Construction continues on the historic Amador Hotel

“The Amador Hotel was a magical place for me when I was a kid in the mid-1950’s,””

Irene Oliver-Lewis

The Amador Hotel Foundation gave an update on the status of the historical Amador Hotel, which has been empty for nearly two decades.

Members of the historical preservation community held an event in the 145-year-old building, 180 W. Amador Ave., last week to highlight the need for continued historical preservation and to show what work is being done in the city. According to American Cultural Resource Association member and speaker David Senk, if all goes according to plan, the hotel restoration should be completed in 2028.

The Amador Hotel was built by entrepreneur Martin Amador and opened to the public as a hotel in 1885. The hotel stood as a staple of the community for 83 years until the owners sold it to Citizens Bank. Later, the bank sold it to Doña Ana County where it served as office space. 

The building became empty in 2006. Since then, the Amador Hotel Foundation has worked to restore the hotel and the City of Las Cruces signed a formal recognition that acknowledged the building as having unique and important cultural significance.

Once the restoration is complete, the Amador Hotel will act as a cultural bridge between the Mesquite Historic District to the east and the historic Alameda Depot District to the west. It will be a part of the city’s vision of a revitalized downtown district. Once complete, the Amador will serve as an event and meeting center featuring museum-quality exhibits that highlight early Las Cruces history and culture.

The event was attended by New Mexico State Senators Jeff Steinborn and Carrie Hamblen, both Democrats who represent Las Cruces, who spoke on the importance of protecting these types of spaces in the community. 

“We can hear the sorrow in our voices when we talk about these great spaces that are no longer in existence because of either urban renewal or the idea of developing more,” Hamblen said. “It’s heartbreaking to lose those buildings.” 

Hamblen continued by emphasizing her wish for the hotel to be restored saying “we really need to finish this.”

One speaker at the event also shared her experiences visiting the hotel when she was a child. Irene Oliver-Lewis was instrumental in converting the Court Junior High School building into a youth center that offered physical activity and arts activities for at-risk children. She later founded Alma d’Arte Charter High School in the historic 1941 building at 401 W. Court Avenue. The high school recently named the building after Oliver-Lewis to recognize her contributions.

Oliver-Lewis said that she has many wonderful memories of the Amador Hotel, including the garden that used to be in the back of the building. 

“The Amador Hotel was a magical place for me when I was a kid in the mid-1950’s,” Oliver-Lewis shared.

She recalled being invited over to the hotel by a kid that she met in school and being wowed at the inside of the building.

“The lobby was filled with unique items,” Oliver-Lewis said. “Indian rugs and pottery and baskets were everywhere and there were statues and pictures of strange people from everywhere and people I didn't even know. There were so many items to look at.”