Buffalo thunder resort and casino

The Buffalo Thunder greets visitors in dramatic fashion with a five-story, pueblo-style building rising up below the Sangre de Cristo Mountains with a large bronze sculpture of a Pueblo warrior clutching bow and arrows at the hotel entrance. Created by the Pueblo of Pojoaque's Governor George Rivera, the sculpture embodies the confluence of local art and culture that characterizes the resort both inside and out.

The spacious lobby could easily double as an art museum; glass boxes of ornate pottery and carvings vie for attention, as do the stained-glass wall, numerous sculptures and paintings, and colorful stone floors. The sophisticated-yet-fun feel of the large space is completed by an impressive Pueblo-style ceiling of wood beams and hundreds of vigas arranged in the traditional circular fashion.

Guests rave about the spa, which while pricey, offers a full range of services within attractive, nature-themed treatment rooms. Both the indoor and outdoor pools are popular. The big outdoor pool becomes the focal point of fun during summer weekends when many locals arrive to celebrate under the blue New Mexico skies. An adjacent kid’s area with splashing fountains means that it’s a family-friendly affair, but some guests have complained about the noise and revelry cutting into their weekend swims.

For the gamblers, the large casino contains countless slot machines, a poker room, and many other gaming options. Although the resort has gone to lengths to minimize cigarette smoke by placing the casino below the main lobby floor, the odor can be an issue for some guests in certain public areas.

The Towa Golf Club offers three 9-hole courses all within view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. If golf isn’t your thing, live entertainment can be had at one of the three nightclubs,, and larger shows are regularly staged outside with acts such as Styx, Los Lonely Boys, and Jay Leno making appearances in 2011.