History

Casa del Sol is located in Portales, New Mexico, directly across from the campus of Eastern New Mexico University. This historic adobe home is a tranquil southwestern oasis that brings the unique feel of Santa Fe to the high plains of eastern New Mexico.

Designed by noted New Mexico architect, John Gaw Meem, this quaint adobe home has a rich and interesting local history. It was built as a labor of love by Bartlett and Evelyn Dewey in the mid-40s. Each of the 1600 adobe bricks were hand-made by the couple.

Over time, the house became somewhat of a community project with students, friends, and neighbors helping with various phases of construction.

It took the entire summer of 1947 to cut and haul pine logs from Cloudcroft for the 32 hand-carved vigas that line the ceiling. Mrs. Dewey referred to Casa del Sol as her “dream house on the Llano.” The dream was understood and well maintained by Dallan and Mickey Sanders who purchased Casa del Sol in 1975. It has been a center-piece of the Portales community for many years.