A New Chapter:
The Story Behind Our Move From Cerrillos Road

December 2, 2025

For more than 30 years, Santa Fe Rafting worked out of a little adobe building at 1000 Cerrillos Road—a humble, sun-baked shack that became the beating heart of our company. That address was more than a location; it was a landmark in our personal history. Thousands of river runners checked in for their white water adventures. Guides swapped stories on its steps. And many unexpected love connections were made there. And through every season—drought, high water, dust storms, fires—our landlord stood by us with kindness and generosity that we deeply appreciate to this day.

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Change, as inevitable as the river’s flow, had finally arrived for us.

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The owner of the property is now ready to sell, and with that, the entire strip from St. Francis Drive to the Burrito Spot is destined for redevelopment. Plans for a hotel surfaced, even as the neighborhood meeting erupted in strong opposition. But the truth is, decisions like these move at a scale far beyond small businesses like ours. Whether we agreed or not, Santa Fe Rafting was being swept into the tide of change. It was time for us to move.

The challenge was… where?

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For five long years, we searched for a new location. Anyone who lives in Santa Fe knows the harsh reality: space is nearly impossible to find, especially the kind of space we need—room for trailers, gear, shuttles, parking, and a welcoming check-in experience for guests and guides. Santa Fe is full, expensive, and rapidly shifting. Many times, after yet another hopeful lead collapsed under the weight of cost or sheer impracticality, we worried we might never find a home that worked. The thought was painful: after decades of serving this community, could rising costs really push us out?

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Then—just when it felt like we were at the end of the road—an unexpected guide school student walked into our lives.

He showed up with a huge smile, a big laugh, and literally donuts and coffee in hand—eager to learn, focused, and quickly earning the nickname from the class as their’ ‘Rafting Dad". But behind the scenes, he was also a brilliant businessman. Quietly observing, asking questions, listening deeply. He believed in what we were doing, and before long, he began helping us navigate the maze: connecting us to city officials, county contacts, state leaders, community organizers. We attended conferences, pitched ideas, explained our mission to anyone who’d listen.

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And what we discovered surprised us.

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The City of Santa Fe—despite its proclamations celebrating outdoor recreation—seemed strangely unmoved by the idea of losing a small, long-standing business. We weren’t big enough, flashy enough, or profitable enough for the city to fight for. Business diversity, access to outdoor recreation, youth engagement, tourism ripple effects—none of it carried weight in those rooms. It stung. But it also made something in us stronger. We were more determined than ever to find a home that valued what we do.

And then, finally, we met the right people.

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Through a chain of introductions that felt almost destined, we were connected with the leadership at Nambé Pueblo. The moment we stepped onto their land, the energy shifted—instantly, unmistakably. There was curiosity. Enthusiasm. Ideas. Warmth. Real conversation. These were people who genuinely cared about community, culture, nature, and the future.

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Together, we discovered we wanted the same thing:

Not another noisy, congested development built on concrete and corporate ambition.
Not another strip mall or hotel with no intention of sustainability.
Not a place defined by greed, density, and walls.

We wanted to build something alive.

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Where kids could learn the river and understand its delicate ecosystems.
Where guides could grow, feel safe, and celebrate each other’s accomplishments.
Where staff could support one another through both successes and challenges.
Where outdoor recreation could give back to the land, rather than take from it, and inspire everyone to protect and appreciate it.

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Because while the future will absolutely include energy, innovation, and technology… the future is also human.

The future is connection. The more screens fill our lives, the more people will crave the wind in cottonwoods, the steady flow of water over rocks, the feeling of stepping into something real.

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And so, in one remarkable conversation, something clicked.
A spark became a vision.
A vision became a plan.
A plan became a partnership.

Santa Fe Rafting had finally found its new home—on the sovereign, sacred, stunning land of Nambé Pueblo.

The part that comes next… well, that’s the truly exciting chapter.

Because this move isn’t the end of our story.
It’s the beginning of something bigger, bolder, and more meaningful than anything we’ve ever done before.