The sign at the entrance to the hostel is completed, unlike the buildings, which are having facelifts. Advertisement

There's a new place to stay in Tecopa now, and a new concept in hospitality, too. The Old Spanish Trail Hostel is located on Old Spanish Trail Highway, on the way to China Ranch, and is being developed by the same owner/manager as the Ranch House Inn Bed and Breakfast. The Hostel will be finished in December, but is already receiving guests.

Using hostel accommodations has been a popular way to travel in Europe for more than 20 years, but is only recently becoming common in the U.S.

Rates at the hostel in Tecopa are less than a regular hotel, starting at $22 per night, but rooms are shared with other guests of the same gender (private rooms are also available). Guests are expected to make their own bed and clean up after themselves. Emphasis is on experiencing Tecopa and immersing one's self in the travel experience by interacting with other guests and sharing a common space.

Tecopa is well known for its unique artistic character and the new hostel is guaranteed to dazzle guests with quirkiness. The guest rooms are in converted and refurbished 1950's era trailers. Coffee house, novo-vintage style rooms are comfortable and very modern. Inspired by the terrain and local history, contrast and contradiction are embraced in the décor and visitors are encouraged to partake in the experience of landscape and community that is Tecopa.

The hostel is also very modern in its efforts to protect the environment. All the recent installations and modifications have been made with an eye to green impact. Efforts have been made to reduce waste of water and electricity. In fact, the initial concept of the hostel is based on recycling; using what is available and making it work again. For example, the trailers that are now guest rooms were salvaged and recycled.

The hostel has also taken a proactive approach to environmental conservation by supporting the nonprofit Tecopa chapter of the Old Spanish Trail Association (O.S.T.A). The property overlooks an expanse of pristine Old Spanish Trail Territory and houses OSTA's local office and meeting room.

Cynthia Kienitz, owner of the hostel and president-founder of the Tecopa chapter of OSTA, is passionate about Spanish Trail history and preservation. The trail was designated by congress as a National Historic Trail in 2003.

The local chapter of OSTA was founded one year later and is very involved in developing a management plan in conjunction with the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. Representatives from Tecopa have traveled to various destinations in the Southwest in order to participate and have an input at the national meetings.

The Tecopa chapter has very specific goals for protecting the trail. The primary concern is putting as many local sites as possible on the National Register of Historic Places. In order to do this, the 15 person Chapter has been very busy applying for grants in order to fund an archeological pedestrian survey of the landscape.

Expected findings include the almost 200 year-old original mule prints from the Antonio Armijo mule expeditions and the original wagon ruts.

Many Native American sites have yet to be properly documented. Because the land is so arid, marks made hundreds of years ago by Native Americans and later settlers are preserved and visible today.

The Tecopa chapter of OSTA is also working to fund an international archeological firm to research documents kept in Madrid, Spain and at the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Researchers will be looking for names of people who lived there or visited the area and events that happened on or near the old trail. Because the area was a Spanish territory, many reports by governors and merchants were sent to Madrid. Catholic priests kept meticulous records and sent them to the Vatican.

The Tecopa chapter needs new members who are dedicated to preservation of the trail and are willing to work towards that end. Interested persons please contact the Old Spanish Trail Association at www.oldspanishtrail.org or for reservations at the hostel contact www.ranchouseinn.com.