Under Heaven and Stars

Under Heaven and Stars

Regardless of what you ride, or how long you’ve been at it, the charm of Angel Fire is easy to grasp. You’ve got choices that range from groomed beginner hills to wild-and-wooley expert terrain.

You might be that first-time skier who prefers Angel Fire’s front side for its gentle, west-facing slopes and the incredible views of the Moreno Valley and Wheeler Peak. Or perhaps you’re an expert boarder who craves the back side of Angel Fire’s mountain, with its amazing selection of steeps, glades and, of course, Liberation Freestyle Park.

Black diamonds or easy greens? Groomers or glades? Lowrider Park or Liberation? Nordic skiing? Snow tubing? Angel Fire Resort has something to make every member of the family happy.

Angel Fire is situated at 8,600 feet above sea level in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, just 23 miles from Taos, and about a three-hour drive from Albuquerque. Located in the scenic Moreno Valley, the resort sits in a 15-mile long, 3-mile wide, high alpine valley surrounded by mountains ranging from 11,086-foot Agua Fria Peak on the south end of the valley to 12,441-foot Baldy Peak. Wheeler Peak, at 13,161 feet and the highest mountain in New Mexico, forms the northwest boundary of the valley.



Angel Fire, like much of New Mexico, has terrific weather, with winter daytime high temperatures averaging in the 30s. There’s plenty of variety: of Angel Fire’s 70+ ski trails, 26 percent are considered beginner, 50 percent intermediate, and 24 percent advanced. There are two high-speed quad chairlifts, three double chairlifts and two Sunkid Wondercarpets. The resort has true variety of terrain, but it’s not so big that you’ll get separated from others for very long.

Angel Fire is accessible for private aircraft owners who can fly into Angel Fire Airport (KAXX).

What’s new? Angel Fire Resort has lit up the mountain’s easy, lower front side for 50 acres of skiing and riding after the sun goes down. The new Angel Fire Resort Golf & Country Club boasts a high-altitude, 18-hole PGA Championship golf course along with world-class dining at Stonewood. Widely regarded as one of the most stunning in the west, the course is situated at 8600’ and tucked beneath the Sangre de Cristo Mountains with views of Wheeler Peak, the state’s highest mountain.

This year’s special events range from wacky to wild, with everything in between. Angel Fire offers ski and snowboarding lessons for kids and adults. They include group lessons for beginners, freeride workshops and private lessons.

The First Tracks program offers intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders the chance to ride with instructors before the lifts open.

The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort is steps from the Chile Express chairlift, and with Angel Fire’s Stay & Ski Packages (starting at just $326 for two nights in The Lodge and four one-day lift tickets) it’s never been easier or more affordable to bring the whole family for a weekend getaway. The Coffee House in the lobby offers an early morning or afternoon caffeine fix. Legends Grill, located on the second floor of the Lodge, features burgers, pizzas, homemade fries, and onion rings in a family-friendly dining environment.

Whether your passion is carving turns, freestyling, or simply watching the “fire of the angels” sunset from your lodge balcony with a mug of hot chocolate, Angel Fire can provide a memorable winter adventure for the entire family.

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Ranch to Resort

In 1954, the LeBus family of Wichita Falls, Texas purchased a 9,000-acre ranch in the Moreno Valley of northeastern New Mexico and began grazing beef cattle in the lush valley below the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A decade later the family founded Angel Fire Resort on their former cattle holdings—a place where fellow Texans and other vacationers from surrounding Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico could enjoy the winter.

Using proceeds from the ranching business, they replaced pastureland with ski trails, laid out a 9-hole golf course (which is now a fully ranked PGA 18-hole course), created a well-stocked lake for trout fishing, and even built a dirt airstrip (now Angel Fire Airport).

The LeBus family sold Angel Fire in 1972, but the resort has never lost its family-run atmosphere. As Skiing Magazine notes, “You’ll ski Angel Fire because you want an affordable family destination or a place where all of your friends, experts and beginners, can find terrain and a resort experience.”

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