The History of Los Poblanos

On Sunday, November 21, 2021, Kate Garner, the Culture & Community Event Director at Los Poblanos, gave a talk on the history of this storied land, including the rich cast of characters who have made it into the celebrated agritourism destination it is today. The program was live-streamed on the AHS Facebook page with a question and answer session following the presentation.

The Los Poblanos land has a rich history from the Ancestral Pueblo Indians in the 14th century to the current day Historic Inn and Organic Farm owned and operated by the Rembe family. The land was part of the Elena Gallegos land grant in the 18th century, then owned by Ambrosio and Juan Cristobal Armijo through the 19th century and reassembled by Albert Simms and Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms in the 1930s. Los Poblanos today encompasses the original headquarters of the Simms’ 800-acre ranch which was a hub for their dairy, farming, nursery, and dynamic cultural and educational endeavors. In 1932, Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms commissioned architect John Gaw Meem and numerous WPA artists and craftsmen to renovate the ranch house and create the La Quinta Cultural Center for political and community events and recreation with gardens designed by Rose Greely.

Since opening Los Poblanos Inn in 1999, the Rembe family have been committed to perpetuating the agricultural history of this land by maintaining an active organic lavender and thriving kitchen gardens. The original residence now serves as a boutique spa; and the cultural center operates as it was originally intended – hosting meetings, parties, educational and cultural events.

Kate Garner, Culture & Community Event Director – Born and raised in Toronto, Kate has been living in the Southwest since 2017. The sunshine, mountains and rich history here have captured her heart and imagination. After spending a few years in Phoenix, Kate and her husband relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico. While Kate was working towards her Masters in Sustainable Tourism, she completed a capstone project at Los Poblanos on the subject of transformative travel. When the opportunity arose to bring the ideas in her project to life, Kate jumped at the chance to join the team. In her role, Kate enjoys developing creative guest experiences and unique events that showcase the property’s history, sustainability mission and incredibly talented teams from the farm to the kitchen and beyond.