For Gene Hackman, Santa Fe Was A Refuge From The Limelight

The pinon- and juniper-scented Rocky Mountain foothills overlooking Santa Fe have helped the city earn a reputation as a refuge for famous actors and authors seeking to escape the spotlight.

Sometimes the world's attention is unavoidable, as it was this week when Oscar-winner Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead inside their home in those very foothills.

Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, eschewed fame and made Santa Fe their home decades ago, like many other acclaimed artists, including the former playwright Sam Shepard , actors Shirley MacLaine and Ali MacGraw , and "Game of Thrones" author George R. R. Martin .

In addition to the fresh air and mountain vistas, Santa Fe - situated more than a mile above sea level - is known for Pueblo-style architecture, Southwest-themed art galleries and turquoise jewelry-filled boutiques. Initially settled by Indigenous people and once colonized by Spain, the capital city of New Mexico today embraces a low-key vibe where young skateboarders share the sidewalks with wealthy retirees decked out in Pendleton cardigans and cowboy boots.

It's not uncommon to see a famous person strolling downtown, dining out or hiking on the numerous trails it's just that locals know not to gush over them.