Angel Fire Summer Visitors Guide 2026 by The Taos News

Painting the unspoken

CHRISTOPHER M. SULLIVAN doesn’t paint landscapes, but Angel Fire is everywhere in his work. The mountains may never appear literally on his canvases, yet their color, stillness and emotional gravity pulse through nearly every piece he creates.

It’s in the greens and blues that have slowly overtaken his palette since moving to Northern New Mexico. It’s in the quiet stillness he finds looking out the studio window at elk wandering past his home. It’s in the mountain light that seems to glow from within his large abstract canvases.

And, in a very literal way, it’s even beneath his feet.

After surviving a traumatic brain injury in a 2014 auto accident and enduring years of rehabilitation, Sullivan eventually reached a milestone he once feared might never happen again: skiing. To mark the moment, he had one of his paintings, “Endeavor,” printed onto a pair of custom skis — a reminder of the recovery, persistence and emotional endurance that brought him back to the mountains he loves.

“Being able to ski again was a big thing,” Sullivan says. “That’s what got me here.”

Angel Fire artist turns struggle into deeply personal abstract art

by EllenMiller-Goins

Today, Sullivan lives and works full time in Angel Fire, where his CMS Studio Gallery doubles as both home and creative sanctuary. Inside, massive abstract canvases glow with electric blues, deep violets and fiery reds, turning the living space into an immersive emotional landscape. The artist, whose emotionally charged works have developed a devoted following in New Mexico and beyond, describes his process less as painting and more as emotional translation.

“People create art in order to not feel alone,” he says. “Sometimes as humans, we can’t put words to things. But if you can express it into a feeling, and someone understands it, then there’s a connection.”

That connection lies at the heart of Sullivan’s work.

FROM LEFT: Christopher M. Sullivan paints “Static” on the deck of his Angel Fire home studio while enjoying mountain sunshine and fresh air. Christopher M. Sullivan works on “Lurking,” a piece currently drying in his Angel Fire studio before its planned move to Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties.

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HIS PAINTINGS are layered, luminous and textured, often balancing turbulence with calm. He underpaints his canvases in black before slowly building color and movement over the surface — a technique that emerged after his brain injury altered both his speech and physical abilities.

“The words were all mixed

up, and I couldn’t use my arm,” Sullivan says. “I was unhappy with how the translation was coming across in my color. So I switched and started working backward with my layering, and all my depth came back.”

The injury forced him to rethink nearly everything. Unable to fully use his right arm during rehabilitation, Sullivan

taught himself to paint with his left. He adapted his workspace, found a counterbalanced easel that accommodated his shoulder injury and slowly rebuilt both mobility and confidence. Painting became more than creative expression. It became survival.

“There have been times when I’ve felt like I painted something out and the question was over,” he says. “In some unspoken language, I was able to give therapy to myself.”

That emotional honesty

can make the work difficult for Sullivan himself to live with.

“If there’s more than three or four pieces in one place, it’s hard for me to be around them,” he says with a laugh. “I feel like I’m standing there with no clothes on.”

Even so, vulnerability remains central to the work.

One painting, “Crash,” emerged after an emotional breaking point during recovery, when Sullivan decided he would teach himself to paint left-handed rather than stop creating entirely. Stark and jagged against a black background, the piece reflects both rupture and resilience. Another work, “Homeward Bound,” explored grief and loss after Sullivan helped care for a close friend in hospice. The luminous painting, awash in blues and violet light, feels almost celestial.

The emotional impact of that piece stayed with him long after it left the studio.

During an exhibition in Austin, a woman stood in front of “Homeward Bound” and began to cry.

“She had just lost her father,” Sullivan recalls. “She said, ‘There’s just something about this that I understand.’ And it was exactly what I had painted about.”

FROM TOP: “Crash” reflects the confusion and frightening “static” Sullivan experienced while struggling to communicate and process language following his traumatic brain injury. “Lurking,” oil on canvas, is intentionally left without a formal description, allowing viewers to develop their own emotional interpretation of the work.

LONG DAYSAngel Fire IN

From paddling and pickleball to shopping and summit views

1. RIDE TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD

The Chile Express scenic chairlift is one of the signature summer experiences in Angel Fire, carrying riders high above the Moreno Valley to sweeping views of Wheeler Peak, forested ridgelines and the village below. At the 10,677-foot summit, visitors can stretch their legs on a hike, enjoy lunch at the Summit Haus, snap photos or simply sit back and let the altitude and scenery do the work.

2. CLAIM A WATERY DAY AT MONTE VERDE LAKE

Few places in Angel Fire capture summer as completely as Monte Verde Lake. Once known primarily as a quiet fishing spot, it has

evolved into a true daytime hub, where families rent kay aks and pedal boats, anglers cast for trout and visitors lin ger along the shore with pic nic lunches and dogs in tow. You can paddle out into the middle and drift for a while or stay onshore and enjoy the mountain reflections and cool alpine air.

3. WANDER THE VILLAGE

Not every great summer day in Angel Fire needs a trail map. Spend an afternoon exploring the village’s growing collection of boutiques, galleries and gathering spaces, where mountain style meets small-town creativity. Shops offer everything from mountain-modern décor and artisan gifts to colorful home goods and locally inspired finds. On Sundays, the Farmers Market adds live music, food vendors and a relaxed community atmosphere that invites visitors to slow down and linger awhile.

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4. FISH LIKE A LOCAL

For visitors who equate summer with a rod, a reel and a little patience, Angel Fire delivers. Monte Verde Lake and Olympic Park offer easy access and family-friendly fishing, while nearby waters such as Coyote Creek, Eagle Nest Lake and Cimarron Canyon State Park reward anglers willing to explore. The appeal here is not only the catch. It is the cool morning air, sunlight on the water and the possibility that the best story of the trip might begin with, “You should have seen the one that got away.”

5. TEE OFF AT ALTITUDE

Golf in Angel Fire comes

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cool mountain temperatures, sweeping alpine scenery and drives that travel a little farther in the thin air at 8,600 feet. The resort course winds through aspens and open fairways beneath Wheeler Peak, making even an average round feel scenic. Whether you are chasing birdies or simply enjoying the mountain pace, it is one of the village’s classic summer rituals.

6. TAKE THE GAME TO THE COURTS

Angel Fire is also expanding its tennis and pickleball footprint in a big way. A new Olympic Park facility scheduled for summer 2026 will feature dedicated tennis and pickleball courts, reinforcing how

mountain recreation — even between hikes and chairlift rides. Whether you are joining regular play, sharpening your game in a clinic or simply booking a casual hit with friends, it is one of the easiest ways to slip into the local rhythm.

7. TOSS SOME PLASTIC AT

10,000

FEET

Disc golf may be one of Angel Fire’s most underrated summer experiences. At the summit of the Chile Express, players can tackle an 18-hole course surrounded by alpine views, cool mountain air and wide-open skies. The sport is easy to learn, family-friendly

and surprisingly addictive — part hike, part game and part excuse to spend an afternoon at elevation.

8. SADDLE UP FOR THE MOUNTAIN WEST

Horseback riding remains one of the most timeless ways to experience Northern New Mexico, and Roadrunner Tours gives visitors a chance to explore Carson National Forest at a slower pace. Guided rides range from beginner-friendly outings to longer excursions through mountain meadows and pine forests, with options for lessons, wagon rides and even chuckwagon-style adventures.

9. GO BIGGER WITH ZIPLINING AND OFF-ROAD TOURS

For travelers who prefer a little more speed, Angel Fire has that covered, too. Guided zipline tours send riders over the mountain on a high-altitude thrill ride, while offroad UTV adventures open up the Carson National Forest in a completely different way. These experiences turn the landscape into something immersive — gliding, climbing and bouncing through the mountains instead of simply admiring them from afar.

10. KEEP IT FAMILY-CENTERED

One of Angel Fire’s biggest strengths is how naturally

it accommodates families. Olympic Park, summer festivals, playgrounds, horseback rides, library offerings and lake activities make it easy to fill a day without over-planning it. Summer skateboarding clinics and the Angel Fire Skate Festival add another layer of fun, giving younger visitors a place to learn tricks, meet friends and plug into the village’s growing action-sports culture.

By the time the light softens over Wheeler Peak, most visitors have discovered the same thing: in Angel Fire, the hardest part of summer is deciding whether to call it a day — or stay out for the night.

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Concerts, patios, stargazing and mountain evenings under dark skies

C0ol nightsAngel Fire IN 1

1. FOLLOW THE MUSIC

Summer nights in Angel Fire increasingly revolve around live performance. Some evenings bring free Friday-evening outdoor concerts and dancing at Moun-

Fuego Street. Others belong to BluewsFest, July 10-11, where blues legends, regional bands and New Mexico craft breweries fill the Moreno Valley with music and mountain energy. Then there is Music from Angel Fire, Aug. 13-26, the internationally respected chamber music festival that has spent more than four decades bringing world-class musicians to Northern New

2. DINE WHERE THE DAY ENDS

At Legends Grill, families and groups settle in for burgers, drinks and easy mountain evenings after a day outdoors. El Jefe’s tacos, margaritas and patio seating make it one of the village’s favorite summer gathering spots, while Pub ’n’ Grub mixes laidback food and local entertainment with an unmistakably casual mountain-town vibe. For something more elevated,

Alejandro Miranda MD

Robert Leland MD

by OliviaLewis

SERVING UP Joy

THE SCENT HITS FIRST — smoky, savory, unmistakably comforting — drifting out into Patriot Plaza and pulling people through the door. Inside One People’s Kitchen, paper boats overflow with gumbo, pulled pork, smash burgers and corn ribs, and strangers quickly start to feel like regulars.

For chef and owner John Sturdivant, that’s exactly the point.

“It’s good food for everybody,” he says. “That’s always been the idea — something approachable, something that feels like home.”

One People’s Kitchen opened its doors in early March and has already become a gathering place in Angel Fire. On a recent Sunday, the dining room filled quickly after church let out — families, locals and curious

tables, balancing trays and swapping recommendations.

The concept is a departure from Sturdivant’s previous role as the executive chef at Angel

Fire Resort Country Club, where he served high-end fare — tomahawk steaks, filet mignon and trout dishes priced accordingly. Here, the focus is different:

ABOVE: Eric Leonard of One People’s Kitchen, adds a garnish to a buffet style spread of some of the dishes served at the restaurant in Angel Fire. BELOW: Eric Leonard takes a customer’s order.

ity to respond quickly to happenings on the canvas. “There has been a continuous dialogue between myself and my works of art beginning when I was 5 years old.” Her paintings and sketeches are a diary of her life on this 3rd rock from the sun.

PJ realized early on each painting has a life of it’s own. “This realization and the evolving of a composition is one of the very special joys of my life.”

PJ attended classes at the Kansas City Art Institute and studied with Robert E. Woods, Millard Sheets, George Post, Milford Zornes, Barse Miller, Charles Reid and others.

Water Lilly Pond 20x60 o/c

Water Lily Pond with Koi 20x60 o/c

Paintings

Wilder Nightingale Fine Arts (Taos), Legacy (Santa Fe) and Manitou Gallery (Santa Fe)

MAKING WAVES Angel Fire IN

by EllenMiller-Goins

THE PAST 14 YEARS, Jan

Zientara has led water aerobics classes at Angel Fire Resort, building a steady following drawn as much by the workout as the atmosphere she creates.

“It’s a full-body workout,” Zientara says. “Because we stay upright, you’re always working your core — both front and back.”

Her classes, held yearround with expanded

summer sessions, blend cardio, strength training and flexibility into a format that feels approachable, even for beginners. A typical hour begins with a warm-up, followed by more targeted work using equipment such as foam barbells or resistance gear that attaches at the wrists or ankles.

But the real magic happens in the water itself.

Water aerobics has long

been known for its low-impact benefits, and in Angel Fire — where elevation, terrain and aging joints can all pose challenges — that matters.

“The attraction is for someone who needs something that’s not going to beat up their body,” Zientara says.

Participants jog, lift and move through resistance created by the water, which naturally slows motion and cushions impact. The result is a workout that builds strength and cardiovascular endurance without the strain of land-based exercise.

Zientara emphasizes adaptability. Movements can be modified for injuries, joint replacements or mobility concerns — a skill she has honed through decades of certification and continuing education.

That flexibility has made the class especially appealing to older adults, though it’s far from exclusive.

“I do get a younger group in the summertime,” she says, noting participants in their 50s alongside regulars in their 70s.

On most days, a core group of about eight year-round residents shows up, joined by seasonal visitors during the summer months.

For some, the commitment runs deep.

Jan Bush drives 25 miles each way from Guadalupita to attend class twice a week: a routine she has kept for 10 years.

“I love the water,” Bush says, adding, “It opened another magic door in my life.”

Now 77, Bush credits the

Funded in part by the Taos County Lodgers Tax Discover

FROM VENTURA COUNTY TO THE MORENO VALLEY

The Suttons were young when they married 60 years ago as high school sweethearts from Ventura County, California. Sue was 17, Dick 18. They started early, building a life grounded in work, family and faith.

Dick was already a licensed contractor when an opportunity came along: a colleague in California needed a home built in Northern New Mexico.

“So I came out here, and it was for the summer,” Dick says. “And we built his home. And then … we ended up staying.”

They rented out their house in California, packed up their young family — their son Jeremiah was just a year old — and headed to the Moreno Valley. Their first months were spent at El Bordo, where many early newcomers ended up staying.

It was a tight-knit group — among them Sharon and James Butts, who would later become Angel Fire’s first mayor; and golf course manager Paul Ortiz and his family.

“There wasn’t much here as far as big business,” Dick says. “The ski area … and that was about it.”

TAKING A CHANCE ON ANGEL FIRE

What Angel Fire lacked in infrastructure, it made up for in opportunity. After completing that first project, Dick ventured out on his own, founding John R. Sutton Construction in 1978. At first, the work was speculative — building homes without buyers lined up and taking on the financial risk in hopes of selling later.

“You never knew,” Dick says. “If you didn’t sell them right away, the interest from the bank goes way up.”

Over time, the business evolved into contract work, bringing more stability. What didn’t change was the standard.

“You can drive down pretty

much any street in Angel Fire and see something that Sutton Construction has been a part of,” says grandson Jayden Sutton, who now helps lead the company.

RAISING A FAMILY — AND HELPING RAISE OTHERS

While Dick built houses, Sue built something just as lasting — a network of families. Early on, Sue helped in the business making trips to pick up supplies for the job sites and lending a hand wherever needed.

With four children — John, Kim, Bonnie and Jeremiah — the Sutton household was busy. The kids spent their school years between Cimarron, Eagle Nest, Taos and even the Angel Fire Country Day School located at

the Rock House while it was in operation, along with years of homeschooling. They raced on the ski team, traveling across New Mexico and Colorado ski areas, and the family regularly drove to Taos for taekwondo, skiing, swim lessons and gymnastics — whatever opportunities were available.

Sue also became a fixture for other families, babysitting and homeschooling children throughout the valley.

Being a small community, they helped each other — and that spirit still carries on today.

That spirit defined Angel Fire in the ’70s and ’80s — a place where neighbors might park in the middle of the road to visit for 40 minutes, where shopping meant a trip to Albuquerque

and where church anchored social life.

The Suttons were part of the Angel Fire Baptist Church before it even had a building.

Life here also meant adapting to the rhythms of the land — and its wildlife.

“The elk were all over the road,” Sue says. “I’d be thinking, ‘I’m going to be late getting the kids to school,’ and there’d be a big bull elk and the herd just crossing the road.”

HOME AGAIN, AND BUILDING THROUGH THE BOOM

In 1980, the Suttons returned to California so Dick could secure his union retirement benefits. They stayed five years, but Angel Fire had already taken hold. » PAGE42

MORE PLACES TO RIDE AROUND ANGEL FIRE

Greenbelt Trails (Angel Fire Valley)

A network of scenic, beginner-to-intermediate trails winds through the village, linking Deer, Coyote, Bear and Bobcat routes into a roughly 5-mile loop.

Whoop-de-Doos Loop (Carson National Forest)

A moderately challenging loop with rolling terrain and steady elevation gain, offering a quieter alternative to the bike park.

South Boundary Trail

One of Northern New Mexico’s most iconic rides, stretching more than 20 miles from Angel Fire toward Taos. Known for sustained climbs and long descents, it’s best suited for experienced riders.

Ben Cornali gets ready to hit the trails at Angel Fire Bike Park.