Stephanie experienced hosteling from a young age. Her grandparents operated a hostel in Germany, where hostels were born.

In 1994, Stephanie broke all the rules and shipped her motorcycle to the United States from, her home in Germany, to solo-trip across the country. Decked out in biker leathers and sporting a German license plate, she garnered quite a lot of attention. Numerous women remarked on how they “could never road trip alone.” She wished she could somehow change their minds!

Naturally, she stayed in hostels as she traveled the states. The vibe of the hostels in the USA was a noticeable contrast to the hostel in Europe. These hostels were individually owned and operated by unique travel enthusiasts who put their own spin on the hostel offerings. They prioritized building community, accommodating guests' needs, and creating unique, cozy spaces that complimented the local experience. During these stays, Stephanie developed a new appreciation for hostels. Then, the first time she stepped into New Mexico, she felt at home.

In 2001, years after her first motorcycle trip through the states, she committed to finding the perfectly situated property to build her own hostel in New Mexico.

The landscape morphed into soft rolling hills and swiftly everything felt quiet and she truly felt her heart open up. The area reminded Stephanie of Bavaria, with mountains, meadows and flowers, diverse tree species and all the wildlife. And she appreciated how this familiarity blended into the pleasant high-desert climate.

She knew then that this was where she wanted to put down roots and build something special so all the generations of women who said “they could never,” might take a chance on adventure.

Finding the property where the hostel currently sits was just as magical as the moment she rode into the New Mexico atmosphere. The building was dilapidated and it required a strong vision, passion, and dedication to bring it back to life. But when Stephanie saw the property she knew it was the one. She adored the way the building nestled into the hill and knew it was special. With a bit of naivety, zero research, and a small coin purse, Stephanie put her spirit and elbow grease into building what now shines as the Cloudcroft Hostel.

In 2006, after five long years of anticipation and really hard work, Stephanie opened the hostel doors to the first guests. When guests sit on the porch as hummingbirds tease the mountain air, or as they gather around the fire pit and gaze at the beautiful stars, Stephanie sees her vision of building a unique spot for adventurers come to life.

In 2018, Andrew came into Stephanie’s life and with his talents and help, her vision for the Cloudcroft Hostel came into even crisper view.

Stephanie’s favorite moments are when she happens upon guests laughing, talking, or even playing music together. she eagerly shares personalized suggestions so each guest can best experience the area. The joy on her guests' faces when they enter the hostel and appreciate all the work and love she’s put into the building is a sweet cherry on top of a beautiful turquoise cake.

Now, Stephanie and Andrew diligently work every day towards building a strong legacy of promoting a safe, clean, and unique hostel that offers accommodations for the adventurous at heart. Cloudcroft Hostel is well regarded as the best of “American Hosteling” and its guests eagerly leave notes of gratitude for their generous hosts. 

Stephanie and Andrew cordially invite you to experience the spectacular scenery, beautiful landscape, and potential adventure that surround the Cloudcroft Hostel.