The Mystic

A revitalized midcentury Route 66 motor lodge in Santa Fe. Desert-modern design, curated local art, and a lively on-site cafe.

The Mystic is a revitalized midcentury motor lodge located on Cerrillos Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico, occupying a historic stretch of the original Route 66. Originally opened in the late 1940s and known for decades as the Western-themed Silver Saddle Motel, the property was purchased in 2022 by interior designer Amanda Tucker and her husband, Rick Goldberg. Tucker and Goldberg set out to strip away the tired cowboy kitsch (the lassos, Stetsons, and rooms named after Wyatt Earp) and replace it with a globally inspired "desert modern" aesthetic. The resulting 24-room boutique motel serves as a stylish, bohemian refuge for modern road-trippers and creative nomads, blending midcentury roadside architecture with design influences from high-desert cultures around the world, including Morocco, Oaxaca, and the American Southwest.

The guest rooms at the property are individually curated to offer a striking departure from standard motel lodging. Tucker's design palette favors clean lines, tile floors, and soothing tones of black, white, and soft blush, accented by vibrant international textiles and custom murals. While most rooms lean into contemporary minimalist comfort, two specific "time-capsule" rooms are deliberately preserved to honor the motel's Route 66 heritage, outfitted with nostalgic 1940s and 1950s memorabilia, vintage cowboy curtains, and retro Roy Rogers lunchboxes. All accommodations are equipped with modern conveniences like writing desks, smart televisions, and premium Beekman bath products, ensuring a comfortable stay at Santa Fe's high altitude.

At the heart of the property is the High Desert Cafe and Bar, a lively culinary hub also known as Chef Randy Tapia's Mystic Mesa. The cafe serves an innovative menu of regional dishes with a contemporary twist, ranging from handmade breakfast tacos and whipped beet salads to wild mushroom flatbreads. In the evenings, the space transitions into a cozy bar serving craft cocktails and hosting regular community gatherings, including live music and monthly queer dance nights. Outside, the expansive backyard venue, known as the High Desert Hideaway, features a central fire pit, a vintage trailer bar, and colorful murals. This outdoor space frequently hosts weddings and special cultural events, most notably the "Mystic Echoes" dinner series, which pairs Native American storytelling and dance with a five-course pre-colonial feast designed by James Beard award-winning chef Sean Sherman.

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