There Really is a "Mountain Annie"....

Many years ago, Phyllis Ann and Jim Strathmann relocated to El Paso, Texas (desert area) from Indiana (green area) and learned to assimilate through week-end trips to the beautiful little village of Ruidoso New Mexico.

Phyllis's dad, Ralph Meeks from Indiana frequently scheduled visits to El Paso. Mr. Meeks was a handsome, gentle giant of a man, worked two jobs all his life, never raised his voice, and found good in everyone he met. His visits were anticipated with joy, and each time he arrived form Indiana he knew there would be a trip to Ruidoso.

Finally, he asked, "Are we going to Ruidoso again?" The answer was an enthusiatic "Yes!" He said to his daughter, "Well, you know, you're just my little Mountain Annie!"

“Mountain Annie’s” of Ruidoso, New Mexico
The Strathmann Family
By James F. Buchanan

Phyllis A. Strathmann, nicknamed “Mountain Annie” by her father many years ago because of her love of the little village town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, purchased three old cabins on contiguous parcels of land on Sudderth Street in 1985.

With the support of her husband Jim, and children Mark and Laura, began a metamorphosis kind of transformation of the properties. First in 1986, Mountain Annie’s became a beautiful little gift shop selling carousel horses and porcelain dolls, exquisite collectibles, and chocolate fudge.

Family obligations changed the use of Mountain Annie’s through the years. In 2002, Phyllis inaugurated a dinner show at Mountain Annie’s, and also began a visionary expansion plan for the facility starting with a café and an enchanting floral wedding garden. In the Spring of 2006, the indoor facility was expanded to nearly 20,000 sq.ft. Performances at Mountain Annie’s include classic to contemporary variety music, western cowboy music and swing dances, European old-country folk shows, classical brass, ‘50’s-on rock and roll, and more. In addition to the various dinner shows, Mountain Annie’s hosts business conferences, holiday banquets, weddings, family reunions, and major civic endeavors.

Entrepreneurship is not new to the Strathmanns. Jim is a former New Mexico and West Texas Distributor for Cummins Engine Company. Jim engineered and developed the Cummins natural gas engine through conversion of diesel to natural gas and alternative fuels.

Phyllis has owned and operated her real estate and property management company in El Paso for 35 years, and at one point in her career managed over 25,000 rental units throughout the Southwest. After retirement from Cummins, Jim joined Phyllis and now operates the commercial division of the company, and serves as Host for Mountain Annie’s. Mark Strathmann manages residential investments for Strathmann Associates and is the emcee and audio/visual technician for Mountain Annie’s. Laura Strathmann operates her own highly respected Family Law practice in El Paso, and occasionally assists at Mountain Annie’s when time permits.

Phyllis A. Strathmann was honored by the City of El Paso when it bestowed their prestigious “Conquistador” Award with her, and she was the recipient of El Paso’s “Key to the City” for her civic accomplishments, most particularly in El Paso housing endeavors. She received a special honor for promotion of integrity in real estate from the National Apartment Association, was elected president of The El Paso Apartment Association for three separate terms, a founder of the Institute of Real Estate Management in El Paso, recipient of “Woman of the Year in Business” by the El Paso Women’s Political Caucus, served on the Board of the Better Business Bureau, and worked as an instructor for the University of Texas and the Academy of Real Estate Ethics Courses and Property Management Courses.

It is often heard around Ruidoso that the Strathmann Family has given a great gift to the Village of Ruidoso and to the State of New Mexico by developing Mountain Annie’s. The dinner show has been referred to as the “premier dinner theater in New Mexico” by one of New Mexico’s most revered performers, George Tomsco of The Fireballs, a group that had eleven gold records and frequently performs at Mountain Annie’s.