Old West Trails 2010-11

MEET THE

Old West Country COMMUNITIES

Colorful Characters

OF THE OLD WEST Old West Attractions Forts & Ghost Towns Birding Locations The Great Outdoors and more...

www.oldwestcountry.com/familyfun Affordable vacations. See page 12

SILVER CITY is known for its arts community, birding opportunities, diverse cultural heritage, regional cuisine, star-gazing, terrific year-round weather, relaxed lifestyle and proximity to 3.3 million-acre Gila National Forest.

www.SilverCity.org • 1-800-548-9378 201 N. Hudson St., Silver City, NM 88061

Funded by Silver City Lodger’s Tax

Old West T R A I L S

Published exclusively for Old West Country as a supplement to New Mexico Traveler

Old West Country P.O. Box 884 • Silver City, NM 88062 1-800-290-8330 Website: www.oldwestcountry.com e-mail: info@oldwestcountry.com Lola Polley Acting President, Silver City Cici Gomez Acting Vice President, Lordsburg Keith LeMay Executive Director, Silver City

Serving the communities of: Deming 800 East Pine • Deming, NM 88031 1-800-848-4955 www.demingchamber.com e-mail: info@demingchamber.com

Las Cruces 211 N. Water Street Las Cruces, NM 88001 1-800-FIESTAS • 575-541-2444 www.lascrucescvb.org e-mail: cvb@lascrucescvb.org

Lordsburg 117 East 2nd Street • Lordsburg, NM 88045 575-542-9864 www.www.lordsburghidalgocounty.net e-mail: lordsburgcoc@aznex.net

Reserve P.O. Box 415 • Reserve, NM 87830 575-533-6116 www.catroncounty.org e-mail: chambersec@catroncounty.org

Silver City 201 N. Hudson St. • Silver City, NM 88061 1-800-548-9378 www.silvercity.org e-mail: info@silvercity.org

Socorro 217 Fisher Ave. • Socorro, NM 87801 575-835-8927 www.socorronm.gov e-mail: tourism@socorronm.gov

Magdalena P.O. Box 281 • Magdalena, NM 87825-0281 Voice 866-854-3217 www.magdalena-nm.com e-mail: info@magdalena-nm.com

Truth or Consequences 400 W. 4th Avenue Truth or Consequences, NM 87901 575-740-3902 www.sierracountynewmexico.info sierracountytourism@gmail.com

Elephant Butte P.O. Box 1355 Elephant Butte, NM 87935 (575) 744-4708

Contents

20102011

THE COMMUNITIES

Unique shopping experiences, the arts and fascinating museums are the anchors for Old West Country communities and the rapidly growing phenomenon of adventure tourism begins at the edge of every town.

SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO SIERRA COUNTY

SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO

The home of New Mexico’s premier water sports destination is also an established center for natural hot mineral baths and healing arts, and the home of Spaceport America.

OW6 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES OW8 CITY OF ELEPHANT BUTTE

Rustlers, aliens and scientists were the muses of writers and artists, but oil, gas and agriculture are the foundation of artistic endeavors.

OW32 ARTESIA OW36 ROSWELL

SOCORRO COUNTY

WEST TEXAS EL PASO COUNTY

The spires of Spanish missions and headquarters for deep space eavesdropping compete for attention with incredible wildlife refuges.

OW10 SOCORRO OW13 MAGDALENA

CHAVES COUNTY

A melding of early Spaniards, Indians, Mexicans and Anglos created a colorful history and a vibrant international metropolis.

OW38 EL PASO

CATRON COUNTY Lakes, streams of three national forests, a picturesque ghost town and pack trip opportunities highlight this sparsely populated mountain region.

OW14 RESERVE, GLENWOOD, DATIL & QUEMADO

GRANT COUNTY Historic mining communities on the edge of vast tracks of forest and wilderness have become havens for both outdoor enthusiasts and the arts.

OW16 SILVER CITY OW20 BAYARD, HURLEY & PINOS ALTOS

HIDALGO COUNTY Old West ghost towns represent the area’s mining, stagecoach and steam locomotive eras, and remote birding opportunities are present.

OW22 LORDSBURG

LUNA COUNTY Hiking, rockhounding and international shopping combine with wine, fast ducks, friendly people and plenty of sunshine.

OW24 DEMING

FEATURES OW2 OW4 OW5 OW6 OW8 OW10 OW12 OW14 OW15 OW16 OW20 OW21 OW22 OW24 OW28 OW30 OW32 OW34 OW36 OW38 OW40 OW41

Old West Country Regional Attractions Relics & Realism. Forts, Ghost Towns and Famous Buildings The Bridal Chamber Fort McRae Capitol Bar Affordable Vacations Elfuego Baca Great Outdoors Billy the Kid The Pinos Altos Arrastra Historic Mining Towns The Diamond Hoax Lottie Deno Albert Fountain Southeast New Mexico Sallie Chisum Heroes, Villians & Outlaws Charles Goodnight James Gillett Birding Locations Old West Country Map

DOÑA ANA COUNTY An engaging historic plaza, a cavalry fort and miles of hiking trails along the river and into the jagged mountains balance the area’s rapid growth.

OW28 LAS CRUCES & MESILLA

www.elephantbuttechamberofcommerce.com info@elephantbuttechamberofcommerce.com

Old West Trails is published annually by Zia Publishing Corp. 116 McKinney Road, P.O. Box 1248, Silver City, NM 88062, 575-388-4444, info@ziapublishing.com, www.ziapublishing.com. President & Managing Director, Terri Menges. Vice President, Joseph Burgess. Staff Accountant, Arlyn Cooley.

Designers, Debra Sutton, Terri Menges. Writing, Joseph Burgess. Community Characters written by Brett Ferneau. Photography, Joseph Burgess, except where noted. Contributing Photographers, Lynn Janes, Keith LeMay, Luis Perez, Debra Sutton, Judy Wuthrich. Courtesy Photos, Artesia Chamber of Commerce, Susan LaFont, Roswell Landing. Advertising Sales, LeAnne Knudsen, Tamra Manning, Dawn Redpath. Distribution, Keith LeMay.

OUR COVER

Turtleback Mountain, rising up from the Rio Grande near Truth or Consequences, has witnessed Sierra County’s ages of mastodons and Apache warriors and its leap forward into the age of Spaceport America. Photos by Joe Burgess. Design by Debra Sutton.

Old West Trails is a supplement to New Mexico Traveler and is manufactured and printed in the United States of America. ©Zia Publishing Corp., 2010. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of the publisher is prohibited. All submissions of editorial or photography are only accepted without risk to the publisher for loss or damage. Every effort was made to ensure accuracy in the information provided. The publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, changes or omissions. Photo by Lynn Janes.

OLD WEST COUNTRY

OW1

ld O

est W Country

DEMING, LAS CRUCES, LORDSBURG, SILVER CITY, SOCORRO, TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, CATRON COUNTY

&

OW2

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

Tie down your holsters and cinch up your saddles – you’ve just arrived in Old West Country and you’re going to be amazed at the scenic beauty, the diversity, the history, the arts and at discovering the future for America. Southwest New Mexico has managed to preserve its colorful past as it boldly snatches up the lead in commercial space travel, solar power generation and algal biofuel. this page: The Expect the unexpected in Old West Country. It is covered with parks, intriguing landand monuments, wildlife refuges, forests and recreation sites. Scenic byways scapes skies of Old traverse the mountain regions and the state’s largest recreational lake West Country are reminiscent provides an escape from city life. Prehistoric ruins tell the tales of hearty of its past and a clue to its and artistic cultures predating the Spanish and their artifacts are careful- exciting future. photo by Debra ly preserved in area museums.

Sutton.

Spanish colonizers developed the Rio Grande corridor of Old West Country. Then came the westward migration, the Butterfield stage line and eventually the rails of the iron horse. The era of Civil War battles, gunfights and Indian skirmishes raged until justice finally gained the upper hand.

Visitor centers, centers for the arts, galleries and specialty shops full of friendly people will welcome you into a culture that truly makes you feel like family. Welcome to America’s Old West.

OLD WEST COUNTRY

OW3

BOSQUE DEL APACHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Year-round birding. Visitor center, auto tour and hiking. 16 miles south of Socorro. 575-838-2120.

THE CATWALK RECREATION TRAIL Walkways suspended from narrow canyon walls begin a trail that works its way into the Gila Wilderness. The trailhead and picnic grounds beneath large cottonwood and sycamore trees are five miles east of US180 at Glenwood. 575-538-2801.

CITY OF ROCKS STATE PARK A city of giant monoliths protruding unexpectedly from the desert floor is located halfway between Silver City and Deming, 5 miles east of US180. The park has a visitor center, hiking trails, and a night sky observatory. Call for the observatory schedule. 575-536-2800.

ELEPHANT BUTTE LAKE STATE PARK New Mexico’s largest lake offers opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Landlovers can find hiking trails, birding, and year-round events. History buffs will love the views of the 1916 dam and historic district at Dam Site Recreation Area. 575-744-5421.

Attractions REGIONAL

FORT SELDEN An 1800s cavalry fort that was utilized by the Buffalo Soldiers. A year-round visitor center and living history demonstrations on weekends May through September. Nineteenth century military encampments second Saturdays monthly year-round. 575-526-8911

GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS NAT’L MON. Follow the “Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway” north from Silver City along NM15 or NM35 to the national monument visitor center. Printed matter and a movie provide information about the 13th century inhabitants of this pristine area. The Cliff Dwellings are accessible by a short, well-maintained trail. 575-536-9344.

NM FARM & RANCH HERITAGE MUSEUM A large and intriguing display of farm and ranch implements from the early Anasazi to modern times.

See live milking demonstrations and special presentations. 575-522-4100.

OLD MESILLA A picturesque and historic Mexican/Old West plaza is surrounded by a stately church and 1800s buildings filled with fabulous shopping and dining opportunities. Additional shopping plazas with a charm all their own are continuing to expand along Avenida de Mesilla. 575-524-3262

THE RIO GRANDE New Mexico’s lifeline flows through the Old West communities of Socorro, T or C and Las Cruces. It contributed water and food for early traders along El Camino Real and now supports industry, agriculture, recreation and individual needs for New Mexico’s central corridor. Visit the El Camino Real International Heritage Center off I-25 at exit 115.

ROCKHOUND STATE PARK Rock specimens scattered across the slopes of the Florida (Flor-eeda) Mountains simply offer a great excuse to explore the area. Rockhounds meet regularly in the area southeast of Deming for demonstrations, sales and trading. 575-546-6782.

THE CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST Magdalena Dist. made up of the largest collection of historic ranchlands in New Mexico. 575-854-2281.

The stunning geology of Southwest New Mexico presents not only a wide gamut of scenic vistas, but also the elements for an intriguing array of human land use.

Craggy peaks thrusting up from the historic Rio Grande Valley and the high Plains of San Agustin, home of the incredible Very Large Array Radio Telescopes, are among the Old West treasures offered residents and visitors alike. Parasailing on New Mexico’s largest lake or photographing elk grazing on a pristine Alpine meadow are merely the enticements to a land of continuous adventure.

Early people of the region lived in pit houses and cliff dwellings this page: New Mexico’s largest water that can be experienced at the Gila Cliff Dwellings, a national sport attraction is Elephant Butte Lake monument surrounded on three sides by the country’s first desig- on the Rio Grande. from top: Gila nated wilderness. The unique pottery of the nearby Mimbres cul- right, Cliff Dwellings Nat’l. ture can be witnessed in the museums of Silver City, Deming, Las Monument, City of Rocks State Park, Cruces and Truth or Consequences. Spanish entry into the area is Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refchronicled at the Camino Real International Heritage Center uge, Fort Selden, The Recreation between Socorro and Truth or Consequences. Wild West episodes Catwalk Trail, Shakespeare still unfold in mining and railroad ghost towns, plazas and a col- Ghost Town. lection of forts scattered across the entire area.

The monoliths at City of Rocks State Park stand proud while the staggering Santa Rita open pit copper mine scratches its way down into the earth’s crust. Vast national forests blanket much of the region, skirted on the east and south by interstate highways paralleling the strategic El Camino Real and Butterfield Trails.

A national recreation trail at The Catwalk and a park specifically for rockhounds near Deming contribute to the endless opportunities of Old West Country. Make any Old West highway your destination byway.

THE PLAINS OF SAN AGUSTIN The largest and highest grassland in North America, and watch for grazing antelope. 866-854-3217.

VETERANS MEMORIAL A permanent Vietnam Memorial Wall has been erected in Truth or Consequences to honor those who gave their lives for their country. 575-894-6600.

VERY LARGE ARRAY RADIO TELESCOPE Twenty-seven dish-shaped antennas are spread across three 13-mile tracks, one of which crosses US60 between Socorro and Reserve. A visitor center explains the mission of the project sponsored by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. 575-3888201.

OW4

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

RELICS

Realism &

Old West Country is indeed the authentic Old West, the real thing. Visitors discover that historic sites in Southwest New Mexico are places where the past can be seen, explored, touched, and with a little imagination, relived.

The walls of old forts stand as sentinels to the process of change in the Southwest. Headframes from the era of underground mining still dot the foothills from Truth below: The Knights or Consequences to Silver City. of Pythias Hall is Buildings still stand that were inhabitone of the few surviving two-story ed by Old West bad boys like Billy the commercial build- Kid and the Clantons. Mining and ings of the boom years in Socorro. railroad ghost towns throughout the Note the cast-iron elements of the area offer the unique and almost eerie facade. As you drive feeling of meeting up with the spirit of down California Street, you will a wronged gunfighter or dance hall quickly recognize the Owl Cigar girl. Even the dwellings of cultures advertisement. that predated the arrival of the Spanish colonizers by centuries have been preserved. The wide swaths of trails used for the movement of Spanish and Mexican supplies between Mexico City and Santa Fe as well as the westward movement of American wagon trains can still be seen across desert landscapes.

The publishers of Old West Trails encourage visitors to research specific sites and then enjoy an authentic adventure back across time. Obtaining directions, road conditions and other information locally is advised.

Verify the property status of the area you wish to visit and always respect the rights of private property owners.

Forts

DOÑA ANA COUNTY Fort Selden. A State Monument.

GRANT COUNTY Fort Bayard. On the National Register of Historic Places.

Santa Rita del Cobre Fort. A replica of Fort Webster.

LUNA COUNTY Fort Cummings Ruins.

Maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

SOCORRO COUNTY Fort Craig. A BLM Special Management area on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ghost Towns CATRON COUNTY Clairmont.

Mogollon. Lightly populated.

DOÑA ANA COUNTY Dripping Springs.

GRANT COUNTY Georgetown.

HIDALGO COUNTY Shakespeare. 575-542-9034

SIERRA COUNTY Chloride. Population 10.

Cuchillo.

Hillsboro. Lightly populated.

Kingston. Lightly populated.

Lake Valley. Operated by BLM. Winston. Lightly populated.

SOCORRO COUNTY Kelly. Obtain visitor’s pass at the rock shop.

San Antonio. The Hilton section is south of the present town.

Historic Buildings DOÑA ANA COUNTY San Albino Church.

GRANT COUNTY Silver City Museum.

LUNA COUNTY Custom House.

Luna County Courthouse.

On the National Register of Historic Places.

SIERRA COUNTY The Pioneer Store. On the State List of Historic Buildings.

SOCORRO COUNTY Old San Miguel Mission.

The Capitol Bar.

OLD WEST COUNTRY

OW5

Truth or Consequences SIERRA COUNTY

The Bridal Chamber A Cavern of Solid Silver

Sometimes it pays to finish what has been started.

D

uring the 1880s a blacksmith named John Leavitt decided to expand his business endeavors by purchasing a mining lease on a small piece of property owned by the Sierra Grande Mining Company near Lake Valley, New Mexico. John chose to work a shaft that had been started and then abandoned years earlier by successful local silver miners George Lufkin and Chris Watson.

Using hand tools of the day, John set to work with enthusiasm. Two days and ten new feet of tunnel later, he broke through a natural wall into a cavern made almost entirely of pure silver.

Imagine it. Candles held close to the 12 foot ceiling caused pure, molten silver this page inset: Historic Lake chloride, known to miners as horn silver, to melt and drip onto the floor.

Valley and mine Although he had discovered the richest concentration of silver for its size ever in the site. below: Mounworld, John Leavitt fared only slightly better with the claim than Lufkin and Watson Turtleback tain across from had. Apparently underestimating the value of his discovery, he sold the lease back to the hot springs mecca of Truth or the mining company for mere thousands. In the following few years, the company Consequences. took 2½ million ounces of silver out of the cavern, which had been nicknamed the Bridal Chamber. A railroad spur track was built right up to the entrance, because the silver ore was so rich that it required no smelting before shipment.

Today, the town of Lake Valley is within easy driving distance of Truth or Consequences, NM. The townsite itself is managed by the US Bureau of Land Management, and may be subject to access regulations. The cemetery is unfenced, however. There, it may still be possible to locate the final resting place of George Lufkin, the man who is credited with the first location of silver in the area, and who was at one time only ten feet away from millions. He was buried in a pauper’s grave.

OW6

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

Elephant Butte SIERRA COUNTY

Fort McRae

and the Ghost Villages of Elephant Butte Lake "With his artillerymen cut down, his support either killed, wounded or flying from the field, Capt. McRae sat down calmly on one of his guns, and with revolver in hand, refusing to flee or desert his post, he fought to the last."

- The St. Louis Republican on March 23, 1862

Background photo courtesy Susan LaFont

T

hus did one newspaper of the day report the courageous death of Captain Alexander McRae as he defended his cannons during the Civil War battle of Valverde, which occurred near Fort Craig in New Mexico Territory. General Henry Sibley’s Texas Confederates won the battle, but were unable to take the fort.

Just over a year later, the New Mexico Volunteers established a new fort about three miles east of the Rio Grande near present-day Elephant Butte. Named Fort McRae after the fallen captain, this page: it was built in response to repeated Apache depredations in the E l e p h a n t Lake is ABOUT THE AREA area. It was subsequently garrisoned by the California Butte New Mexico’s Known as “Americas Most Affordable Spa Town,” Truth or Consequences has long been a destination for Volunteers, and by regular federal troops after the war ended. largest water sports facility. those seeking to rejuvenate their spirit in its hot mineral waters. The Hot Springs Historic Bathhouse and In the following years, several agricultural communities Commercial District sits atop one of the largest hot spring aquifers in North America. A complete range of sprang up around the fort. Any names they may have had are lost to the past. massage and healing arts treatments are available.

Downtown storefronts have been turned into galAfter Fort McRae was decommissioned in 1876, the villages remained. They leries, boutiques and second hand stores. You will want to visit the Geronimo Springs Museum and Geronimo were finally condemned in the 20th century when Elephant Butte Dam was Trails Visitor Center. The city is surrounded by some of the state’s best adventure sports opportunities and hisbuilt. Today, Fort McRae and the villages built around it lie under the waters of toric mining communities.

Elephant Butte Reservoir.

LOCATION Truth or Consequences sits between I-25 and the Rio Grande, atop hot springs generously feeding local bathhouses and spas.

MORE INFORMATION

Sierra County Visitors Information (575) 894-6600 www.sierracountynewmexico.info www.sierracounty.net/index.htm Truth or Consequences/ Sierra County Chamber of Commerce (575) 894-3536 www.truthorconsequencesnm.net

ATTRACTIONS Black Range Ranger District. Camping, hiking, picnicking. 575-894-6677 Caballo Lake State Park. Boat launch sites, campsites, picnicking and visitor center. 575-743-3942 Elephant Butte Lake State Park. Campsites, visitor center, water sports and trails. 575-744-5421 Geronimo Springs Museum. Area history, pottery collections and minerals. 211 Main St. 575-894-6600 Veteran's Memorial Park and Viet Nam Memorial Wall.

996 South Broadway, T or C. 575-470-7111 Truth or Consequences Hot Springs.

Indoor tubs, bath houses and saunas.

575-894-6600 www.spa-town.com

SIERRA COUNTY EVENTS Apr-May Annual Truth or Consequences Fiesta 575-894-6600 May Hillsboro Heritage Day and Music Festival 575-895-5385 Annual Fiesta. 575-894-6600 Jul Fireworks Display at Elephant Butte Lake St. Park 575-744-5923 Sep Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta 575-744-5923 Elephant Man Triathalon 575-744-5923 Oct Elephant Butte Celebration 575-744-5923 Sierra Co. Fair Sierra Co. Fairgrounds Truth or Consequences 575-894-2375 New Mexico Old Time Fiddlers State Championship 575-744-4016 Nov Hot Springs Birthday Celebration 575-740-3902 Dec Hillsboro Christmas in the Foothills 575-895-5797 Truth or Consequences Old Fashioned Christmas 575-740-3902 Luminaria Beachwalk and Floating Parade of Lights Elephant Butte Lake State Park 575-744-5923 For more information on the above events call the Sierra County Visitor Center at 800-831-9487 or visit www.sierracountynewmexico.info Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway Visitor’s Center (575) 894-1968 or 1(800) 831-9487

“An Enchanting Retreat from the Ordinary” • Lakeview Rooms • Full Service Spa & Salon • Golf & Spa Packages • Ivory Tusk Tavern & Restaurant • Conference Facilities • Free Wi-Fi • Heated Outdoor Pool (Seasonal)

575.744.5431

401 Highway 195 Elephant Butte, NM

www.ElephantButteInn.com

New Mexico’s Diamond in the Desert Elephant Butte is the premiere recreation destination in the state of New Mexico.

Nestled along the shores of the largest lake in the state, the city of Elephant Butte offers year-round sunshine and a comfortable climate.

608 Hwy. 195 • Elephant Butte • www.ElephantButteChamberOfCommerce.com

575.744.4708 • 877.744.4900

Paid for by City of Elephant Butte Lodger’s Tax

take time for yourself We offer a variety of luxurious treatments.

• • • •

massage • beauty salon esthetic facials • take time for him special offerings • perfect extras escape on the lake package

Great Dining for 40 years 1400 N. Date St., Truth or Consequences, NM

(575) 894-6200

Elephant Butte Inn & Spa 401 Hwy. 195 • Elephant Butte, NM

www.elephantbutteinn.com 575.744.5431 OLD WEST COUNTRY ELEPHANT BUTTE

OW9

Socorro SOCORRO COUNTY

The Historic Capitol Bar A Legacy of Socorro’s Vineyards

If buildings could talk, some would have much more to say than others. The building at 110 Plaza in Socorro, New Mexico, for example, could speak volumes.

It is a legacy of Socorro’s vineyard days of over a hundred years ago.

G

rape-growing and winemaking in the area began in the 1600s. It had an ideal climate for vineyards and abundant water from the Rio Grande. When the railroads came to New Mexico in the 1880s, they provided the final ingredient that produced a prosperous boom in the wine industry here. this page inset: Immigrant Italian winemaker Giovanni Biavaschi wanted to sell his wine directly to the The Capital Bar on historic public, so in 1896 he and his brother Tabaschi built a saloon on the east end of Socorro’s historic plaza. Socorro’s plaza. below: Treelined fairways at It was later renamed the Capitol Bar, and listed in the New Mexico Register of Historic Places. the championship In the early 20th century Judge Amos Green, a Justice of the Peace, purchased the building. There he New Mexico Tech Golf Course. conducted his official business at the bar and detained offenders in a back-room jail. The jailor’s cage was later removed, but the bars on the windows remained.

The building was later acquired by Fred Emilio, who painted the façade green and re-opened the bar for commercial business as the Green Front, in honor of the well-known previous owner of the property. Emilio’s new business thrived for a while; then Prohibition came along.

OW10

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

ABOUT THE AREA

Touting a unique blend of nature, history and technology, Socorro is internationally renowned for the migratory bird facilities at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, its San Miguel Parish serving weary travelers on El Camino Real since 1615 and its immense role with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. A notable destination for golfers, rockhounds, nature photographers, campers and hikers, the town offers unique experiences found within an hour’s drive in all directions.

At the center of town, the plaza offers a relaxing venue for shoppers. A block away is the historic San Miguel church and a few blocks further, the campus of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology that includes a mineral museum containing one of the world’s finest mineral collections.

From Socorro, visitors can travel west through historic Magdalena to the high Plains of San Augustin and the Very Large Array of radio telescopes. Traveling south from Socorro and exiting at the village of San Antonio, the 1880s parental home of Conrad Hilton, visitors can continue south to the 57,000-acre wildlife refuge, the ruins of Fort Craig and El Camino Real International Heritage Center. Northeast of Socorro are the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, impressive remnants of Spanish colonization efforts.

Discover

A MUST stop along the trail...

EXPERIENCE Birding Events & Wildlife Refuges Extensive Hiking, Biking & Riding Trails Historic Re-enactments & Walking Tours Outdoor Recreation Areas & Hunting Opportunities

ATTRACTIONS Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Visitor center, auto tour, hiking and year-round birding. 16 miles south of Socorro. 575-838-2120. www.friendsofthebosque.org Cibola National Forest–Magdalena Dist. Made up of the largest collection of historic ranchlands in New Mexico. 575-854-2281 El Camino Real International Heritage Center.

575-854-3600 Mineralogical Museum. More than 9,500 mineral specimens. Fossils. 575-835-5420. www.geoinfo.nmt.edu NM Institute of Mining and Technology. 801 Leroy Pl., on campus, 1-800-428-8324 N.M. Performing Arts Series. Call for schedule.

575-835-5688. www.nmtpas.org Plains of San Agustin. The largest and highest grasslands in North America. 866-854-3217 Old Kelly Mine. Mine ruins and many wonderful specimens for rockhounds. 3 miles south of Magdalena. 866-854-3217 www.magdalena-nm.com Trinity Site. Site of world’s first atomic bomb explosion. Open twice a year; the first Saturday in April and Oct.. 575-479-6124 The Box Car Museum. Local history, artifacts of Wild West, mining, cattle drives, circa 1885-1930. Located next to AT&SF Railroad Depot. 108 N. Main St. Magdalena 575-854-2261 www.magdalena-nm.com Very Large Array National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Visitor center, self-guided tours, world’s largest radio-telescope array on the Plains of San Agustin. 575-835-7000. www.nrao.ed

EXPLORE Forts & Ghost Towns Gem & Mineral Museum Observatories & Star Parties Ancient Ruins & Historic Sites

ENJOY The BEST Green Chile Southwest Gifts & Shopping Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail New Mexico Tech Public Golf Course Performance Arts & Fine Art Galleries

SOCORRO COUNTY EVENTS Apr

Tour of Socorro Mountain Bike Race 575-350-4116 Jun Socorro Open GolfTournament. 575-835-5335 Oct Socorro Fest. Historic Plaza 575-835-8927 www.socorrofest.com Enchanted Skies Star Party. 575-835-8927 Nov Festival of the Cranes at Bosque del Apache Refuge. 575-835-2007 www.friendsofthebosque.org/crane For more information on any of the above events please call the Socorro Visitor Center at 575-835-8927 or visit www.socorronm.gov.

LOCATION

Socorro is located at the junction of I-25 and US60, the rest stop for historic travelers and migratory birds.

MORE INFORMATION

Socorro Heritage and Visitor Center (575) 835-8927 www.socorronm.gov

OLD WEST COUNTRY SOCORRO

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SHOP SOCORRO

A Unique Selection of Gifts for All Reasons & Seasons.

• New Mexican Arts & Crafts • Mexican Arts & Crafts • Pottery and Ceramic Art • Desert Garden Chili & Spices • Indian Jewelry & Custom Jewelry • Books & Cards • Imports Mon.-Sat. 9am to 5:30pm 575-835-2498 118 Plaza • Socorro, NM

The Green Front survived the years between 1919 and 1933 as a pool hall that also purveyed the finest moonshine to a select clientele.

A trap door located behind the bar offered easy access to the basement and an escape route.

Not surprisingly, when Prohibition ended, the Green Front became Socorro’s first newly legalized bar.

Willie and Frankie Emilio took over for their father in 1937. They renamed the establishment the Capitol Bar and moved it to an adjacent building, only to see the place burn down in 1940. The Capitol Bar moved back to the old brick-and-stone Biavaschi saloon, where it still operates today under different management. The establishment was struck by lightning in 1992, which occasioned an extensive interior renovation.

The vineyards of the Socorro area were wiped out by an unprecedented flood along the Rio Grande in 1943. While this local industry has taken a long time to recover, Southwestern New Mexico is again becoming known as a producer of fine wines. Out of 30 saloons that existed in Socorro in the 1890s, only the Capitol Bar is still in business today.

Donald E. Brown, Broker / Owner One of Socorro’s Most Experienced Professional Realtors. 23+ years of experience Residential • Commercial • Land 116 Plaza in Historic Downtown Socorro PO Box 1903 • Socorro, NM 87801 505-507-2915 Cell 575-835-2498 Office 575-838-0095 Fax DBrown@SocorroPlazaRealty.com

B R O W N B I LT sHOES AND WESTERN WEAR Featuring Alamo Navajo & Local Artists Fine Arts, Crafts, Collectables, Navajo Rugs & Jewelry, Gifts & More Operated by Socorro County Arts

Wed.-Sat. 12 noon to 6 pm 575-838-2724 1008 N. California • Socorro, NM

More Than Just Western Wear!

Name Brand Clothing & Shoes Sportswear & Outdoor Apparel Mon.-Fri. 9am to 5:30pm Sat. 9am to 4pm 575-835-0730 111 Manzanares Ave. • Socorro, NM

Vacations AFFORDABLE

Did you know that a family of four (with children 8 and 16) can visit our top 10 attractions in Old West Country for as little as $48. A couple for just $37.

In a series of nationwide surveys, Old West Country in southwest New Mexico, had consistently low vacation dollars spent in this region. The latest study in December 2005 showed the average California couple spent $2227 for their 4-6 night vacation in Old West Country and the average Arizona couple spent $697. The bargain vacation!

We contacted our attractions and to just see what a family of four could buy in our 120 attractions for about $20.00. The admissions to all of our top 10 attractions was $48.00 for the family of 4, $37.00 for a couple.

These attractions included the Gila Cliff Dwellings, Old Mesilla, Elephant Butte Lake, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, City of Rocks State Park, Very Large

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Array Radio Telescope, The Catwalk, New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum, Deming Luna Mimbres Museum and Shakespeare Ghost Town. All for $48.

For $141.00 you’ve covered admission to every one of our 120 popular attractions, less than $1.20 per family at each attraction! $119.00 for a couple (99 cents

per attraction)! No matter where you go in Old West Country the total cost for each of the seven county-area's admission varies from $3.00 to $47.00. Talk about affordable vacations!

For details on all 120 Old West Country attractions and more information, check out www.oldwestcountry.com/familyfun.

$20 Family Fun for 4 at Old West’s Top Attractions

Top 10 Attractions

Family 2 of 4 Adults

1 Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat’l. Mon.

$3

ages 18+. Hot Springs: Gila $3/person, $4/p w/camping, $3 $3/person Wildwood Hot Springs $5/person and $10/p w/camping

2 Old Mesilla

$0

$0

3 Elephant Butte Lake State Park

$5

$5 day use, annual $40 all parks; add $18 overnight camping, $5 Fees: annual $180-$225 all parks

4 Bosque del Apache Refuge

$3

$3 $3 per car load

5 City of Rocks State Park

$5

$5 Fees: $5 day use, annual $40 all parks; add $18 overnight camping,

6 Very Large Array Telescopes

$0

$0

$3

$3 $3 p/car load for day use parking; no camping

7 The Catwalk Recreation Trail 8 NM Farm & Ranch Museum 9 Deming Luna Mimbres Museum 10 Shakespeare Ghost Town TOTAL

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

annual $180-$225 all parks

$14 $10 $0 $15

$0 Donations $8 Tours available; re-enactments

$48 $37

Magdalena SOCORRO COUNTY

The Trail: 125 Years of ‘Hoof Highway’ History

“It was a nightmare. We used to have…dogs a barkin’ and kids a hollerin’, and those steam engines would let off steam and turn the cattle and it was a reael job to get them up to the corral. But we always got ’em corralled. But the cattle, they aren’t used to peopled or nothin’…

C

atron County, New Mexico rancher Dave Farr was speaking with Brenda Wilkinson and Mark Matthews of the Bureau of Land Management, as reported by the Mountain Mail, Socorro, NM last February 4. Farr was laughing as he recalled penning cattle at the end of a typical trail drive along the Magdalena Stock Driveway, a 125 mile long corridor reserved for hoof traffic only. Used until the early 1970s, the driveway connected cattle ranches as far away as Springerville, AZ, with a railroad shipping point at Magdalena, NM, also known as “Trail’s End.” Called the Magdalena Trail until 1916, when the land that comprises it was officially set aside specifically for driving stock, the driveway got its start in 1885 when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad built a spur line to Magdalena. From there, it shipped not only livestock, but timber and ore from the ABOUT THE AREA Sitting below 10,800-foot South Baldy Peak and just area as well. Shipping pens were built at the minutes away from the drop-off into the Rio Grande rail head to contain the cattle and sheep.

Valley, the picturesque village of Magdalena, the “Trails End,” celebrates its ties to the arts and to the Old West.

The driveway was five to ten miles wide, so Serving the Navajo people and descendants of cattle barons, railroaders and hard rock miners, the village also that the animals could spread out and graze welcomes the high-tech participants of the nearby Very Large Array of radio telescopes. along the way. Cattle could travel about ten Galleries and shops occupying historic buildings house artwork, Southwest furniture, Navajo jewelry and lots of miles a day, and sheep about half that. Driving collectables. Visit the “Box Car Museum” and the restored Santa Fe Railroad Depot that serves as the cattle full length of the trail during good weathMagdalena Village offices. er took almost two weeks continuous travel, and EVENTS herding sheep took nearly a month. The Apr Very Large Array GuidedTours. 575-835-7243 Egg Show at Bear Mountain Gallery.

Civilian Conservation Corps fenced the drive575-854-3310 Jun Magdalena Arts Festival & Studio Tour. way and drilled wells every ten miles in 1930.

575-854-3310 Jul Old Timers Reunion. Rodeo, Pancake The railroad shipping pens have been mainBreakfast, Arts & Crafts, BBQ, Music and much more. 575-401-4352 tained and are visible today north of the Magdalena Old-Timers Reunion. 575-401-4352 Magdalena Old-Timers Parade. 575-854-2261 Visitors Center.

Aug Oct Nov Dec

"Hard Times & Hope: The Lost Wife Creek Years." London Frontier Theatre Co. 575-854-2519 "Hard Times & Hope: The Lost Wife Creek Years." London Frontier Theatre Co. 575-854-2519 Very Large Array Guided Tours. 575-835-7243 Magdalena Arts Festival & Studio Tour.

575-854-3310 Santa, Dinner and Dance. 575-854-3310

EXPLORE Stock Driveway & Trails End Box Car Museum Kelly Mine - Ghost Town Mountain Hiking & Biking Very Large Array • Wildlife & Hunting STAY & EAT Motels • RV Parks • B&B’s • Restaurants STOP & SHOP Arts & Galleries • Native American Jewelry Handmade Furniture • Antiques & Gifts

1.866.854.3217 www.magdalena-nm.com

LOCATION

Magdalena is located on US60 between Socorro and the Very Large Array.

MORE INFORMATION

Magdalena Chamber of Commerce 1(866) 854-3217 www.magdalena-nm.com email: info@magdalena-nm.com

Paid for with Magdalena Lodgers Tax Funds

OLD WEST COUNTRY MAGDALENA

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& Reserve Glenwood

Udder Delight

CATRON COUNTY

&

Say goodbye to dry skin!

Our natural goat milk soaps, lotions and creams will leave your skin feeling soft, supple, nourished, and moisturized.

Store Hours: Mon-Sat 9-5

5121 Highway 180 • Glenwood, NM 88039 1.877.833.3740 • www.udderdelight.com

Whitewater Motel

Elfego Baca

The Frisco Shootout

I told… the deputy sheriff that he should be ashamed of himself, having the law on his side to permit the cowboys[to] do what they did.

H Surrounded by rugged mountains and forests.

• Dish Network • Air Conditioning • Fantastic Views • Spacious Backyard

PO Box 158 • Glenwood, NM 88039 575.539.2581 • www.gilanet.com/whitewatermotel

Tres Amigos Enterprises Inc.

New Construction • Adobe Homes • Metal Roofing Kenny Sutton, Licensed Contractor

Glenwood, New Mexico 575.539.2584 • 505.469.1561 tresamigos@wildblue.net

Catron County Chamber of Commerce 575.533.6968 www.CatronCounty.org

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EVENTS

Jul Frisco CowBelles’ Ann. Feb Glenwood Park Barrel Western Art Auction.

Race & Pot Blessing.

Dance and Barbeque in 575-539-2321 Glenwood. 575-539-2711 Mar Dutch Oven Cook Off in Luna Pioneer Days and Glenwood Park.

Rodeo. 575-533-6968 575-539-2321 Jul July 4th Celebration in Aug Catron County Fair and Rodeo in Reserve.

Glenwood. 575-539-2711 575-533-6968 July 4th Celebration in Quemado and Reserve. Sep Pie Town Pie Festival.

575-772-2525 575-533-6968

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

The Catwalk. Trail over suspended bridges in White-water Canyon 5 miles east of Glenwood. 575-539-2711.

Clairmont. Ghost town 19 miles northeast of Glenwood.

575-533-6922 Cooney’s Tomb. Alma, 7 miles north of Glenwood. Burial of soldiers killed in a conflict with Apaches.

Mogollon. Ghost town 13 miles northeast of Glenwood.

Snow Lake. In the Gila National Forest. Camping and fishing. 47 miles northeast of Glenwood.

Quemado Lake. Camping, fishing 11 miles so. of Quemado.

Whitewater Canyon. 5 miles east of Glenwood.

575-539-2711 WS Cemetery. WS Ranch B & B, Alma, 7 miles north of Glenwood. 575-539-2513

LOCATION

Reserve is located at the junction of NM 12 and the San Francisco River.

MORE INFORMATION

Catron County Chamber (575) 533-6968 www.catroncounty.org

Photo by Debra Sutton

Relax and enjoy vacationing in the heart of Glenwood.

e told me that if I wanted to, I could take his job. I told him that if he would take me back to Frisco with him, that I would make myself a self-made deputy.”

This was the recollection of an older Elfego Baca, speaking of a time when he was a nineteen-year-old store clerk from Socorro, New Mexico. The this page: mounbrash young man’s sudden career change soon led to one of the biggest, and Forested tains, streams and lakes are downright strangest, peacetime gun battles in the history of the Old West. the essence of In an epic two-day occurrence that became known as the Frisco Shootout, Catron County. some eighty angry ranch hands fired an estimated 4,000 shots at Elfego Baca, who was returning gunfire from a rickety building of the type known as a jacal. The shack was riddled with holes during the standoff, and its dirt roof partially caved in. The door of the structure, later introduced as evidence, contained over 400 bullet holes.

The battle was the culmination of increasing tensions between the citizens of San Francisco Plaza, New Mexico - now known as Reserve - and cattle drovers, many from Texas, who worked at outlying ranches.

On the morning of the second day of the ABOUT THE AREA Three national forests share borders within this sparsely shootout, the tired cowboys eyed the sunlight populated land of mountain lakes, hiking trails and campsites. Snow Lake on the north edge of the Gila Wilderness streaming through the walls of the little shack, and Quemado Lake just south of US60 are excellent trout waters where only electric boat motors are allowed. and concluded that no one could have surIn Reserve, a bronze statue commemorates lawman Baca, who endured a 33-hour shootout in 1884 vived the barrage. Then the morning breeze Elfego against incredible odds.

Glenwood on US 180 is the hub for Catwalk National carried the aroma of hot coffee and tortillas to Recreation Trail, with metal walkways clinging to narrow canyon walls, and the ghost town of Mogollon, a picturthe men, and they knew that Elfego had not esque turn-of-the-last-century gold mining camp. only survived, but was about to enjoy breakATTRACTIONS fast. The fusillade began again.

Alma. Historic community 7 miles north of Glenwood.

Outdoors

What the attackers at the jacal had no way of knowing was that the dirt floor inside the structure was 12 to18 inches below the outside ground level. In late afternoon of the second day, a Socorro County deputy known

by Elfego arrived and offered to legally arrest him in exchange for a guarantee of his personal safety. Elfego agreed, but insisted on keeping his guns. His wishes were respected.

He emerged from the jacal without a scratch.

THE GREAT

The diverse opportunities for creating awesome outdoor adventures in Old West Country will wrangle your imagination. Battling a trophy striped bass on New Mexico’s largest warmwater lake or a feisty rainbow trout in a cold mountain stream will certainly enhance your vision of the Desert Southwest. Herds of grazing elk and clouds of migrating waterfowl can alter the horizon and power up your production of adrenaline. Hiking trails and biking trails traverse the entire region.

Rock climbers and mountain cyclists are drawn by rugged terrain, sparse populations and a near-perfect climate. Guides are ready to provide wilderness horseback trips for riders of all experience levels. Those who prefer touring by car can enjoy the old mining towns and mountain vistas of the area’s scenic byways.

Old West Country offers abundant opportunities for birding and rockhounding. Hikers enjoy the solitude of three national forests and two major wilderness areas. State Park and Bureau of Land Management trails showcase the beauty and challenges of the region’s desert landscapes.

Elephant Butte and Caballo Lakes on the Rio Grande provide excellent conditions for numerous species of sporting fish. Elephant Butte is host to a full range of water sports including water skiing, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, jet skiing and parasailing.

Southwest New Mexico’s cold, clear streams and mountain lakes provide the challenges that keep the true sportsman returning for more.

Hand or electric-powered boats, only, are permitted at these smaller, ‘no wake’ lakes.

Alma Store & Grill

HIKING Apache, Cibola and Gila National Forest personnel maintain trail networks throughout the vast mountain region of Old West Country.

Specific hiking areas include Aguirre Springs National Recreation Area at Las Cruces, Catwalk National Recreation Trail at Glenwood and segments of the Continental Divide Trail around Silver City.

575-388-8201

BIKING Mountain biking roads and trails are scattered throughout Old West Country, while the sanctioned Tour of the Gila 5-day bicycle stage race is held annually in Silver City.

Check with local visitors centers for recommendations.

ROCKHOUNDING Gem and mineral activity is found throughout southwest New Mexico. Specific points of interest include the Mineral Museum at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, Rockhound State Park near Deming and the Chino open pit copper mine near Silver City. 575-388-8201.

Among the state’s major fishing waters are Elephant Butte and Caballo Lakes on the Rio Grande. Mountain lakes and streams are scattered throughout the Gila and Apache National Forests, including Lake Roberts, Bear Canyon Lake, Bill Evans Lake, Snow Lake and Quemado Lake. http://www.state.nm.us or 575-476-8000.

See our collection of antique photos and western memorabilia.

HC 61 Box 169, Alma, NM • 575.539.CAFE (2233)

Angelwings

BOATING & WATER SPORTS Photo by Judy Wuthrich

Coordinated Care LLC. & Angelwings Home Care

Glenwood Office: 575.539.2227 Silver City Office: 575.534.0311

Late fall migratory birds provide spectacular bird watching and photo opportunities at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro. The Rio Grande and Gila River systems and all mountain regions are host to year-round birding. Hummingbirds provide a real treat in warmer months in the Lake Roberts and Gila Cliff Dwelling areas. 575-388-8201

FISHING

Family Owned and Operated.

• Restaurant • Fuel • Groceries • Ice • Video Rentals Open 7 Days a Week. Restaurant Open Daily 6am to 3pm Breakfast Served All Day! Mexican and American dishes.

Serving Catron and Grant Counties.

Homemaker Services.

BIRDING

Water skiing, scuba diving, jet skiing, sailing, parasailing and much more are typical activities at Elephant Butte Lake State Park. At most of the smaller mountain lakes, only electric powered motorboats are allowed.

OLD WEST COUNTRY RESERVE/GLENWOOD

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ABOUT THE AREA

Silver City numbers talk.

There are three million acres of forest and wilderness covering the city’s back yard, crisscrossed by 1500 miles of trails. Three hundred ten species of birds have been identified in the region. Thirty art galleries are bursting with a friendly, small town atmosphere and you won’t find better year-round weather figures…anywhere.

The Mogollon culture was enjoying this climate some 800 years ago and the Mimbres people were painting creative images on pottery.

Today, you can drive to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument or simply visit area museums to learn about this ancient artistic culture.

Centuries later, the Apache leader Geronimo was born near the headwaters of the Gila River and is recognized by a monument erected at the cliff dwellings visitor center.

Silver City consists of an intriguing collection of Victorian homes and a historic business district that includes restaurants and coffee shops, galleries, day spas, specialty shops and two highly informative museums.

Silver City is a haven for both mountain bikers and serious road bikers. Photographers can enjoy hiking a trail system within the city limits and driving the Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway that begins in Silver City.

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Silver City GRANT COUNTY

Billy The Kid

Dishwasher Turned Desperado “September 16, 1874 - Catherine McCarty-Antrim: "Died in Silver City on Wednesday, the 16th, Catherine, wife of William Antrim, aged 45 years.

Mrs. Antrim with her husband and family came to Silver City about one year and a half ago, since which time her health has not been good, having suffered from an affection of the lungs, and for the last four months she has been confined to her bed. The funeral occurred from the family residence on Main Street at 2 o'clock on Thursday."

—Silver City Mining Life, September 19, 1874

C

atherine was interred in what is now Memory Lane Cemetery in Silver City, New Mexico, where she has rested for 136 years. She had moved to Silver City hoping to find relief from tuberculosis, without knowing this page: Downthat she had arrived too late. Her death left two young sons, town Silver City has Joseph and Henry McCarty, to fend for themselves. Their stepfather, preserved the best of its previous Old William Antrim, was off in the gold fields somewhere. Joseph West and mining eras, filling its hiswould go on to live a full life, dying in 1930 at age 76. Henry toric buildings with would become known as Billy the Kid, pursued across the West by shops, art galleries, coffee shops and mounted lawmen, and die violently before his 22nd birthday. museums.

Following his mother’s funeral, fourteen-year-old Billy got a job washing dishes in a Silver City Chinese restaurant. He worked hard and prospered for a time. Some say it was a few pounds of missing butter that started him on the road to ruin; others say that he was hired to help one adult play a prank on anoth-

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

Silver City Museum Store Excellent Southwest Books & Regional Gifts Tuesday-Friday 9:00 to 4:30 Saturday-Sunday 10:00 to 4:00 Closed Monday.

312 W. Broadway • Silver City, NM 575.538.5921 • silvercitymuseum.org

er. Just the same, he ended up in jail for his efforts, then escaped.

Whatever started things rolling in the wrong direction, two patterns were beginning to emerge in the character traits of young Billy the Kid. One was that he was a good dishwasher, and could easily find such employment when necessary. The second was that throughout his short life, Billy never stayed in jail for very long.

In Shakespeare, NM, Billy washed dishes at the Stratford Hotel, where a man was once shot to death in a dining room dispute over a single fried egg. Later, Billy broke jail in Mesilla, NM, where he was sentenced to hang, and again in Lincoln, NM where he killed a sheriff ’s deputy with the deputy’s own shotgun.

During his career, Billy is said to have killed more than 20 men in cold blood, and

SILVER CITY is known for its arts community, birding opportunities, diverse cultural heritage, regional cuisine, star-gazing, terrific year-round weather, relaxed lifestyle and proximity to 3.3 million-acre Gila National Forest.

www.SilverCity.org 1-800-548-9378 201 N. Hudson St., Silver City, NM 88061

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Funded by Silver City Lodger’s Tax

OLD WEST COUNTRY SILVER CITY

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The Palace Hotel Celebrating 110 Years

SILVER CITY GALLERIES

Located in the downtown historic district.

Reminiscent of a small hotel in the European Tradition.

• Affordable Rates • 18 Rooms & Suites

Silver Spirit Gallery 575.388.2079 www.silverspiritgallery.com

• Continental Breakfast

106 W. Broadway, Silver City, NM 88061

Top international riders fill the streets of Silver City during the grueling Tour of the Gila five-day stage race.

575.388.1811 www.zianet.com/palacehotel

Holiday Inn Express

Lois Duffy Art 575.313.9631 www.loisduffy.com

Silver City • Fully Equipped Cardio Work-Out Room • Spa Facilities • FREE Express Start Breakfast Bar with new hot options • FREE Wireless Broadband Internet in every room Located just off US Hwy 180 East next to Wendy’s

Quality Excellence Award Winning Hotel

1103 Superior Street Silver City NM 88061 1-800-Holiday • 575-538-2525 www.hiexpress.com/silvercitynm

Mimbres Region Arts Council

Tatiana Maria Gallery Fine Art & Furnishings 305 & 307 N. Bullard St. 575.388.4426

• Performance Series • Pickamania! September 10-12 • Silver City Blues Festival Memorial Day Weekend

• Weekend at the Galleries Columbus Day Weekend

Funded by Silver City Lodger's Tax.

888.758.7289 • 575.538.2505 www.MimbresArts.org

Prudential

Creations & Adornments 116 N. Bullard St. 575.534.4269

Silver City Properties Mimbres Office Robin Thomas, Associate Broker

2991 Highway 35 Mimbres, NM 88049 Office & Cell 575.574.8798 Robin@MimbresRealEstate.com www.MimbresValleyRealEstate.com

boat Cente r See d

for the Arts

Susan Dell Szajer 575.534.4968 www.susanszajer.com

Seedboat Gallery &

Mountain Air Productions • • • •

Fine Art & Craft Gallery Live Performance Space Recording Studio Catering

575-534-1136 Located in Historic Downtown Silver City

214 W. Yankie Street Silver City, NM 88061 www.SeedboatGallery.com

Victoria Chick Studio Visits 575.534.4680 www.VictoriaChick.com

his exploits in the Lincoln County War are well known. Though these deeds may have become contributing factors, the main reasons for Billy’s eventual demise were his apparent business savvy and his fascination with stealing Texas cattle.

Billy sensed the underlying principle behind ‘dead-heading,’ which is an easily understood cargo practice still avoided by freighting companies today. Having delivered a cargo to a far off place, a freighter can either return home with the payment and an empty vehicle, or look around for another load of cargo that can be taken back home and sold on the same trip, which will cost the same either way.

In Billy’s case, he drove stolen New Mexico horses into Texas, where they were readily purchased. Pocketing the money, he then drove stolen Texas cattle into New Mexico to sell, which aroused the anger of the Texans. The Panhandle Cattlemen’s Association voted to pursue Billy the Kid using every man available, and soon a posse thundered into New Mexico.

Out of the dozen that arrived, Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett selected four stock detectives and his own deputies to continue pursuit. The results were Billy’s capture, conviction and subsequent violent escape from the Lincoln County Jail. Two lawmen, including the deputy previously mentioned, were killed in the incident. After that, Billy’s fate was sealed.

Billy the Kid is said to have been shot by Pat Garrett in a darkened room in Fort Sumner, NM, after other authorities believed Billy had escaped into Mexico. Several theories still exist regarding the actual identity of the deceased.

Silver City’s best value!

Centrally located Close to Silver City Historic Downtown

District, Visitor Center & amenities.

Restaurant and Lounge on site Renovated Rooms, FREE WiFi,

MOTEL

FREE Local Calls, FREE Coffee

RED BARN For reservations - Call:

575.538.5392

Family owned and operated for over 30 years.

email: coppermanor@yahoo.com

The

710 SILVER HEIGHTS BLVD SILVER CITY, NM 88061 ATTRACTIONS

Big Ditch Park. Formed when flood lowered Main St. 55 feet.

Fort Bayard. U.S. Infantry post built in 1863. Housed Buffalo Soldiers. 10 miles east of Silver City.

Gila National Forest/Silver City Ranger District. 3005 E. Camino del Bosque. 575-388-8201. www.fs.fed.us/r3/gila Kneeling Nun. Natural monolith resembling a praying nun.

15 mi. E. of Silver City at Santa Rita mine.

Mimbres Region Arts Council. Scheduled events held throughout the year. 575-758-7289. www.mimbresarts.org Royal Scepter Mineral Museum. Rock shop, jewelry and gifts.

1805 Little Walnut. 575-538-9001. www.RoyalScepter.com San Vicente Art Walks. Self-guided gallery and studio tour within walking distance in downtown Silver City. Call for map.

1-800-548-9378 Silver City Museum. Area history, Indian artifacts, mining exhibits and Victorian furnishings. 312 W. Broadway.

575-388-5721. www.silvercitymuseum.org Western New Mexico University Museum. Local and natural history including the Eisele Collection of Prehistoric Southwestern Pottery and Artifacts, the world’s largest permanent exhibit of Mimbres pottery. 1000 W. College. 575-538-6386. www.wnmu.edu/univ/ museum.html Bill Evans Lake. Fishing & primitive camping, 12 mi. south of Cliff.

Aldo Leopold Vista. Picnic and wilderness interpretive site, 6 miles north of Buckhorn.

Turkey Creek. Primitive trout stream northeast of Gila, NM. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Cliff dwelling ruins from the 13th century. 44 miles north of Silver City. 575-536-9461 Lake Roberts. Camping, trout fishing, hummingbird banding, birding and stargazing. 28 miles north of Silver City. 575-536-3206 Lightfeather Hot Spring. Near Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitor Center. 30 minute walk includes 2 river crossings. 575-536-9461 Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway. Loops north on NM15 to Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat’l. Monument, southeast on NM35, and west on NM152 and US180.

Hearst Church. Seasonal museum and art gallery. Built in 1898 with Hearst newspaper empire money. In Pinos Altos, 6 miles north of Silver City.

Pinos Altos Melodrama Theater. Adjacent to the Buckhorn Saloon in the Pinos Altos Opera House. Great fun! Original melodramas. Call for schedule. 575-388-3848

GRANT COUNTY EVENTS Jan Red Paint PowWow & Indian Market 575-534-1379 Feb Chocolate Fantasia 575-538-2505 Apr Annual Tour of the Gila 575-538-3785 www.tourofthegila.com Celebration of Spring Festival. 575-534-1700 May Silver City Blues Festival 575-538-2505 www.mimbresarts.org Wild, Wild West Pro Rodeo. 575-538-3785 Jun Annual Pinos Altos Art Fair. 575-388-5202 Jul 4th of July Celebrations. 575-538-3785 Sep San Vicente Artists Art Fair. 575-534-4269 artfair@silvercityartists.org Cliff, Gila and Grant County Fair. 575-538-3785 Taste Of Downtown. 575-534-1700 www.mainstreet@gilanet.com Oct Pinos Altos October Fiesta. 575-538-5560 Weekend at the Galleries. 575-538-2505 Nov Annual Lighted Christmas Parade.

575-534-1700

Family Steakhouse & Watering Hole Welcome to Silver City’s “local landmark serving families for over 30 years.”

Offering prime, aged, hand carved steaks and the BEST salad bar in town!

575.538.5666 Banquet facilities for parties of up to 250.

708 Silver Heights Blvd Silver City, NM 88061

MOTEL

RESTAURANT & LOUNGE Silver City’s favorite breakfast spot for nearly half a century.

LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEKEND!

FREE Pool, FREE Darts, Full Bar 575.538.2916 800.853.2916 711 Silver Heights Blvd. Silver City, NM 88061

LOCATION

Silver City is located at the junction of US180 and NM90, on the Continental Divide and the southern edge of the Gila National Forest.

MORE INFORMATION

Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce (575) 538-3785 1(800) 548-9378 www.silvercity.org Mimbres Region Arts Council (575) 538-2505 1(888) 758-7289 www.mimbresarts.org OLD WEST COUNTRY SILVER CITY

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Bayard, & Hurley Pinos Altos

Fabulous getaway nestled in the tall pines of Pinos Altos.

• • • • • • • • •

GRANT COUNTY MINING DISTRICT

Crackling Fireplaces Secluded Balconies Relaxing Porches Telephone & WiFi Satellite TV Barbeque Grill Hot Tub in Cabana Meeting Room Cabins with kitchens are available.

The Pinos Altos Arrastra: A Link to the Past

"Hear ye! Hear ye! This honorable court is now in session, and if anybody wants a snort before we start, step up to the bar and name your poison."

Conveniently located just 7 miles north of Silver City on NM Hwy. 15.

575.388.4501 888.388.4515

– Judge Roy Bean

Make reservations & view availability online

ears before Roy Bean became a justice of the peace and established business at Vinegaroon, TX, he operated Bean’s General Store in Pinos Altos, New Mexico along with his brother Samuel. Acting on hearsay, the two had migrated to Birchville - soon to be again renamed Pinos Altos - following the first successful gold this page: A prospecting venture among a string of failures for Colonel Jasper burro powered mill for Snively and his partners Henry Burch and James W. Hicks. The trio grinding gold ore has been preserved at the named the gold-bearing waterway ‘Bear Creek.’

Arrastra Site near A restored heirloom of the resulting local mining boom can be viewed the picturesque mountain village just north of Pinos Altos at an authentic ore reduction site. Breaking ore of Pinos Altos. out of its hard-rock matrix was different than panning gravel in a stream.

Since there were no stamp mills in the area at the time of the strike, miners relied on donkey-powered Mexican devices called arrastras. A large rock chained to the opposite end of the fulcrum beam shown in the photos smashed the ore into powder, which was mixed with quicksilver (mercury) and removed for further reduction.

Y

www.BearCreekCabins.com P.O. Box 53082 • Pinos Altos, NM 88053

J W Fine Art • Western Art • Bronze Sculpture Custom Picture Framing Restorations • Art Workshops • Gift Shop • Museum

575.537.0300 - 99 Cortez Avenue, Hurley NM Hours: Wed./Fri. 9-5 Sat./Sun. 10-6 PREVIEW ARTISTS: www.jwartgallery.com

welcomes you to our mining district cities of Hurley, Bayard & Santa Clara.

The Town of Hurley, founded in 1910, will be celebrating 100 years May 8, 2010. Enjoy the Kneeling Nun scenic vista (pictured above) surrounded by rock-faced mountains.

575.538.3785 www.silvercity.org 201 N. Hudson St. Silver City, NM 88061

Funded by Silver City Lodger's Tax

OW20

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

photo by Sarah Cearley

ABOUT THE AREA New Mexico’s richest mining district stretches across Grant County. Pinos Altos was the site of an early gold rush and more recent underground copper mining. Once the county seat, historic buildings house eateries, museums and the Hearst Church Gallery.

The Town of Bayard has historically served the work forces of large underground and open pit copper, lead and zinc mining operations.

Underground mining has ceased, but the old head frames can be seen as one travels north on NM356 from Bayard. Turning east on NM152, visitors can overlook the massive open pit mining operation at Santa Rita, where copper has been mined since the 1800s.

Hurley served as the management center for the largest of the area mines, as well as the location for copper smelting activities. The smelter is gone, but community activities have surged. The just-established railroad museum, the old company store, now a distinguished art gallery, and Infant Jesus Catholic Church are among the prominent sights of Hurley.

Another historic jewel of the area is Fort Bayard National Historic Landmark, National Cemetery and state game reserve. Well-preserved officer’s quarters and a statue of a Buffalo Soldier on the parade grounds are the backdrops for annual reenactments of the 1800s cavalry era.

ATTRACTIONS

Fort Bayard. U.S. Infantry post built in 1863.

Housed Buffalo Soldiers. 10 miles east of Silver City.

Old Hurley Company Store. One of the first buildings in Hurley - supplied miners and their families, housed the Chino Mine payroll office and later served as a department store.

Kneeling Nun. Natural monolith resembling a praying nun. 15 mi. E. of Silver City at Santa Rita mine.

Hearst Methodist Church. Built by the Hearst family circa 1898. Currently home to the Grant County Art Guild.

Pinos Altos Melodrama Theater. Adjacent to the Buckhorn Saloon in the Pinos Altos Opera House.

Great fun! Original melodramas. Call for schedule.

575-388-3848

EVENTS Apr Historic Ft. Bayard Walking Tour.

575-956-3294 May Ft. Bayard Wilderness Run. www.zianet.com/ftbayardrun Aug Ft. Bayard’s Birthday. 575-388-4477 Sep Fort Bayard Days. 575-388-4477 Oct Pinos Altos Fiesta. 575-574-8394 Nov Hurley Christmas Bazaar. 575-537-2124

LOCATION

Bayard and Hurley are located on US180 in the heart of New Mexico’s largest and most historic mining district. Pinos Altos is located on NM Hwy 15 just 7 miles north of Silver City.

below: old courthouse in Hillsboro. above, from left: school house museum at Lake Valley, underground mining operation near Hanover, Kelly Mine works near Magdalena, old ore car at Chloride, Fort Cobre in Pinos Altos, assay office in Kingston, general store in Mogollon.

HISTORIC

Mining TOWNS

A number of the towns that the mining industry built in its heyday remain today in Old West Country, but the ringing of double-jack hammers and the roar of black powder are sounds that have faded from the foothills. Several of the towns are still lightly inhabited, have become repopulated or are presently managed by government agencies. All of them played a role in creating the wealth of Old West Country and the nation.

The towns of Winston, Chloride, Lake Valley, Hillsboro and Kingston are historic mining towns forming an informative day trip from the Truth or Consequences area. The mining villages of Pinos Altos and Fierro are accessed from Silver City. The scenic mining community of Mogollon is accessible from Glenwood and Kelly is near Magdalena.

CHLORIDE Mineral: Silver. The Pioneer Store has been turned into a world-class museum, and the Monte Cristo Saloon is now an upscale gallery.

FIERRO Mineral: Copper, Iron and Zinc. The first copper mine was established by a German immigrant in 1841. A small population remains today.

HILLSBORO Mineral: Gold. Post office opened in 1879 and has never closed. Served as county seat for 54 years. Over 200 residents remain in the village.

KINGSTON Mineral: Silver.

Founded in 1882, the population peaked at 7000. Remaining buildings include assay office, Percha Bank and Victorio Hotel.

LAKE VALLEY Mineral: Silver.

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Bridal Chamber, a legendary large deposit of almost pure silver, was discovered here.

KELLY Mineral: Lead, Copper, Zinc and Silver. A small church, several ruins and foundations and remnants of the mine works remain as testimony to the once-bustling town located just south of Magdalena.

MOGOLLON Mineral: Gold and Silver. Located on the northern edge of the Gila Wilderness near Glenwood, its precious metal bullion was once hauled to Silver City by mule teams.

PINOS ALTOS Mineral: Gold.

Named for the tall trees in the area. Village merchants accepted gold dust in trade well into the 20th century.

WINSTON Mineral: Silver.

Originally called Fairview, it was home to about 200 people who preferred the quieter town over nearby rambunctious Chloride.

MORE INFORMATION

Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce (575) 538-3785 1(800)548-9378 www.silvercity.org City of Bayard (575)537-3327 www.bayardminingtours.gov

OLD WEST COUNTRY BAYARD, HURLEY & PINOS ALTOS

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Lordsburg HIDALGO COUNTY

The Ralston City

Diamond Hoax "This is the greatest [diamond] field ever, for it not only produces diamonds for us to find, but it cuts them as well."

G

eologist Clarence King had found a lapidary mark on a rough diamond from the field. With his discovery, the Diamond Hoax of 1872 began to unravel. A chapter of that same story was also one of the stranger episodes in the colorful history of Shakespeare, New Mexico.

It started in San Francisco, CA when two tired-looking prospectors named Arnold and Slack entered the Bank of California with a small rawhide bag to deposit for safekeeping during their stay in town. As they knew he would, the teller looked in the bag as soon as the prospectors left. It was full of diamonds. Racing upstairs, he showed the bag to bank president William Ralston who immediately sent samples out for verification. He questioned the prospectors, who reluctantly disclosed the location of the discovery.

Ralston was so prominent in the Southwestern New Mexico silver boom that present-day Shakespeare was then called Ralston City. After having the diamond field enthusiastically verified by an independent geologist, Ralston reportedly paid Arnold and Slack $600,000 for their claim. The prospectors retired. Ralston organized a mining company and sold stock. News of the diamond strike spread around the world, but the compathis page: A ny always kept its location secret. When the San Francisco Chronicle report- makeshift cross the ed that the site was within a thousand miles of San Francisco and a few miles overlooks rowdy ghost town from Mexico, it didn’t take fortune hunters long to converge on Ralston City. of Shakespeare near Lordsburg.

The town, which had dwindled after the silver boom faded, flourished again.

Just before the hoax was exposed, the Chronicle reported that the claim was really in Colorado. The claim, however, had been salted, presumably by Arnold and Slack.

Ralston City emptied out again, leaving a newly refurbished town, soon to be newly named, for new settlers who would arrive during the next silver boom seven years later.

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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

Days Inn & Suites Lordsburg Free Daybreak Breakfast Free High Speed Internet Fitness Center • Pool

1426 West Motel Blvd.

Lordsburg, NM 575-542-3600 www.daysinn.com

ABOUT THE AREA For a genuine glimpse of the Old West, Lordsburg and Hidalgo County put time in reverse. Artifacts displayed at the Lordsburg Hidalgo Museum breathe life back into the area’s ghost towns and highlight its mining, railroad, ranching and farming heritage.

A couple of miles away, but over a hundred years up the road, the ghost town of Shakespeare boldly hangs onto its rip-roaring past. A mining camp and stage stop on the Butterfield Trail, some of the fiercest outlaws in the Old West once passed the time.

Southwest of Lordsburg, the arts village of Rodeo showcases the work of local artisans. Visit Roger McKasson’s Studio/Gallery in Rodeo, the Chiricahua Guild and Art Gallery in the old mission church and the Chiricahua Desert Museum.

Declared an “outstanding natural area for birding habitat,” Guadalupe Canyon in the Southwest corner of Hidalgo County and Cave Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains host species found no where else in the United States. Hiking, camping and stable night skies for stargazing are abundant.

North of Lordsburg, the Lower Gila Box Wilderness Study Area provides access to petroglyphs and some 170 species of birds.

ATTRACTIONS

Lordsburg Hidalgo Museum. This Old West museum documents the early history in which the nearby ghost towns took root. 710 E 2nd St. Open M-F 1-5 PM. 575-542-9086.

Gila National Forest. Almost one fourth of the 3.3 million acre forest is in wilderness. Largest of these is the 438,360 acre Gila Wilderness, set aside in 1924 as the first such area in the United States.

Rodeo. On the NM-AZ border in southern Hidalgo Co., Rodeo is a small art center with the Chiricahua Guild & Gallery located in an old Mission Church, the StudioGallery of internationally renowned artist and sculptor Roger McKasson, and the Chiricahua Desert Museum with live reptile displays, a gift shop and gallery. The area offers facilities for travelers.

Portal and Cave Creek. This famous birding area is the only place in North America that you can see Olive Warblers, Red-faced Warblers, and Mexican Chickadees.

Portal also has a wide variety of hummingbird species.

Portal offers lodging and food.

Redrock Wildlife Area. Located on the Gila River and is operated by the NM Game & Fish Dept. All animals are protected within the refuge even during hunting seasons.

The main project at the reserve is the breeding and growth of the Desert Big-Horn Sheep.

Shakespeare Ghost Town. 2.5 miles southwest of Lordsburg. Open monthly for guided tours. Call for schedule. 575-542-9034 www.shakespeareghostown.com Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness. Ragged and rugged, the historic Butterfield Stage Route forms the southern boundary.

HIDALGO COUNTY EVENTS Jan Feb May Jul

Aug Nov Dec

Annual Quilt Show. 575-542-9646 Cowboy Poetry Fiesta. 575-542-9864 St. Joseph’s Food Fiesta. 575-542-3268 Lordsburg July 4th Activities.

5K/2mi. Run/Walk 575-542-8844 Parade, BBQ & Dance in Rodeo, NM Hidalgo County Fair & Rodeo. 575-542-9864 Cowboy Hall of Fame. 575-542-8158 Mixed Nuts Arts & Crafts Show. Rodeo, NM Annual Light Parade, Moonlight Madness 575-542-9864

Contact the Lordsburg Hidalgo County Chamber of Commerce to check on events and dates, as changes may occur throughout the year. 575-542-9864 Fx: 575-542-9059. email: lordsburgcoc@aznex.net.

LOCATION Lordsburg is located at the junction of I-10, US70 and NM90 near the Butterfield Trail stage stop of Shakespeare.

MORE INFORMATION Lordsburg Hidalgo County Chamber of Commerce (575) 542-9864 www.LordsburgHidalgoCounty.net email: lordsburgcoc@aznex.net OLD WEST COUNTRY LORDSBURG

OW23

Deming LUNA COUNTY

Lottie Deno

Elegant Enigma of the Old West “Look, I mind my own business and I suggest you do the same.”

S

o spoke the fine-looking lady with red hair and dark eyes, who was wearing a blue silk dress that day.

The newspaper reporter who had initiated the conversation might have hesitated to approach her in the first place, had he known that she was carrying a gun.

To many who study Old West history, Lottie Deno remains a mysterious figure whose actual name is even in doubt. What is certain is that she was a professional poker player who plied her trade, and resided for a time, in the silver mining community of Georgetown, New Mexico.

There are many different ways of mining silver, a few of which do not require digging in the this page: The Florida Mountains dirt or breaking rocks. Lottie’s method was one of the latter. For her, the game of poker - which and Spring Canyon the backshe had learned from her father - was strictly business, and minding her own business was some- provide drop for the visitor thing she did with impeccable skill. She was always known to be well-groomed and dressed in center at Rock hound State Park. the latest finery. She permitted no smoking, drinking or swearing among her clientele, which was a difficult requirement to enforce on a riverboat, in a saloon or a gambling house. Just the same, men lined up for a chance to play cards with the pretty lady. It is said that after a bar room shootout left two men dead on the floor, only Lottie remained inside the place. She was counting up her winnings. When asked by the sheriff why she was still seated amid the corpses and clutter, she simply replied, “You have never seen a desperate woman,” and continued counting her chips.

Lottie Deno was most likely born under the name of Carlotta Thompkins, in Kentucky in 1844. After her father was killed fighting for the confederacy in the Civil War, she migrated to Texas while still a minor.

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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

Holiday Inn - Deming • • • • •

Stretch-out and relax in the largest and nicest courtyard in town.

Cool off in our new outdoor swimming pool Suites with large jacuzzi tubs High-speed Internet access Exterior room entrances • Pets stay free Completely renovated with all new Serta Perfect Beds

Lazy Lizard Bar & Grill Serving a tasteful selection of great food in our comfortable dining room.

Relax and watch the game on three TVs while enjoying your favorite cocktail in the bar.

Located off I-10 @ Exit 85 4600 E. Pine St. • Deming, NM 88030 575.546.2661 • www.HolidayInn.com ABOUT THE AREA

Deming and Luna County have bragging rights to mild weather and lots of sunshine. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy a list of activities that includes golf, hiking, rockhounding, birding and the Great American Duck Race.

Savvy gem and mineral collectors already know about Rockhound State Park, where visitors are encouraged to gather up to 15 pounds of mineral specimens for their own collections. The park offers a visitor center and a wide range of amenities for campers, hikers and birders as well as a botanical and native pollinator garden and a labyrinth.

Spring Canyon, a secluded day use area where the birding is said to be especially good, is practically adjacent to Rockhound. Two other popular state parks include historic Pancho Villa State Park near the Mexican border and City of Rocks, a short drive north.

Tour New Mexico’s largest vineyards and premier wineries in Deming, and enjoy low-impact aerobic activity on the trails at Voiers Park or on a walking tour of the historic downtown district filled with galleries, antique shops, coffee shops, an impressive museum and friendly people.

Pancho Villa State Park includes an RV campground, a visitor center and museum and there is a railroad museum in Columbus.

LUNA COUNTY EVENTS Mar Camp Furlong Day at Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus. 575-531-2711 Rockhound Roundup. 575-544-1013 May Bluegrass Festival at Rockhound State Park. 575-546-6182 Aug Great American Duck Race. 888-345-1125 Oct St. Clair Wine Festival. 575-546-1179 www.StClairVineyards.com Dec Christmas Light Parade in downtown Deming. 575-546-2674 Holiday Lights at Rockhound State Park.

575-546-6182

LOCATION

Deming is located at the junction of Interstate 10, US180 and NM11, next to Rockhound State Park and 34 miles north of the U.S. border with Mexico.

MORE INFORMATION

Deming Luna County Chamber of Commerce (575) 546-2674 or (800) 848-4955 www.demingchamber.com info@demingchamber.com

OLD WEST COUNTRY DEMING

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Hampton Inn We love having you at Deming’s newest hotel.

Offering our Guests: Cloud Nine - The Hampton Bed Experience • Indoor Heated Pool & Whirlpool • Fitness Center • 100% Non-smoking Hotel • Interior Corridors • Business Center • Meeting Room • Guest Laundry •

Enjoy a variety of complimentary amenities: • Wireless internet in the lobby and meeting room • Wired/Wireless High-speed internet in every room • 24-hour coffee & tea in the lobby • On the House® hot breakfast • Local calls & newspapers

575-546-2022 • 1-800-HAMPTON Exit 85 off I-10 • 3751 E. Cedar St. • Deming, NM 88030

www.DemingHamptonInn.com www.Hampton.com

Great American Duck Race August 26-29, 2010 1-888-345-1125 202 S. Diamond St. • Deming, NM 88030 • info@demingduckrace.com

www.demingduckrace.com

Deming’s Only Home Owned Independent Bank

Full Service Lender FHA, VA, USDA Guaranteed, Conventional, Construction, Purchases & Refinance.

We can help with your financial needs.

LOCATIONS Main Branch - 300 S. Gold Ave., 575-546-2691 Branch - 812 E. Florida St. (At Peppers Supermarket), 575-546-2691 Columbus Branch - Columbus, NM, 575-531-2643 Hatch Branch - 509 Franklin St., Hatch, NM, 575-267-8832

OW26

Following a brief stay in San Antonio, where she met her future husband, Frank Thurmond, the couple moved to Fort Griffin, TX. There, Lottie acquired her new name after a losing cowboy left the table declaring that she should change her name to ‘Lotta Dinero,’ which is Texican slang for ‘a lot of money.’ The idea made sense to Lottie, who had never told her mother and sister how she made a living. above: A carpet Frank, also a professional gambler, had been forced into a fight of poppies spring up after summer with a customer back in San Antonio, and that customer had died rains at City of State Park from a knife wound. When the same thing happened again in Rocks north of Deming.

Georgetown, it was deemed to be a case of self-defense on Frank’s Weathering of an old volcanic lava part, but by then Frank and Lottie had grown weary of their chosen flow created an intriguing boulder livelihoods. formation.

One of the few graces of living in the Old West was that it was easy to start over, and few intelligent people asked newcomers about their past lives. Frank and Lottie moved some 50 miles down the road to Deming, New Mexico where they started life anew as respectable citizens. Frank directed his skills toward business and real estate, eventually becoming vice-president of a local bank. The couple built a fine house.

Lottie, apparently never a stay-at-home sort of woman, did her part for the community as well. Although she had sworn off dealing cards after Georgetown, she ATTRACTIONS City of Rocks State Park. Rock formations formed hosted a charity poker match in over 34 million years ago during a volcanic eruption.

Overnight campsites; visitor center; botanical garden; Deming featuring old family friend wildlife; hiking; and more. Located 30 miles NW of Deming on US 180 and NM 61. 575-536-2800 Doc Holliday, of Tombstone fame. The Deming Luna Mimbres Museum. Minerals, gems, reported $40,000 in proceeds went frontier military history and Mimbres exhibits.

301 S. Silver. 575-546-2382. toward the construction of St. Luke’s www. DemingLunaMimbresMuseum.com Luna Rossa Winery.

Episcopal Church.

575-544-1160. www.LunaRossaWinery.com Lottie and Frank were lifelong partRockhound State Park. Collect up to 15 lbs of rocks. The 250-acre park haspicnic facilities; overners. Frank died in 1908, and Lottie in night camping; hiking trails; wildlife; and exhibits on local history of Buffalo Soldiers, Apache Indians and 1934. Although she was known as the more. 14 miles southeast of Deming. 575-546-6182 Spring Canyon State Park. Realize a serene Queen of Cards, the Angel of San beauty and complete sense of isolation. Picnicking facilities. Ibex, wild goats from Iran, may be encounAntonio and Faro Nell - among other tered. 575-546-6182 www.cityofdeming.org names - during her gambling career, St. Clair Winery & Visitor Center. 575.546.1179 www.stclairvineyards.com Lottie Deno may be best remembered Pancho Villa State Park. Located on the site of old Camp Furlong where Villa raided the U.S. This 61today as the inspiration for the character acre park offers a massive desert botanical garden, of red-headed saloon owner ‘Miss Kitty’ camping and museum/visitor center. 575-531-2711 U.S. and Mexico Port of Entry. 24-hour crossing on the long-running TV series, Columbus / Palomas. 3 miles south of Columbus.

575-531-2686 ‘Gunsmoke,’ which is still in syndication.

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

Publisher’s Note: Documents are required for returning to the United States. Check with U.S. Customs before leaving the U.S. All items purchased in Mexico must be declared when returning to the U.S. and Mexican law strictly forbids carrying guns or ammunition into Mexico.

Deming Lordsburg Reserve Silver City Socorro Truth or Consequences

1. Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat’l. Mon. $3/person

OLD WEST y Countr

2. Old Mesilla. Free

3. Elephant Butte Lake State Park. $5/car

4. Bosque del Apache Refuge. $3/car

5. City of Rocks State Park. $5/car

6. Very Large Array Telescopes. Free

SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO

OLD WEST COUNTRY Southwest Region 2

7. The Catwalk Recreation Trail. $3/car 8. NM Farm & Ranch Museum. $5/$2 child

P.O. Box 884 Silver City, NM 88062

1-800-290-8330 www.oldwestcountry.com e-mail: info@oldwestcountry.com

9. Deming Luna Mimbres Museum. Donations

10. Shakespeare Ghost Town. $4/$3 child

TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS

Las Cruces

Las Cruces DOÑA ANA COUNTY

The Albert Fountain Mystery: A Secret of the Sands “If you drop this we will be your friends. If you go on with it you will never reach home alive.”

T

he tersely-worded note had been handed to attorney Albert Jennings Fountain during a court recess in Lincoln, New Mexico. In his role as investigator and prosecutor for the Southeast New Mexico Stock Growers Association, attorney Fountain had traveled to Lincoln from the Las Cruces area to secure 32 grand jury indictments for known cattle rustlers. It seemed there were others in Lincoln who were also aware of his business there. this page: The Fountain was no stranger to violence or threats. Before studying law, he had been a soldier, miner and rugged Organ freighter. He had once killed a man in a duel in Texas, and had defended Billy the Kid on a charge of mur- Mountains reflect an evening glow der after the death of Lincoln county Sheriff William Brady. across Las Cruces the historic Fountain had many enemies, but none more vehement than Albert Bacon Fall, who, like Fountain, was and Town of Mesilla. an attorney and large-scale land owner. Fall, however, was a confirmed Democrat, and Fountain an ardent Republican. Fall was also corrupt, hated Fountain and was known to consort, and exchange favors, with the rustlers.

On January 30, 1896, Fountain and his young son Henry left Lincoln in their covered buckboard carriage for the four day, 140 mile return trip home. They never made it. Searchers later found the buckboard twelve miles off the road in the shifting white sands of the Tularosa Basin. Aside from some blood, shell casings and personal effects no remains were ever located.

In the following years, Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett, the man who killed Billy the Kid, put together a case in the presumed murders of the Fountains. The three accused men were successfully defended in court by none other than Albert Fall himself, and acquitted. No suggestion has been made, or is being made here, that Fall had ABOUT THE AREA anything else to do with the alleged crime. After that, the matter was mostly forgotten.

Las Cruces is one of the nation’s top communiAlbert Fall went on to become a U.S. senator before being appointed Secretary of the ties for business and retirement. Visitor opportunities include museums, galleries, a restored downInterior. In that office he played a central role in the infamous Teapot Dome Scandal. town main street area, a river walk ending at Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park and scenic hiking trails on The swindle was exposed; Fall was publicly humiliated and eventually spent a year in both sides of the rugged Organ Mountains.

Old Mesilla offers an escape from daily stress prison. He was the first cabinet member ever convicted and incarcerated for a major with a traditional plaza surrounded by Spanish territorial architecture and the towers of San Albino crime committed while still in office. Although he died in 1944, Fall was recently Basilica. The village provides excellent dining and one-of-a-kind shops and galleries. It was the named one of Time Magazine’s “Top 10 Worst Cabinet Members.”

regional headquarters for the Butterfield Stage and the site where Billy the Kid was sentenced to hang.

DONA ANA COUNTY EVENTS

ATTRACTIONS Branigan Cultural Center & Art Museum. History exhibits, art & culture. 500 N. Water St. 575-541-2155. www.las-cruces.org/museums Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park. Geological formations, desert flora, hiking trail and archaeology. 575-524-3334. www.cdnp.org Farmers & Crafts Market.

Every Wed. and Sat. from 8 am-12 noon. Local produce and crafts. Downtown Mall.

575-528-3276

OW28

Fort Selden. An 1800s cavalry fort that was utilized by the Buffalo Soldiers. Visitor center and living history demonstrations. 575-526-8911 Leasburg Dam State Park.

Fishing, campsites and swimming. 19 miles northwest of Las Cruces. 575-524-4068 Mesilla Mercado. Local produce & crafts. Every Thurs. & Sun. on Mesilla Plaza. 524-3262 New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. 3000 years of New Mexico agricultural his

tory. 4100 Dripping Springs Rd.575-522-4100 www.frhm.org Stahmann Farms Country Store. Candy and crafts made with local pecans. 7 miles south of Las Cruces. 1-800654-6887. www.stahmanns.com San Albino Church. Mission church built 1907. Old Mesilla Plaza. 575-526-9349 St. Clair Winery. A variety of local wine. 1800 Avenida de Mesilla. 575-524-0390.

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

LOCATION

Las Cruces and Old Mesilla straddle the Rio Grande at the junction of I-10 and I-25, 46 miles north of El Paso.

MORE INFORMATION

Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau 800-343-7827 or 575-541-2444 www.lascrucescvb.org

Apr Annual Border Book Festival.

575-523-3988 www.borderbookfestival.org May Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in Mesilla. www.oldmesilla.org 575-524-3262 Southern New Mexico Wine Festival. www.nmwine.com 575-522-1232 Sep Hatch Chile Festival. 575-267-5050 www.hatchchilefest.com Diez y Seis de Septiembre Fiesta in Mesilla. www.vivamesilla.org 575-524-3262 The Whole Enchilada Fiesta. www.enchiladafiesta.com 575-526-1938 Sep/ So. New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo Oct www.snmstatefair.com 575-524-8602 Oct/ Dia de los Muertos at the Plaza Nov www.oldmesilla.org 575-647-2369 Nov Annual Renaissance Arts Faire.

575-523-6403 www.daarts.org Int’l Mariachi Conference & Con-cert.

575-525-1735 www.lascrucesmariachi.org Dec Christmas Carols & Luminarias on the Plaza in Mesilla. www.oldmesilla.org 575-524-3262

RAMA D A PA L M S H O T E L & C ONFERENCE CENTER

A CITY WITHIN A CITY– As you enter our lobby for the first time, you realize that you have entered a city unto itself. Southwestern ambience is all around you as you discover the lush interior courtyard with its indoor heated pool, the wonderful Sabor Restaurant and Bar, and the variety of shops on our promenade.

You realize that an entire village has opened up before your eyes.

Our promenade includes Sebastian's Hair Salon - a full service salon for nails and hair with a masseuse and esthetician also available. Near Sebastian's is the wonderfully exotic Regalos y Art Gift Shop, featuring Maria Cristina's charming art collection.

Lucas Pipe and Tobacco newsstand has one of the areas most complete and finest humidors. Unquestionably Lucas's is the most well informed and the best stocked cigar shop in the southwest. The Sabor Restaurant and Bar features International, Latino and Asian Fusion cuisine complemented by specialty RA M AD A PA LMS D E LA S C RUCE S margaritas, imported beers and specialty wines. We also offer Hertz Rental Car services.

Our rooms are designed for your comfort and convenience. You have the following room 201 E . UNIVE RS ITY AV E. options: VIP suite, balcony room, poolside room, or deluxe room. Our motto is "mi casa I-10 E XIT 142 es su casa." We want you to experience our southwestern hospitality.

Across the street from the Convention Center Your room amenities include a coffee maker, cable TV, free wireless high-speed internet LA S CRUC E S , NM 88005 access, a Ramada signature curved shower with the Moen Revolution shower head, Ramada citrus ginger spa amenities, a hair dryer, and an iron and board. Many rooms 575.526.4411 RA MA D A LA S C RUC ES .C OM also have a microwave and refrigerator. Our VIP suites are two room suites with sofa bed, sitting area, a full dining area for entertaining, and a separate bedroom.

The hotel meeting facilities are the finest in Las Cruces. You will be delighted with our beautifully equipped and decorated board rooms, fine banqueting facilities, and excellent meeting rooms. In addition, you can reserve The Bar for private parties, receptions or private events.

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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

Southeast ROSWELL

& ARTESIA

Crystalline sand dunes and alien visitors are the rock stars of Southeast New Mexico, but the real trophies are the area’s history, art and recreational opportunities. Massive cattle drives, turf wars and Indian skirmishes highlight the historic aspects of Roswell and Artesia, but even before that, prehistoric cultures were scratching their thoughts on rocks north of Alamogordo. All three communities provide access to the incredible recreational opportunities of the Sacramento Mountains, including skiing, horse racing and casino gaming. this page: Over petroglyphs Alamogordo’s area attractions include the history of international space 20,000 crowd the rocks at flight, the history of missile development, and a cluster of solar observatories, Three Rivers Petroglyphs National Reca valley covered by white sand dunes and black solidified lava flows, an old reation Site at the base of the White west homestead, thousands of prehistoric petroglyphs and wilderness access to Mountain Wilderness north of Alamogordo. a 12,000-foot mountain.

The eastern side of the Sacramento Mountains includes Roswell’s wildlife refuge and bottomless lakes on the Pecos River and Artesia’s Brantley Lake. Unique artistic endeavors have bolstered both Roswell and Artesia as unfaltering claims of alien intruders remain the headlines for Roswell’s sci-fi district.

OLD WEST COUNTRY SOUTHEAST

OW31

Artesia CHAVES COUNTY

Sallie Chisum: First Lady of Artesia

"Billy had many admirable qualities. In all his personal relations with me he was the pink of politeness and as courteous a little gentleman as I ever met."

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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

Photo courtesy Artesia Chamber of Commerce

S

trange as it may sound today, the lady making that statement was speaking of Billy the Kid. In a sly style more often used by gossip columnists, historical writers have alluded to rumors of romance between Billy and the niece of cattle baron John Chisum. It is known that they were friends for a time; any deeper relationship has remained unproven. There was much more to the character of Sallie Chisum, however, than mere possible personal involvement with a famous killer. this page: Oil Sallie was Artesia, New Mexico’s first postmistress, at a time when Artesia was called Stegman, and agriculture are the foundaSallie’s married name at the time. The first artesian well in the area was drilled on Sallie’s land. tion for the area’s She was locally renowned as a storyteller and loved by the town’s children, who regularly sought economy and the catalyst for a her companionship. flourishing arts During her lifetime, Sallie was by turns the owner/operator of a boarding house, a postmistress, community. real estate trader and developer and, when needed, a caregiver to the infirm and unfortunate in the Artesia area.

She would have been proud of the title “First Lady of Artesia,” which was bestowed after her death in 1934.

A twice-life-sized sculpture depicting Sallie reading a book to some of Artesia’s schoolchildren was dedicated in 2004. Created by well-known artist Robert Summers, it stands at the corner of South Third and West Main Street in Artesia.

ABOUT THE AREA

Artesia is nestled into the southeastern corner of New Mexico at the crossroads of US 285 and US 82 – a perfect place to stay when traveling around vibrant Southeast New Mexico.

Artesia’s history dates back to the 1880s when homesteaders came to the area attracted by the promise of plentiful water from artesian wells. Until then, the area was part of John Chisum’s vast cattle empire. The railroad came to Artesia in the 1890s, bringing to the area the first wave of development. The big pay came in 1924, with the discovery of oil, marking the beginning of Artesia’s story as an oil patch town.

Artesia is proud to display its history and heritage in striking public art and a revitalization of its historic downtown. History comes alive in larger-than-life bronze monuments dedicated to telling Artesia’s story. The renovation of historic buildings includes the Ocotillo Performing Arts Center and venues for food, drink, lodging and entertainment, all in beautiful settings where old meets new.

Being at the center of Southeast New Mexico, Artesia offers an enjoyable environment and allows easy access to regional attractions that include mountain hiking, skiing, fishing, the Caverns and more.

Artesia is a great place to stay along the way!

ATTRACTIONS

Brantley Lake State Park. A southern desert park, is a refreshing place to fish and enjoy other water sports. The visitor center includes historical exhibits about the Wild West town of Seven Rivers.

EVENTS May Jul

Sep Oct Nov

BMX Skate Jam Fourth of July Celebration Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament Eddy County Fair Clays Crusher Fun Shoot Art in the Park Balloons & Bluegrass

LOCATION

Artisia is located at the junction of US82 and US285 and the confluence of arts, agriculture and oil.

MORE INFORMATION

Artesia Chamber of Commerce 107 North First Street Artesia, NM 88210 1-800-658-6251 (575) 746-2744 (575) 746-2745 - fax

OLD WEST COUNTRY ARTESIA

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Heroes, Villians Outlaws

&

illustration courtesy Luis Perez.

above, l to r: Geronimo traversed the Black Range in what is now Sierra County, home of the Geronimo Springs Museum in Truth or Consequences. Luna County became internationally famous in 1916 after forces under Mexican revolutionary general Pancho Villa attacked Columbus and Camp Furlong, a nearby military base. Today, Pancho Villa State Park commemorates the event. right, l to r: Mangas Coloradas was chief of the Mimbreno Chiricahuas when an influx of miners arrived in the Pinos Altos area of present day Grant County in the 1850s. Son-in-law of Mangas Coloradas, Cochise was a chief of the Chokoken Chiricahuas, who ranged through the rugged mountains and canyons of eastern Arizona and presentday Hidalgo County. right: Present-day Catron County was a refuge to Butch Cassidy (upper inset) who occasionally worked as a ranch hand near Glenwood under an assumed name. Self-appointed lawman Elfego Baca (lower inset) survived a 33-hour gun battle with 80 opponents in Reserve. below: The Buffalo Soldiers of Fort Craig in today’s Socorro County were never able to capture Victorio and his band of Warm Springs Apaches.

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The late 1800s and early 1900s comprised an era of armed confrontation among westward moving settlers and nomadic groups of Native Americans, gunslingers who were either good guys or bad guys depending on who they shot, cattlemen and local Mexican settlers and, even Mexican revolutionaries and U.S troops. It was truly the Wild West at its most colorful (and deadly) stage.

Among the household names were Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy and Elfego Baca. Billy was born in Silver City and first jailed in Mesilla. Butch Cassidy sometimes worked as a ranch hand near Glenwood and Elfego Baca shot it out with 80 Texas cowboys in what is now Reserve. Famous Native Americans of that era included Geronimo, Victorio, Mangas Coloradas and Cochise, all acknowledged for their military prowess. Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa invaded the United States at Columbus in 1916 and was chased by General “Blackjack” Pershing.

Centuries before European explorers first reached the area, prehistoric Native American cultures farmed and hunted along mountain streams, leaving behind their cliff dwellings and a wealth of fascinating pottery.

Once Spanish colonizers began traveling El Camino Real toward Santa Fe, small villages supporting supply trains and the spread of Catholicism began to develop along the Rio Grande, including Socorro with its centuries old mission church. Later, when Mexico gained autonomy, Mexican mining interests initiated operations in Santa Rita to supply copper to the Mexican mint.

In the meantime, trappers, prospectors and other explorers began appearing from the east coast. These forerunners of the westward expansion of the United States gave rise to Mesilla and Shakespeare and eventually to present day communities.

Today the descendents of these hearty and often rambunctious groups meld with the contop: Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced to tinuing influx of people from around the hang in Mesilla, today’s home of the William world. A welcome hand is still extended to its Bonney Gallery, but escaped. visitors and prospective “settlers.”

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

H OTEL ARTESI A • 52 Rooms & Suites

• Exercise Room

• Business Center

• Free Wireless Internet

• Meeting Rooms

• Conference Facilities

• Gift & Sundries Store • Free Breakfast • Within Walking Distance of Restaurants • Lobby Lounge with Cocktail Service • Ideally Located in Downtown Artesia on Highway 285

HO TEL A RT E S I A 203 N. 2ND ST. • ARTESIA, NM 88210 888.746.2066 • WW W.HOTELARTESIA.COM

The Hotel Artesia offers a special combination of convenience and comfort in the center of Artesia.

In addition to our cozy Artesia, NM hotel accommodations and gracious amenities, we offer extended stay suites outfitted with kitchenettes and several outstanding choices of meeting spaces - our Artesia hotel is designed to serve both leisure and business travelers as well as the local community looking for meeting and special event venues.

From the distinctive Art Deco architecture designed

by Richard Yates to the authentic interior finishes, our Artesia, New Mexico, hotel's creative flair and unparalleled standard of service offers an experience unavailable at any franchise or corporate chain property.

Combining the best location, thoughtful design, personal service and premium amenities, the Hotel Artesia is certain to become the preferred lodging choice among Artesia hotels.

OLD WEST COUNTRY EL PASO

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Roswell CHAVES COUNTY

A Suitable OvernightCamp: Roswell and the Goodnight-Loving Trail “It didn’t matter who you were, he invited all in.”

-- Montie Goodin, Armstrong County Museum board member, who was born in the Charles Goodnight house.

“[Charles Goodnight] approached greatness more nearly than any cowman of history.”

-- Historian J. Frank Dobie Apparently unaware of his future place in history, Texas cattleman Charles Goodnight was a consummate businessman, entirely focused on raising and marketing cattle. In 1866, he and fellow Texas cattleman Oliver Loving combined their Longhorn herds and drove the entire lot to Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

The route they devised came to be called the Goodnight-Loving Trail. Along the way, the drovers held up for a night at a site near present-day Roswell, NM at the confluence of the Hondo and Pecos Rivers, where grass for the cattle was plentiful. Within a few years, a trading post, gambling hall and other conveniences sprang up at the watering hole, all designed to separate hard-working cowboys from their money.

In 1869, a professional gambler named Van Smith purchased the buildings and named the place this page: A sculpture depicting after his father, Roswell Smith. The settlement grew into a town. local cattle drives Forget space aliens; Roswell’s history on planet Earth is compelling enough. by the likes of cattle baron John The Goodnight-Loving Trail eventually extended to Wyoming. Oliver Loving Chism forms the centerpiece of a was mortally wounded by Comanche warriors while riding ahead of a downtown park in Roswell. cattle drive, dying in Fort Sumner of gangrene. Before Loving’s death, Goodnight promised to bury his partner in Texas, and that’s the way things turned out. This occurrence provided the basis for part of the acclaimed Larry McMurtry novel, “Lonesome Dove.”

T

ABOUT THE AREA

ATTRACTIONS Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art. 409 E. College Blvd. 575-623-5600.

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. www.southwest.fws.gov/refuges. newmex/bitter.htmil.

575-622-6755.

Bottomless Lakes State Park.

Fishing, hiking, swimming, wakeless boating, camping.

575-624-6058.

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International UFO Museum and Research Center.

114 N. Main. UFOs and exhibit on 1947incident. 800-822-3545. www.iufomrc.com.

Roswell Museum and Art Center. 100 W. 11th. Peter Hurd collection, science exhibits and Goddard Planetarium.

575-624-6744. www.roswellmuseum.org.

Spring River Park & Zoo. 1306 E. College Blvd. Carousel, miniature train ride, kids' fishing lake. 575-624-6760.

EVENTS Feb Apr May Jul Sep Oct Dec

Ann. Pecos Valley Stampede. 575-420-0355 Ann. Old Timers Balloon Rally. 575-622-9892 Valley Vintage Car Show. 575-627-8292 Ann. UFO Festival.

575-624-6700 Ann. Chile Cheese Festival. 575-420-5718 Eastern N.M. State Fair.

575-623-9411 Electric Light Christmas Parade. 575-420-5718

OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

LOCATION

Roswell is located on the Pecos River 73 miles east of Ruidoso at the junction of US70, US285 and US380.

MORE INFORMATION

Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau 575-624-7704

Roswell is a city of museums and green parks, made famous by the crash of a small alien ship in 1947. Its busiest facility is, of course, the International UFO Museum and Research Center.

Numerous downtown businesses are named for and cater to the Roswell Incident and stellar characteristics. Even McDonalds is shaped like an alien craft.

Roswell has well-endowed museums and art centers, including the intriguing Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, and the New Mexico Military Institute, established in 1891. There are miles of hike and bike trails and the nearby Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and Bottomless Lakes State Park.

Photo courtesy Roswell Landing

Roswell Landing

A

lien, Russian, German or American –the origin of the flying saucers (yes, plural) that crashed northwest of Roswell in 1947 remains a controversy.

No one in Roswell believes there was a weather balloon involved, so the burning question that remains – who were the pilots? this page: Roswell provides Fascination with the Roswell Incident continues to trigger the lay- Landing an exciting array of man’s imagination and a pair of alien gray jeans by Genuine alien gear and information related to Roswell Gear and a set of alien dog tags will definitely help con- the 1947 Roswell Incident. vince the folks back home to listen…and believe.

There are alien souvenir outlets throughout Roswell, but the one with the flashing lights that’s open every day and into the night is Roswell Landing. And it’s just a few steps from the UFO Museum and Research Center, the old Cover-Up Café and the Not Of This World coffee house. It’s the place to pick up unique T-shirts and sweat shirts, inflatable aliens, ray guns, alien pâté and goo. It’s all there from alien crossing signs to masks that glow and have large, non-fogging eyes.

Roswell Landing is a dealer for Adventures Unlimited Press with great selections like Roswell and the Reich by Joseph P. Farrell and the Ultimate Guide to the Roswell UFO Crash by Noe Torres.

Roswell Landing is the official visitor center for the Earth Station Roswell Resort

OLD WEST COUNTRY ROSWELL

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El Paso WEST TEXAS

James B. Gillett: Ranger, Marshal, Rancher

&

Author

“In a country where all men went armed, recourse to firearms was frequent,“ wrote James Buchanan Gillet, “and these feuds sometimes led to active warfare between the adherents of each party, to the great discomfort of the citizens among whom such a miniature war was staged.”

G

illett, then a prosperous rancher in his sixties, was recalling the mood of the times during his hard-riding, heart pounding association with the Texas Rangers some forty years earlier. The events he described occurred during the peak period of the Rangers’ 19th century adventures on the frontier. Gillett had gone on to serve as assistant city marshal, and later marshal, of El Paso, Texas during one of the wildest and wickedest periods in that city’s long and colorful history. He survived to write about it all in his memoirs, which were published in 1921 under the title “Six Years with the Texas Rangers.” this page: El James Gillett had grown up working as a ranch hand in the Lampas, TX area, and joined the Texas Paso is the region’s largest Rangers around the time of his 20th birthday. For the following six years he and his fellow Rangers were city with close ties to Southern in the saddle constantly and participated in numerous gun battles, including the final shootout with New Mexico and a rowdy Old Sam Bass and his gang of train robbers. Known for their relentless pursuit of suspects on the run, they West history. battled rustlers, murderers and hostile native warriors.

Gillett must have had a keen survival instinct, for after six years with the rangers, he decided it was time to do something else. He accepted a position as captain of guards for the Santa Fe Railroad, but only stayed on for a few months, resigning to become El Paso’s assistant marshal. When Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire left to become a deputy U.S. marshal for western Texas, Gillett was appointed to the job of city marshal, and subsequently re-elected.

In 1885, after a violent altercation with a city councilman, Gillett again felt it was time for a change. He decided to heed the words of a friend who reminded him, “Jim, you have had a quart cup of bullets shot at you as a ranger and marshal…”

James Gillett retired from law enforcement, returned to ranching, prospered and lived to be elderly. Throughout his life, the Texas Rangers held a special place in his heart. He wrote of leaving the Rangers, “Henceforth my ranger days and ranger service were to be but a memory, albeit the happiest one of my life.”

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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

ABOUT THE AREA

Originally named by Spanish colonizer Don Juan de Onate in 1598, El Paso became an important stop on the trade route from Mexico City to Santa Fe. Following New Mexico's Pueblo revolt in 1680, displaced Indians settled the Tigua Reservation near El Paso and were responsible for building the picturesque missions of Ysleta, Socorro and San Elizario. Today as both the gateway to the Old West and the "avenida" to Mexico, El Paso is a city of romance and adventure for explorers past, present and future.

Pistol shooting Old West re-enactments, nightly summer performances of Viva El Paso! and weekend ceremonial dancing by Tigua Indians keep the pioneer spirit alive. An impressive cluster of museums and performing arts venues have partnered with downtown revitalization to offer an incredible array of international culture and entertainment. Horseracing and casino gaming at Sunland Park Race Track, Sunbowl football and a packed schedule of fiestas and concerts keep this international city hopping year-round.

Area specialty shops offer regional arts and crafts. As a finishing touch, the cuisine of many lands and music of the Southwest fire the hearts and souls of young and old as part of the passionate, vivid experience that is El Paso, Texas.

Annual El Paso Chamber Music Festival. 915833-9400 www.eppm.org Annual Siglo de Oro Drama Festival 915-532-7273 www.nps.gov/cham Sunland Derby at Sunland Park 575-874-5200 www.sunland-park.com El Paso Marathon. www.elpasomarathon.org Franklin Mountain Poppies Celebration.

915-755-4332 www.chihuahuandesert.org May KLAQ International Balloonfest. 915-880-4955 www.klaq.com Jun El Paso Summer Music Festival. 915-449-0619 www.elpasosummermusicfestival.org Jul Downtown Street Festival. 915-544-9550 www.klaq.com Plaza Classic Film Festival. 915-533-4020 Aug www.plaza-movies.com Sep Fiesta de las Flores 915-533-3730 fiestadelasfloreselpaso.com Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta. 915-521-1881 www.elpasozoo.org/cdec Oct Amigo Airsho. 915-562-6446 www.amigoairsho.org Hueco Tanks Interpretive Fair. 915-857-1135 Nov Dia de los Muertos Celebration 915-373-1513 www.ghosts915.com Dec Holiday Lights at the Zoo. 915-544-1928 Season of Lights at the University of Texas 915-747-8600 Annual Brut Sun Bowl. 800-915-BOWL www.sunbowl.org May-Aug Alfresco! Fridays. 915-541-4481 Jun-Aug Music Under the Stars. Sundays 915-541-4481 www.nps.gov/cham Jan

Mar

ATTRACTIONS The Border Jumper. One Civic Center Plaza.

El Paso-Juarez Trolley Company shuttles back and forth between these twin cities. 915-544-0062.

El Paso Zoo. 5-acre zoo with more than 700 animals in nat-ural settings. 915-544-1928.

Fort Bliss Museum. A reproduction of the 1854 fort houses the museum.Living history displays & Civil War artifacts. 915-568-4518.

EI Paso Museum of Art. One Arts Festival Plaza.

Galleries, educational exhibits, museum store.

915-532-1707.

Wyler Aerial Tramway. Alabama to McKinley Ave. View two countries and three states from the southern end of the Franklin Mountains.

915-566-6622.

LOCATION

El Paso is located on I-10 at the international gateway to the Old West.

MORE INFORMATION

El Paso Convention & Visitors Bureau (800) 351-6024 www.visitelpaso.com.

El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (915) 566-4066 www.ephcc.org.

The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce (915) 534-0500 www.elpaso.org.

OLD WEST COUNTRY EL PASO

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1. Hatch to Deming: NM 26 Raptor Route (Private Property. Bird from road only) F4 2. Mount View Cemetery. F4 3. Deming Water Treatment Area. F4 4. Spring Canyon Unit of Rockhound State Park. F4 5. Pancho Villa State Park. G4 6. NM 9 between Hachita & Animas. G2 7. NM 338 South of Animas (Private Property. Bird from road only.) G1 8. Clanton Canyon. G1 9. State Line Road near Rodeo (Private Property. Bird from road only.) G1 10. Granite Gap. F1 11. Lordsburg Playa (Private Property. Bird from road only.) F1 12. Virden Bridge (Private Property. Bird from road only.) E1 13. Lower Gila Box. E1 14. Glenwood Fish Hatchery. C1 15. National Catwalk Recreation Area. C2 16. Mogollon (Private Property. Bird from road only.) C2 17. Willow Creek Campground. C2 18. Redrock Road (Private Property. Bird from road only.) E2 19. Burro Mountains: Forest Rd. 851. E2 20. Gila River Bird Habitat Area. E2 21. Gila River/Mogollon Creek Confluence. D2 22. Big Ditch Park. E3 23. Cherry Creek/McMillan Campgrounds. E3 24. Signal Peak Road. E3 25. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. D3 26. Lake Roberts Area. D3 27. TNC Mimbres Preserve. D3 28. Fort Bayard Historical District. E3 29. City of Rocks State Park. E3 30. Iron Creek Campground to Lower Gallinas Campground. E4 31. Emory Pass. E4 32. Kingston-Hillsboro Area (Private Property - Bird from road only). E4 33. Las Animas Creek (Private Property. Bird from road only.) D5 34. Percha Dam State Park. E5 35. Caballo Lake State Park & Caballo Dam.D5 36. Las Palomas Marsh. D5 37. Elephant Butte Lake State Park. D5 38. Springtime Campground. C5 39. Leasburg Dam State Park. E5 40. Dripping Springs Recreation Area. F6 41. Aguirre Springs National Recreation Area. F6 42. The Bosque del Apache. B6 43. Water Canyon. B5 44. Socorro Birding Site. B6

BIRDING

Locations O

ld West Country encompasses a number of climate zones and therefore attracts a wide variety of bird species. The Rio Grande valley and associated marshlands provide for huge numbers of migratory waterfowl and late fall spectacles, while the mountain regions witness smaller, more specific seasonal movements. Desert locales are more active for a variety of raptors and even burrowing species. Whatever your level of experience or the lengths of your lists, birding has become increasingly popular, and Old West Country is an outstanding area in which to enjoy it.

Some Old West Country residents are able to observe more than a this page: Snow hundred species of birds without leaving home. Visitors, of course, geese by the thousands spend increase their success rate when the local population nights at Bosque del Apache points out the most likely locations. For those just beginNational Wildlife ning the quest for identifying birds, as with any new Refuge during fall migrations. Year activity, success is important to maintaining interest. round birding Old West Trails has compiled a list of popular birding 16 excels in Old locations and the species known to drop in from time 15 West Country.

14 to time. Some of the locations are also known for their 21 scenic beauty; others may seem unlikely but are nonetheless areas pre20 ferred by a number of our feathered friends. Old West Country bird12 18 13 19 ing experts have verified all locations.

By combining information contained in this feature with other 11 resources found on these pages, you can plan a birding adventure that 10 also includes hiking, camping, horseback riding and a wealth of other 9 6 activities that await you in Old West Country.

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D 23 22

E

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H Map compiled by the State Audobon.

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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com 1-800-290-8330

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ur LD WESTy ToO Countr

SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO

Reserve/Glenwood 1 Reserve (C2) 2 Quemado (A2) 3 Pie Town (A3) 4 Plains of San Agustin/Datil (B3-B4) 5 Glenwood (D1) 6 Glenwood Hatchery (D1) 7 The Catwalk (D1) 8 San Francisco Hot Springs (D1) 9 Mogollon (C1) 10 Snow Lake (C2) 11 Gila Wilderness (D2-D3) 12 Outer Loop (C1-D3) a Cooney’s Tomb (C1) b Clairmont (C1) c Frisco (C1)

e

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Socorro 13 Very Large Array Telescopes (B4) 14 Magdalena/Kelly (B5) 15 Langmuir Lightning Res. Lab (B5) 16 Magdalena Ridge Observatory (B5) 17 Socorro Plaza Historic District (B6) 18 NM Tech/Mineral Museum (B6) 19 Quebradas Back Country Byway (A4) 20 Owl Cafe (B6) 21 Bosque del Apache Refuge (B6-C6 22 Sevilleta Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge (A5-6) 23 La Joya State Game Refuge (A6) d Ft. Craig National Historic Site (C5) e Riley (A5) f Rosedale (B4) g San Antonio (B5) h San Marcial (C5) i Historic Capitol Bar (B5)

f

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Silver City 24 Historic Downtown Silver City (E3) 25 Silver City Museum (E3) 26 WNMU Museum (E3) 27 Royal Scepter Mineral Museum (E3) 28 Pinos Altos (E3) 29 Santa Rita del Cobre Fort (E3) 30 Trail of Mtn. Spirits S. Byway (D3-E3) 31 Gila National Forest (C2-E4) 32 Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat’l. Mon. (D3) 33 Lake Roberts/Mimbres River (D3) 34 Mine Tours & Old Mines (E3) 35 Fort Bayard (E3) 36 City of Rocks State Park (E3) 37 Outer Loop Drive (C1-D3) j Fort Webster (E3) k Royal John (E4) l Fiero (E3) Truth or Consequences 38 T or C Hot Baths (D5) 39 Geronimo Springs Museum (D5) 40 Rio Grande (D5) 41 Elephant Butte Dam (D5) 42 Elephant Butte Lake St. Park (C5-D5) 43 Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway (C4-E4) 44 Monticello/Placita (C3) 45 Pecan & Candy Shop - Cuchillo (D4) 46 Cuchillo Bar & Museum (D5) 47 Winston (C4) 48 Chloride (C4) 49 Caballo Lake State Park (D5-E5) 50 Lake Valley Bk Ctry Byway (D4-E4) A Lake Valley (E4) 51 Hillsboro (E4) 52 Kingston (E4) m Gold Dust (D4) n Grafton (C4) o Pioneer Store Museum (D4) p Elephant Butte Dam q Percha Dam/Campground (E5) r Veterans Mem. Park/Museum (D5) s Engle (D5) Lordsburg 53 Steins Ghost Town (F1) 54 Shakespeare Ghost Town (F2) 55 Lordsburg Museum (F2) 56 Virden (E1) 57 Gila River (C3-E1) 58 Redrock State Wildlife Area (E1) 59 Gila National Forest (E2) 60 Cave Creek (G1) 61 Portal (G1) 62 Rodeo (G1) 63 Animas (G1) 64 Hatchita (G2) 65 Antelope Wells (H2) t Cloverdale (G1) u Granite Gap (G1)

d

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p

38 T or C hot baths 39 Geronimo Spr Museum 40 Rio Grande p Elephant Butte Dam r Veterans Memorial Park & Museum

To Artesia & Roswell

k l j

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v

66 67 68 69 w

u

Visitors Center Mimbres Museum Historic Walking Tour Golf Course Historic Luna County Courthouse

z

Old Mesilla x San Albino Church

t

Deming 66 Deming Visitors Center (F4) 67 Mimbres Museum (F4) 68 Historic Walking Tour (F4) 69 Golf Course (F4) 70 Rockhound State Park (F4) 71 Spring Canyon State Park (F4)

72 73 74 75 76 77 v

St. Clair Winery (F4) Geolapidary Museum (F4) Mimbres-Paquime Tour (E3-H2) Pancho Villa State Park (G4) Columbus/Museum (G4) Palomas (G4) Fort Cummings (F4)

w Historic Luna Co. Courthouse (F4) Las Cruces 78 Old Mesilla (F6) 79 NM Farm-Ranch Museum (F6) 80 Gadsden Museum (F6) 81 Branigan Cultural Center (F6)

82 83 84 85 86 87 88

New Mexico State University (F6) Natural History Museum (F6) Bataan Death March Memorial (F6) Dripping Springs (F6) Stahmann Farms (F6) White Sands MIssile Range Museum (F6) White Sands Nat’l. Monument (E7)

Visit www.oldwestcountry.com/birding map.html to view this map in electronic form

89 90 91 x y z

Ft. Selden State Monument (E5) Leasburg Dam State Park (E5) War Eagles Air Museum (G6) San Albino Church/Old Mesilla (F6) Aguirre Springs Nat. Recreation Area (F6) Chamberino (F6)

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Denver, CO 80266 PERMIT No. 5377

OLD WEST COUNTRY

P.O. Box 884 Silver City, NM 88062

1-800-290-8330 www.oldwestcountry.com e-mail: info@oldwestcountry.com

RESERVE

T OR C

LORDSBURG

Gila Cliff Dwellings

Organ Mountains

Mineral Hot Springs

Shakespeare

Desert Bloom Rock Climbing Our Lady of Health Church The Catwalk/Glenwood Duck Races

DEMING

Elephant Butte Lake

SILVER CITY

LORDSBURG

LAS CRUCES

LAS CRUCES

SOCORRO

RESERVE

ELEPHANT BUTTE

DEMING

RESERVE

A place WHERE FORTUNES were made, HEARTS were broken and DREAMS were FULFILLED!

Golf Course

Where it ALL BEGAN...

Silver City Museum

To have NEW EXPERIENCES...

Farm & Ranch Museum

SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO

Bosque del Apache

OLDry t n u Co WEST

Elephant Butte Lake

T OR C

SOCORRO

Mogollon

Lake Roberts

Willow Creek

SILVER CITY

LAS CRUCES

SOCORRO

SILVER CITY

San Miguel Mission

DEMING

DEMING