Santa Fe Railyard Park and Plaza
New Santa Fe Restaurant, Entertainment, Art and Recreation Hub Opens
Oct 7, 2008
Located on the southwest edge of the city's atmospheric old town, the Santa Fe Railyard encompasses 50 acres, stretching along South Guadalupe Street and down Cerrillos Road to Baca Street. Its development is turning a long-neglected area of the city center into a new arts and culture corridor, with a vibrant mix of residential, commercial and community spaces.
Plans to revitalize the Railyard began in the 1980s. The project broke ground in September 2004, and celebrated its grand opening in September 2008. Green design is a key element of the new Railyard, from the buildings to environmental features such as water catchments to maintain trees and plants during dry years.
The Santa Fe Railyard Depot
The historic train depot, on South Guadalupe Street at the northern end of the district, is the focal point of the new development. With its Mission Revival-style architecture, it was built here in 1880, when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company brought the first railway line into Santa Fe.
Santa Fe tourism boomed as the trains brought curious visitors west to the oldest state capital in the country. The railyard also became a community hub for local residents. When the circus came to town, it set up its tents here. During the Great Depression, food was distributed to needy townsfolk from the warehouses.
The depot has remained part of the city's tourism scene as the departure point for the Santa Fe Southern Railway. Twice a week, it offers half-day trips in vintage 1920s rail cars, across the high desert to Lamy, a near-ghost town from the days of the Wild West. Shorter trips to the Galisteo Basin run year-round on Sunday afternoons.
From December 2008, the depot will become a stop on the new Rail Runner Express, which connects Santa Fe to Albuquerque. It brings the area's history full circle as the Santa Fe Railyard once again becomes a hub for local transportation as well as tourism.
Railyard Park and Plaza
Railyard Park anchors the southern end of the district. Together with the central Railyard Plaza and Market Station, it encompasses 12 acres. The parkland includes a children's play area and a multi-use trail for walking and biking that runs along the acequia, or irrigation canal.
Railyard Park and Plaza are designed as public gathering and entertainment spaces. Events and activities from live music performances to outdoor movies will take place here.
SITE Santa Fe, a leading contemporary arts venue that exhibits internationally known artists, was one of the first organizations to establish itself at the Railyard. So was El Museo Cultural, a dynamic center that promotes Hispanic culture, art and history, showcasing traditions from Northern New Mexico through Latin America.
Warehouse 21, a youth arts center is another nonprofit organization here. Railyard Galleries feature several art outlets, while ArtYard provides living and working loft spaces for artists as well as retail area.
Santa Fe Farmer's Market
One of the most exciting features of the new Santa Fe Railyard is the building of a new, year-round home for the Farmer's Market. This popular market, whose vendors come only from the 15 northern counties, has been operating for 40 years and is the largest farmer's market in New Mexico.
All of the produce is grown locally, as are most of the other ingredients and materials used in the items sold here. The Santa Fe Farmer's Market is held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.
 |
