A Brief History of the El Portal
The El Portal originally opened in 1903 as The Hotel Seaberg. It was named for Hugo Seaberg, a Swedish immigrant who had a dream of owning the premier hotel in New Mexico.

The facility expanded eight times through 1928. With 400 rooms, it was the largest hotel in New Mexico and was considered one of the top hotels in the Southwest.

Hard economic times in 1937 forced Seaberg to declare bankruptcy. In 1938, new owners renamed the hotel “The El Portal,” which is Spanish for “The Gateway.”

Bill and Vivian Douglas and Andy and Vera Holman bought the El Portal in 1997 and have made numerous improvements. Today there are 18 hotel rooms and 40 apartments.

Murals from the WPA era still adorn the lobby and hallways, and the grand parlor is elegantly furnished with the styles of the early 1900s. Hotel rooms feature the distinctive look of an era gone by. Stop in and see the enchantment for yourself.

Charming Accommodations
One of the things that sets the El Portal apart from “typical” hotels is the diverse designs of its guest rooms, which have kept the look and feel of the early twentieth century.

Spacious interior hallways lit by chandeliers lead the way to 18 private rooms with oak tables, 100-year-old dressers, claw-foot bath tubs and antique armories.

Room rates range from $45 to $95, depending on desired accommodations. The El Portal accepts Visa and Master Card. Group accommodations and discounts are available.

Third Street Café
Everyone agrees: the Third Street Café is worlds apart from typical small-town restaurant fare. Owned and managed by Marsha Merkel, former “chef to the stars” and head of elite dining establishments in California, Connecticut and Florida, the café serves scrumptious meals at honest prices six days a week.

El Portal guests enjoy 10 percent off on items such as asparagus and mushroom strudel, pan-seared salmon with Jasmine rice, and bow-tie pasta tossed with artichokes, asparagus, carrots and roasted red pepper.

Plenty To Do
We’re located in the heart of downtown, close to everything. A five-minute walk gets you to gift shops, clothing and sporting goods stores, a movie theater, banks, Ripley Park, the Post Office, the public library and lots of friendly people.

To learn about things to do while you enjoy a peaceful, easy-going stay at the El Portal, contact the New Mexico Visitor Information Center in Raton at (505) 445-2761. Turn the page for several ideas to get you started.

The Historic El Portal Hotel
Take Some Enchantment Home with You

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