In the heart of the New Mexico desert, just outside Las Cruces, lies a small community steeped in history and mystery: Old Mesilla. Founded in the beautiful Mesilla Valley, this quaint town has a rich past shaped by the shifting borders of nations and the ambitions of its residents. But beneath its charming exterior, Old Mesilla harbors a dark and chilling legend — a tale of love, betrayal, and murder that has left an indelible mark on the community. This tragic story continues to unfold within the walls of one of its most iconic buildings: the Double Eagle Restaurant.
Key points
Old Mesilla: A Town Born of Conflict
Following the Mexican-American War in the late 1840s, many Mexican citizens resented the United States’ annexation of the northern half of their country. They refused the offer of U.S. citizenship and moved south of the newly drawn border to settle in Mesilla, which was then part of Mexico. However, this reprieve was short-lived. In 1853, the Gadsden Purchase made Mesilla part of the United States, and the town celebrated by raising the American flag in its central plaza.
Among the early settlers was the Maes family, who built what is now the oldest structure on the Old Mesilla plaza. The Maes family was wealthy and influential, originally running a freight line in Santa Fe before the Americans took over and forced them to relocate. The family’s grand house in Mesilla was a testament to their status and ambition. However, their aspirations would soon be overshadowed by tragedy, giving rise to the legend of Armando and Inez.
The Forbidden Romance of Armando and Inez
The Maes family matriarch, known as La Señora, had ambitious plans centered around her eldest son, Armando, a teenager destined for great things. However, fate had other plans. Armando fell in love with Inez, a beautiful young servant girl with long, flowing black hair. Aware that his mother would disapprove of their relationship, Armando kept their love a secret, and the community, sympathetic to the young lovers, agreed to protect their secret from La Señora.
But secrets have a way of surfacing. La Señora soon noticed her son’s affection for Inez and confronted him. When Armando confessed his love, his mother erupted in rage and demanded that Inez leave the house immediately. She forbade Armando from seeing her again, but Armando defied his mother’s orders.
Determined to end the romance, La Señora arranged a marriage for Armando and went on a trip to find a suitable bride. She returned sooner than expected and, suspecting something was amiss, hurried to Armando’s room, only to find him with Inez. In a blind fury, she stumbled back and grabbed a pair of sewing shears. In her rage, she plunged the shears into Inez’s chest. When Armando tried to intervene, she accidentally stabbed him as well. Realizing what she had done, she fell silent and never spoke again.
A Haunting Legacy: Ghosts at the Double Eagle
The Maes family left Old Mesilla shortly after the tragedy, selling their home and moving to the interior of Mexico. La Señora’s last spoken word was her dying son’s name. Over time, the memory of the star-crossed lovers began to fade, and the house was abandoned until it was eventually transformed into a fine dining establishment: the Double Eagle Restaurant.
But the spirits of Armando and Inez seem to have never left. The room that was once Armando’s bedroom is now the Carlotta Salon, and it is the epicenter of the paranormal activity that plagues the restaurant to this day. Two overstuffed chairs in the salon, reupholstered to match the décor, have developed worn spots in the shape of small human bodies, as if someone still sits in them. Guests and employees often feel sudden chills, and many try to close windows that are only decorative — the room has no windows.
Employees frequently report encounters with ghostly apparitions. One worker, closing the restaurant alone, heard footsteps and saw a young Hispanic girl in a white linen dress walking toward the Carlotta Salon. After finding all doors locked, he called out, “Inez, is that you?” and heard a soft voice whisper his name. Another server heard a female voice with a strong accent calling her name, leading her through several rooms before realizing she was alone.
One skeptical assistant manager, after jokingly leaving a half-full wine bottle in the Carlotta Salon for the ghosts, returned the next morning to find the bottle empty, turned on its side, and the wine glasses shattered in the fireplace. He quit that same day.
The Spirits of Armando and Inez: Eternal Residents of Old Mesilla
The spirits of Armando and Inez are said to linger at the Double Eagle, reliving their tragic love story in the Carlotta Salon. Their presence has been marked by the faint scent of lavender perfume, unexplained whispers, and sightings of a beautiful young girl. These phenomena have turned the Double Eagle into one of New Mexico’s most haunted and intriguing locations, drawing curious visitors and paranormal enthusiasts from around the world.
While the town of Old Mesilla has evolved and changed over the years, the story of Armando and Inez endures. Their tale reminds us of the powerful forces of love, fate, and tragedy — forces that sometimes refuse to be forgotten.
