it had one of the stupid lowest wattage cfl bulbs in it so it was not possible to read in my room or even find things in my luggage.
I really regretted staying here and in the future I’m going to try to remember never to stay here again as this lackluster room was over $ 100 a night. As others have pointed out though, there are no other options in Cimarron. Also, you know your impressions are right on when no one asks how your room was when you check out. And, sure enough, no one asked how my room was.

Food was good. Service was great. The historical nature of the place was out of this world!

Stayed in the «new section» for an evening then had breakfast.
Bar area is good and breakfast was reasonably priced and filling. Staff is nice.
Somewhat disappointed in the room for what I paid. Definitely setting prices based on limited availability of other nearby places to stay and the Scout trade as opposed to accommodation quality. The 48 hour cancellation policy would have been a major detractor had I not just decided to stop in.

Had a decent steak and some history for dinner. Try the jalapeño ranch dressing.
Much history made it worth visiting. little pricey for basic steak plate.

We have stayed there in the past and enjoyed it. We are traveling currently with our GSD and we’re planning on staying there tonight on our way home. Called to find out if a dog was alright and was informed that no way are they allowed. Our dog is cleaner and more well behaved than a lot of people you pass on the street. Screw you, St. James Hotel. You just lost present and future customers.

A few years ago, right around Halloween, me and my friend Laura watched The Travel Channel’s «Ten Most Haunted Hotels in the USA» special. The St. James’s Hotel in dusty and deserted Cimarron, New Mexico was right up there in the top 10. Although it has been a few years, I remember it like yesterday and can’t imagine that it has changed much.
Besides being haunted, the St. James has quite the colorful history. Built in 1872 by Frenchman Henri Lambert who was at one time the personal chef to President Lincoln, The St. James was conveniently located along the Santa Fe Trail. This location made it popular with gunfighters, gold prospectors, and all other sorts of folk making their way west. Today the rooms of the famous gunfighters such as Wyatt Earp are cordoned off with red velvet rope so that you can peer in and see what their accommodations would have looked like. It is a small wonder that the hotel is said to be haunted. There were at least 26 murders and God knows how many shootings and stabbings. Go ahead, just for fun, count the bullet holes in the ceiling in the main dining room. Unfortunately, the dining room was closed during our stay so we had to eat elsewhere.
Now, for the reason we wanted to stay there. Rooms 17 and 18. Room 18 is so haunted that no one enters. Legend has it that guest James Wright stayed there and he had won the title to the hotel in a poker game but he was murdered, shot in the back before he could collect his win. Room 17, across the hall was the room of Mary, the wife of Henri who is said to tap on the window if it is left open and her presence leaves a fragrance of rose perfume.
Our room felt like we were stepping back in time a 100 years. No telephone. No television. Our accommodations looked much like those of the gunfighters’ preserved rooms downstairs. This place is like a time capsule. Naturally for our visit we stayed in room 17 left the window open for Mary and we went across the hall to jiggle the doorknob and stared through the keyhole of room 18. Nothing bad happened. At bedtime we brought out a Ouija board to facilitate communication with any ghosts that might be lurking about and guess what happened!
Nothing.
My friend tells me I lightly snore. She didn’t sleep. She was too scared because of the Ouija board and was awake all night.
Despite the ghosts being a no show, it was still really cool staying here just for the historical value. To you folks that happen to be in the area, as in, in-​the-​middle-​of-​nowhere, NM, take a detour and go visit.
2015 — Review # 15

I had the green chili smothered burger… very tasty.
My wife had the JAMES burger… well liked.
French fries very good.
My buddy had a BLT, he gave it a thumbs up.
The remodel done in 2009 makes this place a must see.
Clay Allison & Wyatt Earp barged in and shot seven BOY SCOUTS after successfully trekking across Philmont.
Great food, great action, and no ghosts to report.

I got the Smoothered Burrito with chicken and both green and red sauce (or Chrstmas style).

Come see a historical site where the Cimarron Cutoff leaves the Santa Fe Trail.
Come for the good food and stand where
the people of legion stayed.
Annie Oakley, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Pat Garret, Buffalo Bill (Cody), and many more and there stories. Fascinating!!!

I had the huevos rancheros for breakfast this morning. I ordered red and green with sunny side up eggs. The let me sub my hash browns for veggies, the staff was nice, and the eggs were cooked perfectly but that’s about where the good part stops. The green chile tasted like it had a lot of thickener in it and the red, even though they said it was homemade, tasted out of a can. The staff came to check on me only when I was about half way done and then left me wondering what to do with the check for a good 10min.

Nicely kept historical building. I only stopped for breakfast, which was unfortunately disappointing. The waitresses were helpful and quick, but my biscuits and gravy were cold and nearly meatless. The hash browns fell flat as well (oily and barely fried).
I would still give it another chance, though maybe not for the breakfast meal.

Food is fine. A little bland for my seasoned (seared ?) New Mexican palette. But the food service is lightning fast and the staff is great. They carry Pepsi products but make up for that oversight by having Dr. Pepper on tap. The ambience is awesome for this recovering Texan, complete with longhorn mount over the fireplace. If you’re Buddhist, or vegan, you might wanna skip this hauntingly cool little taste of the 1800s in Cimmaron, as one of the decorative themes is animal mounts. But historians of all ilk should be sure to stop!
I will be back! And bringing hubby and ghosthunting friends!!!

I had read about this place before we headed over to Cimmaron from AngelFire. There really is not too much to see in Cimmaron, but if you are in the area, definitely go here. The hotel is really beautiful and is preserved Old West – rooms that you can see on the first floor for free where Jesse James, Bat Masterson and others stayed. The saloon is really interesting too with all of the neat things on the walls and the bullet holes in the ceiling.
The service was outstanding at the restaurant and the front desk/​lobby staff were very nice and helpful answering questions about the area.
The food is good and reasonably priced-​not fancy, but a nice, basic meal with alternatives to New Mexican food like hamburgers, shrimp, and a salad bar that is OK. The soup of the day that they had was good.
We went for lunch. The ambiance is great and you can walk around the patio area and just enjoy the outside area. It looks like it would be fun to go there for drinks in the evening.
If you have lunch here and have time, the staff can tell you the hwy to go a few miles and see Ted Turner’s bison/​buffalo herds — really amazing if you have never seen them.

Great place. Can’t wait to get there in about 4 weeks. Love the ambiance. et al

As someone who’s passionate about the history of the Wild West — this place ROCKS! Wyatt Earp, Jessie James, Bat Masterson, Buffalo Bill all entered this establishment!
What makes it better is the wholesome biscuits & gravy for breakfast, and prime rib dinner. It’s one of the very few eating places in Cimarron, NM BUT it’s dang good!

During the summers of 2009, 2010, I frequented this bar more times then I care to count. Often times, hearing LAST CALL. It’s a bar. With beer, and good bar food. The breakfast buffet is also good. Once I visited Cimarron over New Years and ate five or six meals in row here.
I have to say, the food is pretty average. Though I do get cravings for buffalo burger with green chili and bacon every now and then. If you’re on Philmont staff, this is the place to be. I never went to Cold Beer… this was closer and a little bit smoother around the edges.
Good array of local microbrews. I miss the James.

Went back over the summer. Whew! Some renovation. The dining area and bar are completely different as well as the outside patio area.
The vibe of this place could best be described using back to the future 3… if Marty were a Shoneys going back into the past to save Doc.
By this I mean, now you’ve got a small buffet with so-​so food and portions and more crap on the walls now than you’d expect from some of the flairyiest restaurants I’ve ever been to. The new owners really are embracing the idea that the James is an interesting, historical place which historians seem to disagree upon.
But, like Back to the future 3, despite the historical loops, and the rediculous costumes the waiters and bar staff have to wear, it’s a pretty good place still. Food was good. Mostly frozen cysco digs but what else would you expect for a restaurant in the middle of nowhere?

Really great service and food. The meals were huge though and hard to finish. Really great quality food though.
This was a neat place to look around also it has tons of historic information from the old west days.

We stayed in the St. James during a summer 2007 trip to Philmont and the surrounding area. We spent three nights in the Pancho Griego room and found the lodging acceptable given the age of the property. As history fans we appreciate the stories others have alluded to in their reviews and hope the hotel is here for many years to come. We would be pleased to lodge here again.
We ate in the Carson-​Maxwell Dining Room once. I thought the food was okay but not spectacular for the price. We ate in Vera’s Café several times (and also in 2008 even though we stayed elsewhere) and found the food and service fine. We will certainly come back.
I spent more than a few evenings in Vera’s in the early 1980s (back before it was a café, yo), and have fond memories of Vera’s hospitality and of friendships made at the St. James.

You have to appreciate history and vintage to be at all comfortable here, but chances are you won’t be comfortable anyways. Despite the nice inn keepers and quaint accommodations, the place was still a bit eerie; I know I didn’t get much sleep. Try to get there before the sun goes down, driving the road out to the quiet town at night isn’t fun, it’s worrisome with the chances of hitting Bambi. Had breakfast in the café downstairs and it was decent. Very nice views of the mountains from Cimarron.