Matt Dietz has been coming to Red River from Texas for 44 years now. He says his parents honeymooned here and then began staying at a family friend's home near Angel Fire, with daily trips over the mountain to hang out and have fun in Red River.

In 2017, Matt was in Red River during a holiday weekend when he saw a "For Sale" sign on the Pioneer Lodge. Burned out from his construction business in Texas, he quickly made a verbal contact on the lodge and a couple months later, it was his.

There was a lot of work to be done. He got busy remodeling all of the units inside and out, and after years of neglect, the fishing pond held water again. The hot tub also needed attention, and is now a great amenity for guests, especially after a cold day on the slopes. A year-and-a-half later, the new sign was up and the lights were on, welcoming guests to experience the new Pioneer Lodge.

The Pioneer employs five employees during peak season, but during down time, they do seasonal maintenance.

Matt's been a member of the Chamber of Commerce since 2018.

He says the Pioneer Lodge is over 100 years old and is the oldest standing lodge in town. Adding to the Pioneer's charm, it's right in the heart of town with it's proximity to dining, shopping, go karts, the main chair lift, a winery, a brewery, and Mallette Canyon Park is behind his property, with disc golf, hiking, a playground, pump track, skate park, basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts. Finally, Matt even built a coffee shop and upscale restaurant right on the property.

The Pioneer's a great place for couples and families to stay, any time of year.