Our Stories
Hello! We are Tom & Carolyn and Jessica & Christopher, your hosts at The Grand Hacienda. We love Abiquiú –– the history, culture, geography –– and look forward to sharing our passion and knowledge of this area with you. We invite you to join our family of guests, who quickly become friends.
For Tom and Carolyn, we went from careers in the financial industry –– and all that comes with that –– to building an authentic hacienda estate with guest suites in the middle of a remote desert wilderness. Well, that is a great part of our story, and as it happened, Abiquiú found us and pulled us here. Repeatedly, over twenty years, until we finally moved here. We were up for the adventure, took a risk, and the idea of The Grand Hacienda started percolating.
Jessica and Christopher joined The Grand Hacienda all the way from Sweden - and their enthusiasm and global perspective will infuse your experience at The Grand Hacienda! Their journeys have led them to various parts of the world, where they have become skilled in different culinary traditions and crafted their unique culinary approach. Anticipate creative dishes full of taste, made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. When they are not at The Hacienda, you might find them exploring the surrounding trails, soaking in the breathtaking scenery of Abiquiú, or delving into the rich history and vibrant arts scene. Their love for travel and culture has instilled a deep appreciation for the world. From museums and concerts to historical sites, they find inspiration in everything around them.
Tom and Carolyn started designing and building The Grand Hacienda in 2017. We knew this was going to be an adventure, but we didn't realize in the beginning that it would also be The Hardest Thing we've ever done. We had high, lofty goals: we wanted to create a boutique inn bed and breakfast "experience"; we wanted to locally source our food; we wanted the property to be green and environmentally aware, to use solar and a sustainable water culture. We didn't want EMFs, but wanted modern technology. We wanted our guest experience to be exactly what we ourselves would expect at a luxury property. And, we wanted to operate our business in a way that would give back to our tiny community and be a source of economic stimulus.
Finally, in 2020 with an occupancy permit, a bed and breakfast license, a business license and a liquor license in hand, we were ready to share a new and unforgettable way to experience northern New Mexico for the most discerning traveler. We opened the guest suites and The Hacienda –– stocked the kitchen, filled the wine and beer stash and set up the mercado gift shop in February 2020. Then 15 days later COVID hit. In retrospect, we learned a lot from COVID. We became NM COVID Safe Certified and upped our already stringent processes on cleaning and disinfecting. We also learned, during times of social isolation and distancing, there is just no better place to escape to than our naturally isolated area of Abiquiú Lake.
Years later, The Hacienda continues living out our vision. It's a place of health and wellness, an ecotourism destination and a luxurious stay.
Living in New Mexico suits us, as we are adventurers who love to hike, ski, and enjoy time in and on the water. We also love to travel and explore and experience other parts of the world. While hosting fellow travelers at The Grand Hacienda, we enjoy the exchange of traveling stories as well sharing our passion and knowledge of the Abiquiú region.
In 2023, Carolyn published her first book sharing the love of Abiquiú, Discover Abiquiú From A to Z. We hope the book helps preserve your memories of this magical village!
Reach out to us any time. We love life here, and we hope you will, too.
We look forward to welcoming you to our paradise!
Carolyn, Tom, Jessica and Christopher
