Neighborhoods - Southeast

South Capitol
Located just south of the State Capitol building ("the Round House") and bordered by Old Santa Fe Trail to the east and Guadalupe to the west, this charming neighborhood was established in the early twentieth century and features a number of different architectural styles, from red brick to adobe to wood frame. Tall trees, wide sidewalks and close proximity to downtown give this area a real central-city feel. Wood Gormley Elementary is located in the middle of the neighborhood.

Eldorado
A planned community development located an easy fifteen minute drive from downtown Santa Fe, Eldorado’s spacious lots and generous homes mark a clear transition between city life and country living. With over 5,000 residents, Eldorado is a great family neighborhood, and features a central shopping district, elementary school, library and a community club house with pool and other amenities.

There is a vibrant arts community in Eldorado which hosts an annual arts and crafts fairs in the spring and fall. There are two shopping centers located just off Highway 285 at the main entrance on Avenida Vista Grande, featuring a full-scale grocery store, coffee shop & roaster, health-care practitioners, video rentals, restaurants, a bank branch office, a multi-screen movie theater, and other small businesses.

Outdoor activities include hiking in the 4000-acre Eldorado Wilderness, soccer and tennis facilities, and a stable area for use by Eldorado residents.

Eldorado lot sizes typically range from 1 – 2 acres. Garages are required with all homes and single-story construction is predominant. Many of the larger roads are paved and all roads are maintained by Santa Fe County.  Annual homeowner fees of approximately $240 pay for the staff at ECIA, pool, tennis courts and park areas.

Arroyo Hondo
Arroyo Hondo is known for being a horse-friendly community, with most lots sized at 5 or more acres and many properties having horse facilities. There are protected open spaces and a system of private trails throughout the neighborhood. Access is good to town, just 10 -15 minutes away from shops, services, medical facilities, movies, and more. The El Gancho Health Club is close-by, as are the popular dining spots of Harry’s Roadhouse and The Steaksmith. The best of country living can be enjoyed in this well-established area. Residential property values range from $500,000 to over  $2,000,000.

Highway 285 SE

The area encompassed by the Highway 285 corridor runs from the intersection with Old Las Vegas Highway and Interstate 25 on the north down to the communities of Lamy and Galisteo on the south. There are numerous distinctive subdivisions which have been created in the last 20+ years from the former Alva Simpson Ranch, with terrain ranging from rolling, pinon and juniper-studded hills to open grasslands. Restrictive covenants within the individual subdivisions create a look and lifestyle choices, such as to live with or without horses, to have flat or pitched-roof homes, to have large acreage or more closely-set homes. Some feature special ecological considerations, such as the shared wetlands for wastewater recycling at Rancho del Bosque. The Art Barns encourage home studios and allow for art sales.

Some of the well-known neighborhoods along the Highway 285 corridor include Alteza, Dos Griegos, La Paz, Mejor Lado, Los Caballos, Tierra Colinas, Los Vaqueros, The Ridges, Cielo Azul, Old Road Ranch, the Art Barns, and East Ranch. Lots typically range in size from 2 – 12.5 acres. Each area has its own distinctive appeal. Talk to one of our brokers about finding the neighborhood that best fits your needs.

There are several horse stables in the area, catering to a variety of equestrian interests, for those who need to board horses away from home. A gas station is located at the intersection of Highway 285 and Avenida Vista Grande. The Eldorado Animal Clinic provides both small and large animal veterinary services to the area. The Agora and the Village at Eldorado shopping centers offer shops, offices and groceries.

Wilderness Gate

Wilderness Gate is a mountain community with tall ponderosa pine, pinon and juniper.  It lies between the Historic Eastside and the Santa Fe National Forest.  The homesites are predominately 5 acres and orient to the West.  The covenants allow single-family dwellings, a private garage, recreational facilities and non-rental: studio, workshop and guesthouse.  There is wonderful hiking and the community allows horses.  Homes range in price from $800,000 to $1,000,000 plus.

The Museum District

The Museum District is located south of the Historical Eastside with the Old Santa Trail running through the district just below the Sangre de Cristo foothills.  The feeling of the area is country yet it's only minutes to downtown.  The homes found in this district are rarely under $750,000 and many are over $1,000,000.  Depending on the orientation of the home, there are views both east and west.  Western views have beautiful sunsets while Eastern views are of the magnificent Sangre de Cristo Mountains or the Santa Fe Ski Basin. 

The Museum District derives its name from the four internationally acclaimed museums located in the area.  The Museum of International Folk Art, voted Santa Fe's favorite museum by the local community, houses the largest collection of Spanish Colonial and Hispanic folk art in America.  The Museum of Indian Arts and culture includes more than 50,000 pieces of prehistoric, historic and contemporary basketry, pottery, textiles, jewelry, clothing and artifacts crafted by the native peoples of the Southwest.  The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian is the third museum found in the district.  Here, important Native American art is emphasized in the eight-sided building inspired by a traditional Navajo Hogan.  The Museum of  Spanish Colonial Art is the newest museum on Museum Hill and features objects found throughout the Spanish Colonial world.  The Museum District is another unique and beautiful neighborhood in Santa Fe.

Galisteo and Lamy

When the Eastside prices jumped, the artists and families moved ten miles south for more space and they are here to stay with good schools, long views and every convenience. Eldorado and its shopping center has everything you'd need, plus a cine-plex. Another plus is their 4000 acre wilderness for hiking.  The houses are on no less than an acre plus and the night skies are dazzling.

Farther down the road are two traditional villages, Lamy and Galisteo,  with larger spreads and ranch flavored ambience.  Galisteo Village is an old historic sheep-ranching center and Lamy is a true railroad town where the saloon is now a museum. Take your breakfast if you like in an old dining car.  Closer in, the Thornton Ranch has been carefully broken into conservation units around their planned village cluster, so bring your horse and come on out. The last count was over 2000 horses and slightly three times that for humans. And the views are uplifting.