City: Santa Fe, NM

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (505) 983-2667

Description: Patron saint: San Diego (St. James). Feast day: November 12.Tesuque (teh-SOO-keh) Pueblo—Te-tsu-geh, or “The Narrow Place of Cottonwood Trees” in Tewa—encompasses 17,204 acres in the lush foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, including forestland adjacent to Santa Fe National Forest and farmland near the Río Grande. The Tesuque people settled in this area, located just 9 miles north of Santa Fe, 14 years after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt in which Tesuque Indians struck the first blows against the Spanish and suffered the first casualties. Two members of the pueblo also served as messengers to the other tribes, spreading word of the revolt. An earlier pueblo existed before the 12th century but was abandoned after the revolt.A relatively small pueblo of about 400 tribal members, Tesuque today is nonetheless among the most traditional of the Tewa-speaking people. Only a very few of its celebrations are open to the public, and the pueblo sometimes closes to outsiders with little or no notice. The pueblo owns and operates Camel Rock Casino, (800) GO–CAMEL), named for the centuries-old, distinctive sandstone formation near the entrance to the pueblo. Inside the casino is Pueblo Artist Cafe, considered the best restaurant among the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos. The tribe also owns Santa Fe Suites, (87-989-3600), on South St. Francis Drive in Santa Fe and took over the famous—and upscale—outdoor flea market on the west side of US 84/285 next to the Santa Fe Opera. At the pueblo itself, visitors may buy permits for fishing and primitive camping at Tesuque’s Aspen Ranch. The pueblo also operates Tesuque Natural Farms, an organic produce company that sells at local farmers’ markets and to some of Santa Fe’s better restaurants. The tribe also sells native arts and crafts, including the brightly colored pottery for which the pueblo has become known, neo-traditional rain god figurines, sculpture, painting, jewelry, and traditional clothing. Directions from Santa Fe: Take US 84/285 9 miles.