Bright Star Casa in Arroyo Seco

----- 3 Bedrooms / 3 Full Bathrooms / Courtyard, Patio, Deck, Covered Portal / 3 Fireplaces / Sleeps 14 ----- Bright Star Casa is in the Arroyo Seco/Des Montes area on a high mesa with wrap-around mountain views. Located half way between Taos Plaza and Taos Ski Valley, it is 9 miles to the plaza and 11 miles to the lifts, making it ideal for a vacation at any time of the year. This property has spectacular 360-degree views of the Taos area mountain ranges and the desert plains to the west. In the distance, one can see the Rio Grande rift. Bright Star sleeps 14: 6 in three Bedrooms plus 8 on a comfortable cot plus 4” mattress. The optional Casita sleeps an additional 4 and includes a second kitchen/living area. To rent both the Casa and the Casita, search for #4634634 A 7- person, 16-jet hot tub has a great view of the mountains to the East, and there is ample parking for 12 or more cars. There are 2 covered car ports under the 440 square foot partially covered Casita deck. It has a kiva fireplace and offers spectacular 360-degree views of the entire Taos county mountains and plains. The property occupies two and a half acres of land and has a lovely acequia (irrigation watercourse) which winds through the property. When the acequia is running, which is early spring into late summer, there is a small pond on the south end that is separately fenced for the benefit of the horses which frequently graze there. The observatory on the property is operated remotely over the internet and images from the observatory are on the walls. High definition digital copies of these images are free to guests. This is a perfect location with very dark skies for you to bring your own telescope. Bright Star Casa is a southwestern-style stucco 3000 square foot, one story home with traditional Taos blue-trimmed windows. Arroyo Seco and neighboring Arroyo Hondo are charming ranching communities with historic roots in the Spanish Land Grant system. The Casa is within walking distance to Arroyo Seco on a rural road which passes an old Penitente cemetery and the back of Julia Roberts’ 50-acre ranch. This spacious adobe hacienda was built in the mid ‘90s of hand-made adobe blocks covered with stucco. The resulting 12” thick adobe walls provide excellent insulation summer and winter and keep inside temperatures relatively cool in the summer. (Summer temperatures in Arroyo Seco average 4 degrees cooler than temps in Taos.) The house features Spanish colonial corbels and lintels, romantic arches, flagstone, brick and timber. The ceilings are roughhewn logs, called vigas, layered with pine slats, called latillas. The radiant-heated floors are Saltillo tile. On the exterior, the 3000 square foot house features a 500 square foot courtyard off the long hall, portals (covered entrances), and a kitchen patio with a kiva fireplace and a dining table for 6. House guests also have use of the 400 square foot deck attached to the Casita which includes a Kiva fireplace and spectacular 360-degree views of the entire region. They also can use the 2 car carport under the deck. Bright Star Casa sleeps up to 14, with 2 king bedrooms and a bedroom with 2 twin beds which can also be made up as a king, plus 8 cots with 4" mattresses. The 8 folding mattresses (4” thick) with cots sleep up to 8 adults or children. The cots that hold the mattresses are "Byer of Maine Easy Cot", the best cot on the market. They measure a spacious 78" x 31" x 18" and are rated for a 330-pound person. They are easy to set up in 30 seconds. The picture gallery includes an image of a cot with mattress. These are amazingly comfortable to sleep on. They of course include a pillow with full set of linens. Two bedrooms have an en suite bathroom. The third bathroom is accessed from the hall for the convenience of all the guests. Other Amenities (available in both the Casa and Casita) 3 HD flat screen televisions, two in the Casa, a 60” in the spacious living room and a 50” in the Master Bedroom. 23 local channels, 55 internet channels and Netflix provided by PlayStation Vue are available over the high-speed fiber optic internet service. The fiber optic internet also provides excellent WIFI connectivity throughout the Casa and Casita. The Casa and Casita each have their own internet phone providing land-line quality phone service with unlimited free incoming and outgoing calls throughout the US. The cell phone coverage from most of the providers in the Arroyo Seco/Des Montes area is usable but unreliable, usually requiring use outside the Casa. At night, guests enjoy starry skies over the Sangre de Christo Mountain Range. Bright Star is ideal for families and groups desiring to be together under one very Southwest roof for a true Taos experience!