El Lodge Taos to Close After Devastating Wildfires

Stephen G. Barr, manager of El Lodge Taos, announced today that he is closing the business one year after the devastating wildfires that swept through the area.

VADITO, NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES, May 1, 2023/ Stephen G. Barr, manager of El Lodge Taos, announced today that he is closing the business one year after the devastating wildfires that swept through the area. The closure is a result of the delayed response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the red tape associated with the process.

The Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire which began on April 29th of 2022, destroyed over 340,000 acres of land and caused significant economic damage to El Lodge Taos. Despite the minimal physical damage, Barr cites FEMA’s slow response in distributing the nearly 4 billion dollars allocated disaster relief by Congress as well as the inability to purchase commercial liability insurance for the short-term rental business he has managed for the past four years. However, the process of obtaining assistance from FEMA has been slow and arduous, leaving Barr with no other choice but to close the business.

“I’m heartbroken to have to close El Lodge Taos,” said Barr. “This business has been challenging work and I was determined to rebuild and reopen with many new features. Unfortunately, the process of obtaining assistance from FEMA has been incredibly slow and the red tape associated with it has been overwhelming. The inability to obtain commercial liability insurance after the fire also contributes to the closing. I simply have exhausted all of my personal resources and can’t hang on any longer.”

Barr also cites recent personal health issues that necessitate his relocation to a lower elevation and said:

“I had a pulmonary embolism in February which resulted in 25% permanent reduction in lung capacity and living at 9,200ft and have been advised to move to lower ground,” said Barr. “The five years I’ve lived in the Taos, NM area have been wonderful and I’ll miss it’s rugged beauty, historic significance, and most of all its culture and community. I’ve made some very close friends here. I came here to be a ski instructor and did that at Sipapu for four seasons but I’m no longer able to meet the physical demands of the job.”