The Inn and Mercantile at Ojo

Located within walking distance of the famous Ojo Caliente mineral hot springs (a separate establishment), the buildings are owned by Zemmie and Tom Wimett who have lived in New Mexico since the early 1950's.

Zemmie, a longtime antique shop owner, and Tom, a retired Los Alamos physicist, and one of their daughters, Claudia, who actually runs the inn, -- all three of them manage to make guests feel like old friends. From sparkling conversation and tales of the area to bridge or ping-pong games with Tom, guests will find a warm welcome at the Inn at Ojo.

Every room has an outside door, a view of the Inn's courtyard and its own bathroom with a shower. The building is well insulated to ensure cool interior temperatures in the summer and cozy warm in the winter. Zemmie has carefully furnished each room with items acquired over a lifetime. Many nineteenth-century wardrobes act as focal points for the rooms and are a handy place to unpack for your stay. All rooms are nonsmoking, but Tom smokes a pipe and guests are welcome to join him on the portal (porch) for an evening smoke.

Breakfast is prepared each morning by Claudia, Zemmie or a friend, and includes strong fresh-ground coffee and orange juice, the Inn's own granola, homemade muffins or bread, hotcakes with real maple syrup or fresh local eggs with butter fried potatoes. Sometimes on weekends we include ham or bacon.

The Mercantile:
Across the courtyard from the Inn is the Mercantile at Ojo, a large old adobe building housing Natural Wear and Wimett Realty.

Leza Wimett, third daughter of owners' Tom and Zemmie, owns and runs Natural Wear which sells jewelry that Leza designs and makes herself as well as big-sister owned Santa Fe Re-Creations jackets and Ojo Lights, electric lighting fixtures for in & outside designed by her brother Nick. Masks by a local artist, relevant books, handmade lavender soaps, sage bundles and sweetgrass baskets can also be purchased. Women can pick up a new identity in clothing or a bathing suit for a visit to the nearby hot springs pools. The second room of the shop is full of wonderful things collected by Zemmie: doors, stained glass windows, antique quilts, crocheted lap robes, sets of dishes and glasses and old suede shoes.

Wimett Realty, run by Sarah Wimett, who is another of Tom and Zemmie's daughters, has listings for every visitor with a serious interest in a change of pace or place. Northern New Mexico has a moderate climate and wonderful lifestyles. Call ahead if you want to look at a place to buy.