About Us

History

Established in 1987

Scott Ortega, the president and founder of Mirage Corporation is a 4th generation business owner. His family was influential in the drafting of the New Mexico constitution, with roots that deep you know he’s staying around. He’s invested in the community and shares only the best in spas and hot tub accessories. Scott’s been in the business for over 38 years and knows luxury spas inside and out. Visit our showroom to view the entire LUXURY line of Sundance.

The Ortegas: My Hispanic Heritage

I am a fourth generation Ortega Living in Santa Fe, NM. My ancestry goes back to the late 1800s when the first Ortega settled in Chimayo, New Mexico. Don Victor, who was my great-great grandfather, was one of the first businessmen in New Mexico. The Ortega’s owned the south side of the Plaza Del Cerro in Chimayo, now known as Rancho De Manzanas (Ranch of the Apples), over a hundred years later. Don Victor also owned a mercantile store in the same location and was the postmaster general. The Ortegas in this period of time were very strong Republicans. In 1910 an exciting convention took place in Santa Fe where the New Mexico Constitution was drawn up, Don Victor along with others drafted the document.

Other interesting facts about Don Victor include the fact that he is buried in the courtyard of the Santuario De Chimayo with his wife Refugio because of their community involvement and status within the community. My grandfather’s property at Rancho De Manzanas, also known as Plaza Del Cerro, has the last standing torreon in the United States in its original form. A torreon is the place where local inhabitants of the Plaza Del Cerro protected themselves and the Plaza from attacks by the Indians. The torreons were located on the south and north side entrances to the Plaza. The entrances were big enough so that a horse could pass through only. A barn was built over the last remaining torreon in order to preserve it.

My grandfather Benjamin was a very prominent businessman and political figure in Santa Fe. He was born in 1904 and attended St. Michael’s College, now known as The College of Santa Fe. In the 1920s he served as the Santa Fe County Clerk and had an opportunity to purchase Downtown Santa Fe for $1,200 in back taxes. Unfortunately, that was more money than most people had back then, and he missed out on the opportunity. From 1935 – 1937, he owned the El Cid Bar in downtown Santa Fe located on the corner of Galisteo and Water Street. In 1939, until retirement 25 years later, he managed a well-known grocery warehouse that served Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico called Kimball’s. The warehouse was situated where the present Tomasita’s restaurant is located, and my father has memories of playing the parking lot that was vacant at the time.

Another interesting fact in the Ortega ancestry is that the women never worked in the fields harvesting crops or fruit because of their political stature. Don Victor owned the largest team of horses in the area which he used for working his own fields as well as helping other neighboring fields.