about
why vacation with us?
Cimarron is a peaceful relaxing place where one can truly reset and unwind. Our town is the ideal starting point for a number of on and off-road adventures. Click here to see our favorite nearby cities for adventuring, dining, shopping, and relaxing.
Motorcyclists love the area for scenic riding, with at least five or six excellent 150-250 mile/day trips awaiting you like the “Highway of Legends” in southern Colorado just west of Trinidad or the Enchanted Circle just to our west.
Interested in the scenery? Take a drive through Cimarron Canyon past The Palisades and hike in the Colin Neblett Wildlife area, or go trout fishing from Eagle Nest Dam down to Ute Park or in the Valle Vidal. Drive the Enchanted Circle or Valle Vidal. Mountain biking abounds all over the area with the epic IMBA South Boundary Trail starting in Angel Fire and ending in Taos.
If you want a taste (literally) of the town life, try brewery hopping. There are numerous micro breweries in the area, including: Blü Dragonfly Brewing, Comanche Creek, Taos Mesa, Enchanted Circle, or Red River Brewing with spectacular views and food.
Cycling your your thing? Bring your road bike for miles of lightly traveled area highways or a gravel bike for hundreds of miles of gravel roads. Enjoy spectacular and peaceful scenery that only this part of the country can deliver.
Our home provides a level of comfort and hospitality for a perfect start and finish to whatever adventures await you in New Mexico.
stay with us
All bookings are on a first come first serve basis.
Testimonials
“This place is a hidden gem. We definitely plan on going back for a vacation and have told everyone we know about it. The hosts were really sweet, and made us this really amazing breakfast while we were there. There is a hot tub and pool on site and it’s pretty private, only three or four rooms here. There was only one other guest when we were staying. The view was stunning outside the bedroom window. Loved the blue dragonfly name too, lots of spiritual goodness here. Lots of hiking trails in the area. Definitely recommend this place and definitely will be back! Big thanks to Colin and Erin!”
“What a great place to spend a few nights! The setting is peaceful, with lots of wildlife viewing right in the back yard! The house is quiet, with dark night skies (night sky viewing is great). It’s a great launching point for anywhere on the Enchanted Circle or the Philmont Boy Scout ranch.
There were turkey, mule deer, rabbits, and a huge variety of birds. The hummingbirds were as thick as flies while we were there! Only a short drive away, we were lucky enough to see a large herd of elk moving down to the lowlands to feed.
Erin and Colin are a class act - very accommodating and wonderful to talk with. They led us on a hike in some of the most beautiful countryside I’ve had the pleasure to trek. They know all about the surrounding terrain and trails, as well as fishing and hunting areas, and restaurants in the towns on the Enchanted Circle.
The food is exceptional. I’m a somewhat picky eater, but everything we had was amazing, both in taste and presentation. The highlight of our stay had to be the New Mexican Eggs Benedict. All I can say is “wow”!
Our stay was extremely pleasant. We will be back!”
“Our group recently stayed here and had a wonderful experience. Erin and Collin were extremely nice, accommodated our needs and treated us like royalty. The beds were very comfortable and pleasant to sleep on as well as the food was excellent! I would definitely recommend anyone to stay here if ever visiting Cimarron ”
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breakfast
Fresh, hot, and made-from scratch every morning 7 days a week.
About Us
WE ARE COLIN + ERIN TAWNEY
I first saw the Rocky Mountains in late summer of 1974. My mother took my brother and I camping out in Colorado. She also took me skiing the first time a couple of years later and that was when I decided my destiny lay somewhere out west with mountains, wildlife, snow, and spectacular vistas.
I would return about once a year to go skiing through high school then with business over the years, I would return to Colorado more frequently to work and play. My first trip through New Mexico was on my way to Colorado. I opted for the scenic route along New Mexico 456, a highway flanked by beautiful tall mesas which is mostly gravel and dirt from Kenton, Ok. toFolsom, NM. I was taken with the mesas and volcanoes of northern NM as well as the solitude and an aura which very definitely spoke to my spirit.
Erin and I met in 2009. One of the first things I learned about her is that she’s a fantastic cook and she had a dream of owning a B & B someday. A few months later, we went skiing together and I realized that old pull toward the mountains was still there and with Erin’s dream to own a B & B I started to think our destiny lay in the mountains someday.
Erin and I were both cyclists with a love of mountain biking and that led to me eventually entering the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race in 2011 and 2013, which took us back to the mountains for practice and racing. We also started spending more of our trips in New Mexico.
Every time we would come from another trip to the high country we would lament: “Why aren’t we living there already?”
I was searching on line for properties here in New Mexico when I first saw what has become the Blue Dragonfly Inn. It took nearly a year to finally visit it and just 10 minutes of a walk through to realize this was what we’d been searching for all along. We purchased the property in August of 2016.
Colin
I grew up with a mom and grandma who were amazing cooks. I started cooking on my own when I was 11 out of necessity. My Dad wasn’t healed enough from an accident and Mom had to go back to work, I managed pretty well with everything I had learned from my matriarchs. Further that experience with fine dining experiences and the Food Network and my creative culinary skills blossomed. It’s difficult for us to eat at a restaurant anymore because most times I can do better at home.
“Food is essential to life. Therefore, make it good” is one of my favorite quotes. There is something spiritual that drives me to want to share my skills and knowledge with everyone. I’ve thought about writing a book, but I rarely use recipes unless I’m baking. I didn’t want to run a restaurant because I wanted to focus on making people feel warm and loved with my cooking. A B & B seemed like the perfect fit, just not in Oklahoma. If we were going to have to move to a tourist destination in order to create a market, it would have to be some place we want to visit too.
The mountains are a perfect fit for both of us. Years ago I saw a t-shirt that said, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” Yes, they do, and so we did! Colorado is beautiful (and not far away!) but there is something spiritual about the Sangre de Cristo mountains here. When we found the future Blue Dragonfly Inn, the timing could not have been more perfect. Now we can’t wait to share this beautiful place with our guests!
Erin