2aggies - had almost the same thing happen to me with White Sands. Spent many hours narrowing it down to them, and were fully booked in June (for September), paid the down payment, and even received an email in August saying that everything was a go for our trip from 9/26 - 10/2 to White Sands.... then 2 days later we get a voicemail saying that they had to close down for an unnamed 'family issue'. So 2aggies, don't be so hard on yourself for not immediately checking availability. I did that, and was fully booked for almost 60 days before I got the news. I hope everything's OK with Marilyn, but I would have just liked a bit more notice (or openness) regarding the resort's status.

"Neutrality, at times, is a greater sin than belligerence" - Brandeis