This Home
While this home is officially documented as being built in 1960, research suggests that this date corresponds only to its first Anglo ownership and titling by Ernest Holmes, who served as the police chief of Santa Fe. The structure appears to have been constructed in stages, as evidenced by the previous owner's discovery of newspapers from the 1880s within the walls. Many original Hispanic family compounds in Tesuque remain active family residences, passed down through generations, preserving a deep connection to the area's history. An ancestor of these Hispanic families, living just across the road, shared that his aunt and uncle once lived in this home. He also recalled how the men from neighboring families would regularly visit each other's homes on weekends to assist with building and repairs, reflecting a strong and enduring sense of community.
The Studio
Originally a back porch, the artist studio is now fully enclosed, with a wall added where it once opened to a courtyard and a second home within the family compound.
Erik Darling, the celebrated banjo player for the Weavers who succeeded Pete Seeger, converted the porch into a recording studio. His biography highlights a rich musical career, including co-writing the song "Banana Boat" alongside his youth bandmate Alan Arkin from their group “The Terriers.”
After relocating to Santa Fe, Erik reconnected with his longtime friend Alan Arkin, the late actor. The studio later became a creative haven for a novelist before being acquired by the current owner, a mixed-media artist.
The space continues to radiate an atmosphere charged with positive, creative energy.
Tesuque Village
Tesuque Village was originally Tesuque Pueblo farming land, prized for its access to water which made agriculture sustainable. With the arrival of the Spanish, the land continued to be used for farming, establishing a lasting agricultural tradition. Today, many orchards still flourish in Tesuque, along with its traditional Acequia’s, maintaining the region's lush and rich farming heritage. Bishop’s Lodge Road, situated in front of this home, marks a segment of the historic Spanish Trail. Explored, in part, by the Spanish as early as the late 16th century, the trail was extensively used by traders with pack trains from about 1830 until the mid-1850s. This route has been traveled by numerous notable historical figures and is featured in literary works such as Mabel Dodge Luhan’s "Edge of Taos Desert."
Tesuque has inspired a range of prominent artists including Ansel Adams. Well known individuals who have lived in or owned property in Tesuque, New Mexico, include Ali MacGraw, Val Kilmer, Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Russell, Duke of Bedford, and Eliot Porter. Other notable residents and figures associated with the area are composer Dominic Frontiere, author Cormac McCarthy, and New Mexico's first female Native American state court judge, Carol Jean Vigil.
The Tesuque Pueblo community remains vibrant on the outskirts of the area, with many descendants of the original Spanish settlers continuing to live in the adobe homes passed down through generations within Tesuque’s Valley.