The town of Angel Fire is hidden high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains east of Taos, shaped by its stunning natural surroundings and its development as a year-round resort destination. The community is seated in a valley at an elevation of approximately 8,400 feet, with mountains like Wheeler Peak — New Mexico's highest at 13,158 feet — towering above. The village was founded in 1986, exactly 20 years after its namesake, the Angel Fire Resort, was opened. "If you love the outdoors and resort amenities, it's hard to imagine a better landing spot," says Broker John Johnston of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, an Angel Fire resident. "On the other hand, if you're looking for nightlife and shopping — we have about 700 permanent residents, and most of the restaurants close during the off season."
Mountain Sports of Angel Fire takes care of rentals and service for all the adventure activites in the area.
With only about 700 permanent residents, most of the restaurants in Angel Fire close during the off season.
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Skiing at the resort, hiking in the mountains
While Angel Fire is best known for its ski resort, there are tons of opportunities for outdoor recreation throughout the year. The resort itself transforms into the largest bike park in the Rocky Mountains every spring, offering over 60 miles of groomed trails. There are also hundreds of miles of hiking and mixed-use trails running through the surrounding mountains, many of which are within Carson National Forest. Trout fishing is a popular pastime in the area, either in the rivers that crisscross nearby mountains or at Monte Verde Lake in Angel Fire itself. Like many places in town, the lake is part of the resort, which offers a range of warm-season activities, from zip-lining to the 18-hole Angel Fire Country Club. Most residents purchase annual passes that either greatly discount or fully cover resort activities.
Angel Fire boasts the best bike and ski lifts in the southwest.
Angel Fire Country Club is open year round to the public with full golf ammenities and more.
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Modern condos and luxury cabins in the mountains
The housing landscape in Angel Fire is defined by the second-home and vacation rental market, a direct reflection of its resort status. Luxury homes and cabins generally showcase a modern mountain aesthetic centered around wood-centric interiors and large windows and patios. A sizeable number of modern condos can also be found in the community, and it's fairly common for future residents to purchase a plot around town and build their own home. Most condos sell for between $300,000 and $600,000, while most single-family homes go for $650,000 to $1.2 million. The community has a CAP Crime Index score of 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4 out of 10. Wildfires are a significant risk for many homes here, particularly those closer to the mountains, and can significantly affect insurance premiums.
Modern condos from newer developments can also be found in Angel Fire.
These larger custom luxury homes in the mountains of Angel Fire can range from $650,000 to $1.2 million.
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Part of the Cimarron school district
Angel Fire is part of the Cimarron Municipal Schools. Eagle Nest Elementary School has a B-plus on Niche, while Eagle Nest Middle School has an A-minus. Both schools are located about 12 miles north of town in Eagle Nest. Cimarron High School has a B. Cimarron High is about 35 miles away, so many families elect to send their kids to Moreno Valley High School, a charter school in Angel Fire with an A-minus on Niche.
Eagle Nest Elementary serves Angel Fire students in grades PK-4 within the Cimarron Municipal Schools District.
Eagle Nest Middle School shares its campus with the Eagle Nest Elementary, taking over for Angel Fire students until grade 8.
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Limited shopping during the off-season
Shopping and dining in Angel Fire are concentrated along Mountain View Boulevard, the town's main thoroughfare. The road is home to Lowe's Market, a hardware store, and a few furniture and antique shops. It's also where locals will find most of the town's dozen or so restaurants, though a few are located on the resort's main grounds. There's more culinary diversity than one might expect in a town of this size, with dining options ranging from Thai to Mexican to barbecue, along with a couple of traditional American cafes. However, these options narrow dramatically when the resort is closed. "The town kind of empties out during shoulder seasons," says Johnston. "A few restaurants stay open year-round, but most people close up. It's not too bad, though. That's when you really get to meet your neighbors, if you're year-round, because you're the only ones left in town."
Pub and Grub and Pizza Stop are food options much closer to the resort and slopes in Angel Fire.
For more traditional retailers and services Angel Fire drive out to Taos.
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Getting to Taos and the interstate
Taos is home to the nearest hospital and major shopping centers, and is about 25 miles away by car. U.S. Route 64 takes residents west to Taos and east to Interstate 25. Route 64 is part of the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, a driving route known for its breathtaking views and excellent hiking. It's a little over 150 miles to the nearest major airport, the Albuquerque International Sunport.
Albuquerque International Sunport Airport is a 15-mile trip from The Heights.
Holy Cross Medical Center in Taos is the closest hospital near Angel Fire.
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Written By
Andrew Moreno
Photography Contributed By
Christiaan Cruz
Video By
Stewart Taveras
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Brian Lindsey,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Angel Fire, NM sell after 114 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Angel Fire, NM over the last 12 months is $564,750, up 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Discover your dream mountain getaway in Angel Fire! This beautifully updated 5 bedroom, 4 1/2 bathroom home is situated just moments from Angel Fire's PGA rated 18 hole Golf Course and offers a lifestyle of unparalleled convenience and natural beauty. You'll be minutes from all the amenities Angel Fire has to offer including skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing in the winter, and hiking,
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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