Businesses in Cloudcroft have started to blossom post-pandemic. Here's a round-up of several new and expanded offerings on Cloudcroft's main highway, the village's south side, and one closure.
First, let's start with the sad news: the laundromat at Dusty Boot's Motel and Cafe has permanently closed. On a happier note, the motel recently added to their themed rooms, two of which include decor based on "Harry Potter" and "I Love Lucy.”
Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue has expanded to better serve its impressive customer base with a covered pavilion with a sandwich food truck, beer sales, and a live music stage backdropped by an impressive mural of music legends, and the BBQ master himself.
The inspired recent hiring of Chef Richard Lepree has breathed new life into Rebecca's, the restaurant at The Lodge. The updated menu boasts hand-rolled gnocchi, ratatouille, a shrimp and lobster salad, and a revamped bar menu featuring Chef's signature potato wedges and aioli. Early reviews are raves.
Brother-in-Law BBQ recently completed renovations to their kitchen and bathrooms, enhancing the dining experience for their patrons.
The Village Plaza, the charming wooden mall adjacent to Mad Jack's, now features several new businesses worth a visit, including:
High Rollin' Coffee: has a limited menu of fresh, non-GMO, organic offerings. Learn more about the owner and her cafe here.
Aspen & Ivy Boutique: carries home goods, beauty products, bespoke gifts, and more.
Woods Wellness and Beauty: offers a range of beauty treatments, including Cryoslimming, body contouring, teeth whitening, facials, and more.
Be in the Mountains Yoga: the studio has a range of classes: Restorative and Thai Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yoga, Private Session Thai Yoga, and more.
Beth Merrell, owner of Be in the Mountains Yoga (photo by Crystal Tompkins Photography) Homee: rental management operation includes marketing, booking, cleaning, and maintenance.
Backcountry Cannabis: has recently changed owners, but still offers flower, edibles, and more. Check out our coverage of Cloudcroft's new dispensaries here.
The food court across the highway on Curlew Place (just west of Allsup’s), is home to Fernando's Burritos featuring breakfast and lunch burritos, and Cloud Dogs’ affordable signature dogs and soups, as well as a "pay it forward" board where you can buy a stranger's lunch.
Further east on the north side of the highway is Trestle Medical Services, a new medical facility in the village, slated to open July of this year. Family Nurse Practitioner Julia Eigenmann previously worked as a primary care provider in Cloudcroft and will see patients two years old and up. The practice is currently credentialed for several insurance providers and plans to accept a broader range by summer.
The Reader has previously covered other businesses along James Canyon Highway. You can read about the new Allsup’s here, The Grand Cloudcroft Hotel here, and the Bigfoot Experience here.
If you missed our previous story on new activity on Burro Avenue, go here.
In other business news, the Cloudcroft Reader has been admitted to the Accelerator program by the Santa Fe-based New Mexico Local News Fund and received a generous grant to fund new journalistic initiatives.
Do you have news for Cloudcroft and the surrounding areas? Please let us know by emailing hannah.dean@cloudcroftreader.com.