Luna Mansion serving last meals

LOS LUNAS, N. M. (KRQE) - Luna Mansion, a restaurant formerly the home of the founding family of Los Lunas, is closing its doors.

The family which has leased and maintained the stately building for the past seven years has decided its time to move on.

That will leave the Valencia County community without one of its true gems.

When you walk through the doors of the Luna Mansion you walk back in time. The original staircase, the marble fireplace and the arches are all still there.

The Santa Fe Railroad built the home for the Luna family in 1881 in exchange for allowing the tracks passage through their property.

Presidents Taft and Roosevelt are among the many dignitaries who spent time here. Taft sat in this living room talking with Salomon Luna about the first laws of New Mexico.

The mansion was handed down through the Luna-Otero family for generations. Then in the 1970's was sold and turned into a restaurant and a historic landmark.

Today the Griego family is preparing for their last Thanksgiving crowd. Danny, Penny and Nicholas Griego will be closing the restaurant on Dec. 31.

"My husband had suffered major heart attack last October," Penny Griego said. "As a result we had to make a family decision."

That decision was to focus on family.

It wasn't an easy decision to make.

The Griegos said the upkeep also became a burden. This old house has her problems.

"I always said it was like 120-year-old woman wanting to look 18 again, and that is what we had to accomplish," Griego said.

And the Griego's did. They put their heart and soul in this place.

Now they say its time to leave. They just hope this gate doesn't stay locked for long.

The Griegos said the owner told them the mansion will be boarded up and put for sale.

News 13 called the owner to find out his plans but was told he's out of state.

The Griegos hope the state might step in to save the mansion because it is such a landmark.