Lawrence and his wife Frieda moved to the Kiowa Ranch, two dwellings and a small barn existed on the property. Since then the ranch has been known as the D. She stipulated that the ranch be used for educational, cultural and recreational purposes and that the Lawrence memorial be open to the public. In 1955, eight months prior to her death, Frieda gave the Kiowa Ranch to the University of New Mexico. In 1934, she had Lawrence’s body exhumed, cremated and his ashes brought to the ranch to be housed in a small memorial chapel. New Mexico also figures prominently in other essays and stories such as “The Woman Who Rode Away.”Īfter Lawrence died near Vence, France in 1930, Frieda returned to New Mexico to live.

Lawrence also wrote his biblical drama, “David” and parts of “The Plumed Serpent” during his last visit to the ranch (April-Sept. During the summer, Lawrence completed his short novel “St.Mawr” in which he celebrates the special quality and landscape of the Kiowa Ranch. Lawrence and Frieda along with Lady Brett, who was the Earl of Esher’s daughter, moved to the ranch in May 1924 and spent five months there. Luhan purchased the ranch from the McClures in May 1920. McClure who raised angora goats on the property. In 1893 he sold the ranch to Mary and William L. Situated at 8,600 feet above sea level, the ranch was first established in the late 1880s by a homesteader, John Craig. The 160 acres was known as the Kiowa Ranch because the Kiowa Indians had used a trail which ran through the property when they traveled south to raid Indian pueblos along the Rio Grande. On this visit, Mabel Dodge Luhan gave Frieda a ranch she owned located 20 miles northwest of Taos on Lobo Mountain.

In March 1924, Lawrence and his wife, accompanied by Dorothy Brett, an English painter and admirer of the author, returned a second time to Taos.

He wrote: I think New Mexico was the greatest experience I ever had from the outside world. While the English-born writer only spent a total of eleven months during his three visits to New Mexico, the state made a notable impression on him. Lawrence, the author of literary classics such as Women in Love and Lady Chatterley’s Lover, and his wife Frieda first came to New Mexico in September 1922 at the invitation of Mabel Dodge Luhan, a New York socialite and arts patron who lived in Taos. Lawrence Ranch office at (575) 776-2245.Ĭabins are not available to rent at this time. If you have any questions regarding your visit to the D.H. Opening HoursĮffective March 12, 2022, the DHL Ranch will be open to visitors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. Google Maps may offer a route via NM 150 and Galina Road. Lawrence Ranch Rd, Taos, NMįrom US-64 West Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, continue straight onto NM-522 North for approximately 10 miles, take a slight right onto Lawrence Ranch Rd and continue for 4.7 miles.

Dh lawrence in love