Historic Santa Fe County village with an artistic flair
About 23 miles south of Santa Fe, Galisteo is bounded by the Galisteo Basin Preserve, and the community's centuries-old adobe homes, water wells and fruit orchards lend it a vintage, rural feel. “It’s a place out of time, probably like what Santa Fe felt like in the 1940s: All dirt roads, no streetlights and people getting around on horseback,” says Tim Weldon, an artist and Galisteo local. Home to Paleo Indians as far back as 7,500 B.C., Galisteo became a Spanish farming village in the 1600s. The community’s rural spirit is kept alive by local institutions like the 19th-century Our Lady of Los Remedios Church, and its deep history and savanna grasslands serve as a beacon for spiritual centers like the Chi Center and Light Institute, as well as for artists. “There’s just a vibe here that you can’t put your finger on,” explains Weldon. “The Galisteo Basin Preserve, the old village — it makes me feel like I’m hovering above the ground. It might sound weird, but there’s something artists are in touch with here.”
Galisteo has all the character of a small town along with history and a great community.
Being that Galisteo is a historic town you will find history around every corner.
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Authentic adobe homes shaded by trees and Santa Fe homes surrounded by desert hills
A gentle hill in the middle of Galisteo splits the village into two distinct halves. The eastern half is interwoven with Galisteo Creek, and its 18th- and 19th-century homes sit on acreage lush with marshes and fruit trees. “I’ve got all sorts of apricot and apple trees, and my neighbor has a ginormous pear tree that’s always spilling fruits into my yard,” Weldon laughs. All homes in Galisteo’s eastern half are Pueblo Revival homes with either colorful stucco or authentic adobe exteriors, and many feature casitas (small houses) residents use for art studios or guest houses. Most sit on 1 to 10 acres and range from $1.2 million to $1.9 million, depending on lot size. Homes in Galisteo’s western half sit amid vast savannas dotted with juniper trees and desert shrubs. Most are Santa Fe-style homes from the 1990s to 2020s, with tan stucco exteriors, wood molding and flat roofs; prices range from $695,000 for two-bedroom homes on 1 acre to $995,000 for three-bedroom homes on 5 acres. Undeveloped lots are also available in Galisteo’s western half; a 6-acre parcel can fetch $150,000, while 40 acres can cost $345,000.
Most homes in Galisteo have large plots of land and rustic fences.
Since Galisteo is filled with artists you will see homes with beautiful unique touches.
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Ancient nature preserves and artsy community centers
Immediately north of the village, the Galisteo Basin Preserve stretches over 10,000 acres, its over 40 miles of dirt trails and arroyos running around sprawling savannas and tall stone mounds. Once occupied by Paleo Indians in 7,500 B.C., the Galisteo Basin Preserve is also a major archaeological site, peppered with ancient Pueblo ruins. “People hiking or riding their horses will see ancient petroglyphs on the rock formations here,” Weldon says. The Galisteo Community Center often hosts artistic events, including poetry readings, literary lectures and art galleries; also here are basketball courts and a playground.
Hiking trails near Galisteo can give beautiful views of the nearby landscapes.
Residents can gather at the Galisteo Community Center for events.
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Grocery stores, markets and taphouses in nearby Eldorado
“There are no businesses out here — you can’t even get a water bottle if you wanted. You’d have to head to Eldorado for that,” Weldon explains. Around 12 miles north, the Eldorado Supermart is the community go-to grocery store, and just across the street from the Supermart, the weekly Eldorado Farmers Market offers fresh produce and pastries from local vendors. The Santa Fe Brewing Company Eldorado Taphouse is also a watering hole for communities in outer Santa Fe County, and the neighboring Bite Me Bakery is popular for its muffuletta sandwiches.
Galisteo locals can head up to Santa Fe Brewing to grab a cold drink.
Grocery shopping is an easy trip to the Eldorado Supermarket for Galisteo residents.
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Galisteo Studio Tours
In October, locals open their studio doors to show off their paintings and sculptures for the Galisteo Studio Tour; artists range from the Santa Fe Indian Market-winning potter Rob King to the children’s book illustrator Julia Cairns. “People start at the Galisteo Community Center where they have food trucks and then walk around the village’s studios. We got around 750 people last year, and everyone really seems to like walking around the old, charming village,” Weldon says.
Duende Gallery sits within one of the oldest buildings in Galisteo, a 1800's Dance Hall.
Galisteo residents being known for art have beautiful studios such as Duende Gallery.
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Community schools in Santa Fe County
Local kids can attend Santa Fe Public Schools, including El Dorado Community School, which earns a B-plus from Niche. At A-minus-rated Santa Fe High, they can participate in the decades-old school paper “The Demon Tattler” and enroll in engineering and culinary arts programs.
El Dorado Community school earns a B-plus from Niche and serves kindergarten through 8th grade.
Students can attend Santa Fe High School, which received an A minus from Niche.
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Nearby Highway 285 and Interstate 25
Galisteo sits on New Mexico 41, which intersects 6 miles north with Highway 285, and 13 miles northeast with Interstate 25. Downtown Santa Fe is 23 miles away via I-25. “It’s really not that long of a drive, only around 20 minutes. I have friends who live in Santa Fe, and it takes them longer to reach the Plaza because I have a straight shot there from the interstate,” Weldon says. The CHRISTUS Saint Vincent Regional Medical Center is 21 miles north, and the Santa Fe Regional Airport is 24 miles northwest.
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This historic Hacienda embodies the essence of old-world New Mexico charm and a true Galisteo history with the spirit of this old adobe reflecting the lore, legend and mystery of the Galisteo Basin. Beginning in the 1800s this was the Headquarters of Don Jose Ortiz y Pino's sheep empire - a gathering place, a general store - and more recently, for several decades beginning in the late 1970s this
Is Galisteo calling you? Here is a contemporary styled 3 bed, 3 bath home, intelligently designed and well built by EJ Jennings, offering the prime experience of Galisteo: beautiful natural surroundings, panoramic vistas, big skies, solitude and quiet, all a mere 30min drive from Santa Fe.Approach a private, walled garden space leading to a wide entryway to the home. The spacious living
Sweeping Galisteo Vistas - Cerro Pelon "The Wave", the Manzanos, the Ortiz Mountains and beyond from this Ranchitos de Galisteo parcel. A level building site in a peaceful, quiet setting, with community water, electric and phone underground. There are covenants and restrictions, however, there is NO HOA. 1200 square foot minimum, 2 Horses allowed.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Susan Buchman,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
447
Median Age
59
Population under 18
12.1%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
38.7%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$33,888
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$65,726
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99.7%
College Graduates
50.8%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
18.8%
% Population in Labor Force
44.8%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
15''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
33''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
3/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
2/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
