Over the years there are many stories of how people have gotten to know one’s business and how far those connections can reach. The following are a few short stories that reflect these connections and are what makes running a lodging property so interesting.
Nancy Quintana who provided our inn with film supplies for resale for years, told us that she was at an airline counter in Bogota, Columbia and noticed the attendant using a familiar pen. Nancy asked the lady if she could see the pen and saw that it had “El Rey Inn-Santa Fe, New Mexico” on the pen. Nancy asked the person about the pen and she replied, “oh, we try and stay there anytime we are up in the states.”
Another story that was interesting regards the golf tournament for women at Barton Creek Springs in Austin, Texas which was held a couple of years ago. The El Rey was sponsoring one of the holes and there was a sign designating our sponsorship. Many of the women came up to the coordinator of the tournament who just happened to be the sister-in-law of the owner to mention how often they had stayed at the inn and to inquire what the connection was with the inn and Barton Creek Women’s Golf.
Along route 66 the El Rey sits alone on a two lane Cerrellos road.
Several years ago there was a special in-flight film made about Route 66 and the hotels along the route that were located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This film was shown on international flights that were flown by American Airlines. Several Santa Fe residents who were flying American Airlines were pleasantly surprised to view this in-flight film and wrote to us from their various travel destinations. The film covered a series of interviews with the managing director of La Fonda Hotel and the owner of El Rey Inn. In the interview with Terrell White from the El Rey Inn, it was discovered that the American Automobile Association’s guide books back in 1937 and Mobile’s Guide Book in 1938 listed room rates at $2.50-$3.50 per cabin of which there were a total of 12 rooms, slightly off from the current 86. 
Another interesting piece that came to light was regarding a television series “Candid Camera” hosted by Allan Faunt over a segment done at the El Rey Inn 15 years ago. The Candid Camera crew pretended to be the reception folks and checked in the arriving guests. Upon check-in, the guests were asked a series of questions as to whether they would like soap, coat hangers, towels, etc. and with each question there was a specific charge made for that item. Needless to say, there were many startled and incredulous reactions by the guests until they were notified that they were on ”Candid Camera”!
The last story concerned Georgia O’Keeffe, one of the most important artists of our times here in the land of the Southwest. When her personal secretary called to reserve accommodations for Georgia O’Keeffe at the inn, our young receptionist was asked if we accepted pets and he replied that we did not allow pets at all. The secretary had to seek accommodations elsewhere. When the owner returned and was told this series of events, the young receptionist said, “I was just following the policy”!
As they say in the hospitality profession, “there never is a dull moment”!
Filed under: Art, El Rey Inn, history, lodging, Santa Fe, Southwest, Tradition
