Meet Steven Williams | Chacooutlier: cabin rentals-camping host.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Steven Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steven, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
What really makes me happy is the arrival of Spring. With the warm weather, I begin getting visitors (tourist). I always look forward to this time of year because its a chance to visit with people from diverse backgrounds, who travel from distant places to visit Chaco Canyon and my little slice of heaven.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I first had tourist on my property in the Spring of 2014. At the time I had a bare cabin, no heat, and a porta-potty, not much else. I am a full time educator at a local high school so the improvements I am able to complete on my place usually occur during weekends or school vacations. I now have two cabins that are furnished, have heat, and I have built a central bathroom consisting of a flush toilet, and on-demand hot shower. I have also built a camping area known as the “Cool Camp” located on a beautiful little mesa facing south.

I first visited Chaco Canyon in the 70’s with my dad. I was always in awe of what these ancients were able to create out of the bare landscape 1000 years ago. Its amazing, no other way to put it. So when I begin a project that seems daunting at first, I get inspiration from the ancients who dwelt in this desert 1000 years ago. After I got out of the military in 1992, I wasn’t in a good place. DWI’s and poor choices distracted me from reaching any thing resembling success. With a supportive family, I graduated with honors from UNM with a degree in anthropology. I began teaching history on the eastern Navajo reservation, and doing my best to build from the ground up a tourist destination.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had friends out to my place we would,

1st night: BBQ on my mesa/watch the sun go down, then get ready for some star-gazing.

2nd day: Chaco Canyon 19 miles north of me. we would visit major sites of Chaco complex including “Pueblo Bonito”, Pueblo del arroyo”, and “Pueblo Alto”

3rd day: Breakfast at ‘El Cafecito” in Grants NM. Then take a nice drive up Mt. Taylor-hiking-views-lunch on mountain.

4th day: El Morro Monument ( the ancient history of NM is literally written on rock faces) Beginning with extremely old native rock art-conquistadores-U.S. Calvary.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank my family Mickey, Amy, Fran, Hank, Hannah, Alex, Hank Jr. , and my lovely wife Alexandra for the continued support and help in making “Chacooutlier” a success.

Website: chacooutlier.com

Facebook: chacooutlier facebook

Image Credits
All images are of me and my wife.