MEET THE
Old West Country COMMUNITIES
Colorful Characters
OF THE OLD WEST
www.oldwestcountry.com/familyfun Affordable vacations. See page 1
Contents
Old West T R A I L S
20112012
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.
Published exclusively for Old West Country as a supplement to New Mexico Traveler
Old West Country P.O. Box 884 • Silver City, NM 88062 1-800-548-9378 Website: www.oldwestcountry.com e-mail: info@oldwestcountry.com George Pintar Acting President, Las Cruces Keith LeMay Executive Director, Silver City
SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO
SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO
Serving the communities of:
SOCORRO COUNTY
OTERO COUNTY
The spires of Spanish missions and headquarters for deep space eavesdropping compete for attention with incredible wildlife refuges. OW6 SOCORRO
Crystalline sand dunes, ancient petroglyphs, space history and Southern New Mexico’s highest mountains deliver a wealth of knowledge and endless recreational options. OW32 ALAMOGORDO
Deming 800 East Pine • Deming, NM 88031 1-800-848-4955
SIERRA COUNTY 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. OW10 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES OW13 ELEPHANT BUTTE
EDDY COUNTY
GRANT COUNTY
WEST TEXAS EL PASO COUNTY
Historic mining communities on the edge of vast tracks of forest and wilderness have become havens for both outdoor enthusiasts and the arts. OW14 SILVER CITY OW19 BAYARD, HURLEY & PINOS ALTOS
CATRON COUNTY Lakes, streams of three national forests, a picturesque ghost town and pack trip opportunities highlight this sparsely populated mountain region. OW20 RESERVE & GLENWOOD,
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
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
Rustlers, aliens and scientists were the muses of writers and artists, but oil, gas and agriculture are the foundation of artistic endeavors. OW34 ARTESIA
A melding of early Spaniards, Indians, Mexicans and Anglos created a colorful history and a vibrant international metropolis. OW38 EL PASO
FEATURES OW1 OW2 OW4 OW7 OW9 OW12 OW15 OW19 OW20 OW21 OW22 OW24 OW28 OW30 OW37 OW38 OW40 OW41
Affordable Vacations Old West Country Regional Attractions Socorro’s UFO Incident Relics & Realism. Forts, Ghost Towns and Famous Buildings Historic Mining Towns H.P. Ailman John Sully and the Chino Payroll Robery The Cooney Brothers Great Outdoors The Hanging of Arkansas Black Fort Cummings Mesilla & the Butterfield Stage Southeast New Mexico Heroes, Villians & Outlaws Railroads come to El Paso Birding Locations Old West Country Map
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 206 Main 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
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
www.elephantbuttechamberofcommerce.com info@elephantbuttechamberofcommerce.com
OUR COVER
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 & Photo Journalist, Joseph Burgess. Staff Accountant, Arlyn Cooley. Designers, Debra Sutton, Terri Menges. Writing, Joseph Burgess except where noted. Community Characters written by Brett Ferneau. Photography, Joseph Burgess, except where noted. Contributing Photographers, Lynn Janes, LeAnne Knudsen, Keith LeMay, Luis Perez, Debra Sutton, Judy Wuthrich. Courtesy Photos, Artesia Chamber of Commerce, Susan LaFont, Sierra County Chamber of Commerce. Advertising Sales, LeAnne Knudsen, Dawn Redpath. Distribution, Keith LeMay, LeAnne Knudsen. Old West Trails is a supplement to New Mexico Traveler and is manufactured and printed in the United States of America. ©Zia Publishing Corp., 2011. 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.
Socorro’s Piro Indian settlements were first visited by Spanish explorers in 1541, but the area is best known for its migrant bird sanctuaries along the Rio Grande and the facilities of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Photo by Lynn Janes
AFFORDABLE
Vacations
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 decided to contact our attractions and 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 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
$3/person ages 18+. Hot Springs: Gila $3/person, $4/p w/camping, $3 Wildwood Hot Springs $5/person and $10/p w/camping
2 Old Mesilla
$0
$0
3 Elephant Butte Lake State Park
$5
Fees: $5 day use, annual $40 all parks; add $18 overnight camping, $5 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
7 The Catwalk Recreation Trail
$3
$3 $3 p/car load for day use parking; no camping
8 NM Farm & Ranch Museum 9 Deming Luna Mimbres Museum 10 Shakespeare Ghost Town TOTAL
annual $180-$225 all parks
$14 $10 $0 $15
$0 Donations $8 Tours available; re-enactments
1. Gila Cliff Dwellings Nat’l. Mon. $3/person
2. Old Mesilla. Free
3. Elephant Butte Lake 4. Bosque del Apache Refuge. $3/car State Park. $5/car
5. City of Rocks State Park. $5/car
6. Very Large Array Telescopes. Free
7. The Catwalk Rec. Trail. $3/car
8. NM Farm & Ranch Museum. $5/$2 child
9. Deming Luna Mimbres Museum. Donations
10. Shakespeare Ghost Town. $4/$3 child
Truth or Consequences Las Cruces
OLD WEST y Countr
Silver City
SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO
Lordsburg Deming Reserve
OLD WEST COUNTRY Southwest Region 2
Socorro
P.O. Box 884 Silver City, NM 88062
1-800-548-9378 www.oldwestcountry.com e-mail: info@oldwestcountry.com
$48 $37 OLD WEST COUNTRY
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est W Country
DEMING, LAS CRUCES, LORDSBURG, SILVER CITY, SOCORRO, TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, CATRON COUNTY
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this page: Spectacular sunsets are commonplace throughout Old West Country – made vivid by the area’s “forever” visibility and plentiful by its fair weather climate. Photo by LeAnne Knudsen.
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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com
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. Expect the unexpected in Old West Country. It is covered with parks, monuments, wildlife refuges, forests and recreation sites. Scenic byways traverse the mountain regions and the state’s largest recreational lake provides an escape from city life. Prehistoric ruins tell the tales of hearty and artistic cultures predating the Spanish and their artifacts are carefully preserved in area museums. 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.
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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.
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 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.
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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com
Attra REGIONAL
ctions 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 that can be experienced at the Gila Cliff Dwellings, a national monument surrounded on three sides by the country’s first designated wilderness. The unique pottery of the nearby Mimbres culture can be witnessed in the museums of Silver City, Deming, Las Cruces and Truth or Consequences. Spanish entry into the area is chronicled at the Camino Real International Heritage Center between Socorro and Truth or Consequences. Wild West episodes still unfold in mining and railroad ghost towns, plazas and a collection 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.
opposite: The Very Large Array of Radio Telescopes near Socorro eavesdrops on deep space. right, from top: Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument near Silver City, City of Rocks State Park north of Deming, Elephant Butte Lake at Truth or Consequences, The Catwalk National Recreation Trail near Glenwood, Shakespeare Ghost Town near Lordsburg and Fort Seldon near Las Cruces. OLD WEST COUNTRY
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Socorro SOCORRO COUNTY
SOCORRO COUNTY EVENTS Apr
Tour of Socorro Mountain Bike Race 575-350-4116 Very Large Array GuidedTours. 575-835-7243 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 Very Large Array GuidedTours. 575-835-7243 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
this page: Socorro’s Chamber of Commerce faces the city’s historic plaza – the social and business centerpiece of the community.
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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com
Socorro is located at the junction of I-25 and US60, the rest stop for historic travelers and migratory birds. Magdalena is located on US60 between Socorro and the Very Large Array.
MORE INFORMATION
Socorro Heritage and Visitor Center (575) 835-8927 www.socorronm.gov Magdalena Chamber of Commerce 1(866) 854-3217 www.magdalena-nm.com email: info@magdalena-nm.com
The Old West Meets the Extraterrestrials: Socorro’s UFO Incident “Aircraft fly low around here.” -- An unidentified tourist in Socorro, NM, April 24, 1964
T
hough it has since been overshadowed by the rediscovered Roswell legend, one of the more credible recorded UFO sightings in modern times occurred forty-seven years ago near Socorro. Apparently, whatever the object was, it landed and took off again, leaving a circle of smoldering bushes and indentations in the dirt to prove that it really existed. What’s more, it was observed by a highly regarded Socorro police officer, who also reported seeing two humanlike creatures standing on the ground after the craft had landed. Officer Lonnie Zamora was pursuing another vehicle in his patrol car on U.S. Hwy 85 when he heard a strange, loud noise. He saw a large flame on the horizon that he described as being blue toward the narrower top, and orange at the broader base. The property where this was occurring was owned by Socorro’s mayor at that time, and the officer knew that there was a dynamite shack located on the premises. He discontinued pursuit of the other automobile and turned off onto a gravel road in the direction of the flame. Arriving at a vantage point perhaps five hundred feet from the object that had landed, his first impression of it was that of an overturned car. On closer observation, however, he noted that the object was oval-shaped and shiny. Nearby stood “two people in white coveralls… possibly they were small adults or large kids.”
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
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
OLD WEST COUNTRY SOCORRO
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Ruth Hamilton, Jewelry Artist Gold, Silver Wire-Wrap Gems, Cast Silver, Rare Turquoise Ruth@ArtsCanHeal.com
G. Raymond Arts Free-form Sculpture & Pottery, Oil, Watercolor, Pastel, Colored Pencil georgia@nmt.edu
The officer was approaching on foot when he again heard a loud, roaring noise and saw the flame. In running back to his car, he lost his prescription glasses and did not stop to retrieve them. He reported that the object rose ten to fifteen feet above the ground, then left horizontally, “traveling very fast.” The policeman unashamedly wrote of everything that had happened that day in his official report of the incident. An unidentified
FaberJane Eggs Pysanka-Ukrainian Egg Art Jane Chevalier 505.859.9124
Art by A. Leon Miler Oils, Watercolors, Pen & Ink, Digital Photo Restoration & More www.wavepointgraphics.com
ABOUT THE AREA Jewelry & Decorative Designs by Willie Bond Silver, Vitreous Enamels, Flame Work & Fused Glass
Alamo Chapter Navajo Artists Silver & Turquoise Jewelry, Beadwork, Wedding Baskets, Rugs, Crafts & More
Featuring Local Artists & Alamo Navajo Artists Fine Arts & Crafts 3 Jewelry 3 Gifts 3 Collectables & More Tue.-Sat. 12 noon to 6 pm 1008 N. California 3 Socorro, NM 87801 575-835-ARTS 3 www.socorrocountyarts.com Annual Events: Luminarias on the Plaza and Beyond Art Stroll - December 3rd at 5:30pm Socorro County Arts Spring Open House - March 31st Visit our website for details
Arlene Krogstad Multi-Media Artist painting in Oil, Watercolor & Acrylics with a lifetime commitment to art
Jewelry by Paula Custom Creations 575.838.7173 jewelrybypaula@yahoo.com www.etsy.com seller: jewelrybypaula
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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
Karyn DeBont Oil Painting kdebont01@gmail.com www.kdebontart.com
Doña P. Nowicki Crazywinds Glass Art Stained Glass, Lampworking, Functional Wares 575.418.7803
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.
M. Colleen Gino Photographic Arts www.mcgino.com
Just Harry Assemblage Art Jewelry www.just-harry.com
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
tourist who had complained of lowflying aircraft that same afternoon told a local newspaper, the El Defensor Chieftain, that it was a “funny-looking helicopter, if that’s what it was.” Experts who visited Socorro hoping to discredit the reports were forced to admit that the evidence at the site substantiated them. Eventually, a book was written about the incident, which has also been featured on television’s “Unsolved Mysteries.” Two days later, a similar incident was reported in a different county. Police and investigators at that scene found evidence identical to what had been found near Socorro. opposite, inset: San Miguel Parish in Socorro has served the area since its Spanish origins in 1615.
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
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. 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
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 SOCORRO
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Truth or Consequences SIERRA COUNTY
Oasis in the High Desert The Historic Hot Springs District in Truth or Consequences— “World’s Most Affordable Spa Town”—is just one of the ways to enjoy the many waters of Sierra County.
W
photo courtesy Sierra County Chamber of Commerce
hatever time of year you visit Sierra County, NM, you can be sure there will be plenty of water to surround you. The ten hot springs establishments in Truth or Consequences offer a variety of public and private soaking options, such as in-room, rooftop, or beside the Rio Grande River. Many folks believe these this page: Natural mineral waters odorless hot mineral waters to have ben- hot fill these pools eficial natural healing properties. The overlooking the Rio Grande and numerarea is also known for its abundance ous spring-fed bath houses in the city. of healing arts practitioners. Just minutes away are Caballo Lake and Elephant Butte Lake—the state’s largest recreational reservoir—offering swimming, fishing, boating, and watercraft rentals as well as
EVENTS Feb
Apr May Jun
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Sierra County Longhorn Show Gathering of Quilts, Fairgrounds. Fiesta Golf Tournament Truth or Consequences Fiesta 575-894-6600 Fly Freedom’s Flag Parade Winston-Chloride-DustyChiz 9th Annual Fiesta, Winston
Aug Sep
Oct Nov Nov
61st T or C Open Golf Tournament Hot Springs Festival, downtown T or C Elephant Man Triathlon Sierra County Fair Old-Time Fiddlers State Competition Veterans Day Car Show Run for the Wall
Dec
Christmas in the Foothills, Hillsboro Old Fashioned Christmas, T or C Year-Round 2nd Saturday Art Hop, T or C. For more information, call 800-831-9487 or visit www.sierracountyevents.com, www.sierracountynewmexico.info and www.torcchamber.org
Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa Lose yourself... in our legendary healing hot springs, with our rejuvenating massage and signature spa treatments, in our elegant rooms infused with rustic charm.
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ocated in the heart of historic downtown Truth or Consequences, Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa is ideal for intimate getaways, offering a serene escape in an atmosphere designed for complete relaxation. Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa rests on an ancient underground lake of mineral rich natural hot springs. With its unique geothermal hot springs, this region was an important place of healing and gathering for the Native Tribes of the area - historically, the waters were used as a neutral ground after battles. The healing waters that rise at temperthis page: All hot springs are private atures up to 107oF provide pure untreated geothermal water, to the Spa’s and prepared fresh for each use. Hot multiple private pools. Spring soaks are The Lodge is in walking distance of shops, restaurants, galleries and included with all overnight stays and the Rio Grande - minutes from Elephant Butte Lake State Park (NM’s spa treatments. largest lake), ghost towns and award winning Golf Courses. Centrally located between Albuquerque Airport & El Paso International Airport. This area has a rich history, from the Native cultures and traditions, to the gold and silver mining of the late 1800’s, to the development of the Hot Spring Spas, and now the launch point for the New Mexico Spaceport just 23 miles away.
OLD WEST COUNTRY TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
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Great Dining for 40 years 1400 N. Date St., Truth or Consequences, NM
(575) 894-6200
hiking and camping. Several scenic and historic auto routes traverse Sierra County, including Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, Jornado del Muerto, and the New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail—the state’s only official Arts Trail. You can explore five museums, farms, ghost towns, distinctive locally owned restaurants and unique shops specializing in regional art & craft unavailable anywhere else in the world in the towns of T or C, Hillsboro, Winston, Chloride, Cuchillo, Monticello, and Kingston. Birding, hiking and hunting are all popular pastimes in this neck of the woods, too.
ATTRACTIONS Black Range Museum. Hillsboro. 575-895-5233. Black Range Ranger District. Camping, hiking, and picnicking. 575-894-6677 Caballo Lake State Park. Boat launch sites, campsites, picnicking, visitor center. 575-743-3942 Celestial Creations Enchanted Gifts of New Mexico. New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail site, Truth or Consequences. 575-894-7591 Elephant Butte Lake State Park. Campsites, trails, water sports, Visitors Center. 575-744-5421 Ghost Towns. www.torcchamber.org Geronimo Springs Museum & Visitors Center. New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail site. Area history, pottery, collections, minerals. 575-894-6600 Grasshopper Silk. New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail site, Elephant Butte. 575-740-4958. Historic Hot Springs District. Ten locations featuring indoor and outdoor, private and public soaking in the natural hot mineral waters. Monte Cristo Gift Shop & Gallery. New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail site, Chloride. 575-743-0493 Percha Bank Museum. Kingston. 575-895-5032 Percha Creek Traders Co-op. New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail site, Hillsboro. 575-895-5116 Pioneer Store Museum. Chloride. 575-743-2736 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
LOCATION
Truth or Consequences sits between I-25 and the Rio Grande, atop hot springs generously feeding local bathhouses and spas.
MORE INFORMATION
Now Serving Pizza on Friday & Saturday Evenings.
Open 7 Days A Week
Sierra County Visitors Information (575) 894-6600 www.sierracountynewmexico.info Truth or Consequences/ Sierra County Chamber of Commerce (575) 894-3536 www.torcchamber.org
313 Broadway Truth or Consequences, New Mexico 87901
(575)894-3354 (DELI)
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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com
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below: Old courthouse in Hillsboro. above, from left: Assay office in Kingston, underground mining operation near Hanover, Kelly Mine works near Magdalena, old ore car at Chloride, Fort Cobre in Pinos Altos, school house museum at Lake Valley and general store in Mogollon.
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.
photo by Sarah Cearley
“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)
401 Highway 195 Elephant Butte, NM
Elephant Butte Lake
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.
T
State Park
he City of Elephant Butte, spread across a hillside overlooking New Mexico’s largest lake, is a growing resort and retirement community. It offers RV facilities, restaurants, hotels and motels, guide services, marinas and watercraft rentals. Elephant Butte Lake is around forty miles long with nearly 200 miles of shoreline, It is the state’s premier water sports destination, attracting almost a million visitors annually. The clean, sandy beaches are ideal for swimming and camping and the lake offers all manner of boating, water skiing, scuba diving, jet skiing and even parasailing. For anglers, the waters are stocked with many species of game fish, including walleye, white, black and largemouth bass; crappie and record-setting stripers. Land-based recreational activities include hiking, birding and special events throughout the year. Each September, the city sponsors the Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta which features hot air balloons, skydivers and drag boats from across the country. An exciting nighttime special event is the Beach Walk Luminaria Festival and Lighted Boat Parade held annually at Christmas. The occasion dazzles the eye with thousands of luminaries lining a specially designed path on the beach. Along the way, campfires, live music and food provided by local vendors warm both body and soul. The celebration also includes a parade of illuminated boats, ending with prizes awarded for the most amusingly or elaborately decorated watercraft or RV. The Elephant Butte Lake State Park Visitor Center will interest rockhounds with its fossil and geologic exhibits. Fans of engineering and history will enjoy the story of the early 20th century construction of the dam that created the lake, which is named for an extinct volcano that is now an island landmark in the reservoir.
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.
Background photo courtesy Susan LaFont
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.
575.744.5431 www.ElephantButteInn.com
this page: Jet skiing on Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico’s largest water sports facility. OLD WEST COUNTRY ELEPHANT BUTTE
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Silver City GRANT COUNTY
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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com
H.B. Ailman: A Silver City Success Story “I passed Ailman’s shaft today. It looked like he was hunting coal. I’m sorry to see him fooling away his time on such a showing. He will never find anything there.” --John Magruder, prominent Georgetown silver miner
W
ork was a lifelong habit with Henry (“Harry”) Boyer Ailman. During his ninety-four years he was by turns a farmer, railroad brakeman, baggage handler, teacher, flagman, conductor, brick maker, traveling salesman, gold prospector, silver miner, merchant, banker, oil well driller and copper mine owner. He began life as a farmer’s son in Pennsylvania, and eventually ended up living in Long Beach, California. Along the way he spent 21 years in Grant County, New Mexico. Here he became prosperous after striking well-paying silver ore in a shaft that other miners thought was worthless. The discovery was made possible by a little knowledge and a great deal of persistence. The shaft ran through a layer of limestone, then penetrated a thick layer of slate, which prompted another miner to comment that Harry and his partner, Henry Meredith, must be looking for coal. Underneath the fifty foot thick layer of slate was another layer of limestone. At this point many miners would have quit, but not H.B. Ailman. As Henry Meredith worked on another shaft nearby, Harry and a Dutch helper named George continued to dig until they located a vein of ore that assayed at seven thousand ounces of silver per ton. The strike report was dated November 9, 1874. this page: The 1881 home of successful silver miner, H.B. Ailman, is now part of the Silver City Museum facility.
SouthwestNewMexico.org 1-800-548-9378 201 North Hudson Street Silver City, New Mexico 88061
OLD WEST COUNTRY SILVER CITY
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Welcome to the Heart of Silver City THE
RED BARN
Family Steakhouse & Watering Hole
THE
RED BARN
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! Banquet facilities for parties of up to 250. Enjoy the Comfortable Setting of the Watering Hole Lounge.
708 Silver Heights Blvd • Silver City, NM 88061
575.538.5666 • www.redbarnsteakhouse.com Silver City’s favorite breakfast spot for nearly half a century. Conveniently located near shopping and sightseeing. Exterior Room Entrances, Cable TV, FREE Local Calls, FREE WiFi in Public Areas
MOTEL
711 Silver Heights Blvd. • Silver City, NM 88061
575.538.2916 www.driftersilvercity.com
DRIFTER PANCAKE HOUSE AND RESTAURANT
Silver City’s best value! Centrally Located. Restaurant and Lounge on site Renovated Rooms, FREE WiFi, FREE Local Calls, FREE Coffee Family owned and operated for over 30 years.
710 Silver Heights Blvd • Silver City, NM 88061 575.538.5392 • www.coppermanormotel.com
Close to Silver City Historic Downtown District, Visitor Center & amenities. Perfect location for family reunions, baseball teams, and large groups. Everything you need at one location.
SILVER CITY GALLERIES
Holiday Inn Express Silver City
Photo by Alison Trombley
Convenience & Comfort Combined with Premium Amenities
Events like the Silver City Blues Festival attract hundreds of visitors to the area’s fresh mountain air.
Soon the partners had hired a crew, and work hummed along at the newly christened Naiad Queen mine. By 1880 the two partners, now both happily married men, had decided to relocate their homes from Georgetown to Silver City and enter the mercantile business. They bought an existing building and stock from an elderly merchant who wished to retire, and soon they were operating a fine store with five clerks and nearly $100,000 in inventory. The store had a profitable sideline wholesaling goods to other merchants for resale in Sonora and Chihuahua, and it was not uncommon to see thirty to forty pack burros assembled in front of the store on Bullard Street at Broadway, laden with goods bound for Mexico. During this time the partners also financed other mining ventures, and the frequent exchanges of gold, silver and currency ultimately led to the establishment of the 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.
A conveniently located home base for enjoying Silver City’s signature events, exploring area attractions and the Gila National Forest.
Victoria Chick Cow Trail Art Studio 760.533.1897 www.VictoriaChick.com
• Friendly, Knowledgeable Staff • 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 Highway 180 East behind Wendy’s
1103 Superior Street Silver City, NM 88061 Seedboat Center for the Arts 575.534.1136 www.SeedboatGallery.com
575.538.2525 1-800-HOLIDAY
www.hiexpress.com/silvercitynm
Mimbres Region Arts Council Annual Signature Events • Chocolate Fantasia Sample delicious, gourmet chocolate confections. February
• Silver City Blues Festival
Ginny Wolf Studio & Gallery 575.313.5709 www.GinnyWolf.com
Our FREE music festival features the hottest rising Blues stars as well as veteran performers. Memorial Day Weekend
• Weekend at the Galleries Artwalk and more in Historic Downtown Silver City. Columbus Day Weekend
Folk Series at the Opera House The New Mexico Music Series in partnership with the Buckhorn Saloon & Opera House The Performance Series at WNMU Fine Arts Theatre Visit our website for ticket and membership information
Leyba & Ingalls ARTS 575.388.5725 www.LeybaIngallsARTS.com
www.MimbresArts.org
575.538.2505 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.
Blue Dome Gallery at Bear Mountain Lodge 575.534.8671 www.BearMountainLodge.com
312 W. Broadway • Silver City, NM 575.538.5921 www.SilverCityMuseum.org
Funded by Silver City Lodger's Tax.
The Palace Hotel Celebrating 111 Years Located in the downtown historic district. Reminiscent of a small hotel in the European Tradition. • Affordable Rates • 18 Rooms & Suites • Continental Breakfast • New Special Meeting & Event Room
106 W. Broadway, Silver City, NM 88061
575.388.1811 www.silvercitypalacehotel.com
Bear Creek Motel & Cabins Fabulous getaway nestled in the tall pines of Pinos Altos. • • • • • • • •
Crackling Fireplaces Secluded Balconies Relaxing Porches Telephone & WiFi Satellite TV • Barbeque Grill Hot Tub in Cabana Meeting Room Cabins with kitchens are available.
Conveniently located just 7 miles north of Silver City on NM Highway 15.
575.388.4501 888.388.4515 Make reservations & view availability online
www.bearcreekcabins.com
Meredith & Ailman Bank. The bank prospered until 1887 when several years of drought, combined with the decline of silver and false rumors spread by hostile business competitors caused it to fail. When affairs were settled, no one associated with the bank had lost any money except for its two founders. The reversal was hard on Harry Ailman, but did not break his spirit. He moved his family to California, where he and his young son participated in the drilling of the first oil well in Los Angeles. Harry acquired an interest in an Arizona copper mine, which he held until his retirement at age 84. Today, the H.B. Ailman residence in Silver City is the home of the Silver City Museum.
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
Prudential Silver City Properties
GRANT COUNTY EVENTS
Mimbres Office
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
Robin Thomas, Associate Broker
2991 Highway 35 Mimbres, NM 88049 Office & Cell 575.574.8798 Robin@MimbresRealEstate.com www.MimbresValleyRealEstate.com
No One Knows The Country Like We Do!
United Country
Mimbres Realty, Inc. Visit our Office & Visitor Center in Historic Downtown Silver City and learn all that Scenic Southwest New Mexico has to offer. Open 7 Days A Week! Mon.-Fri. 9 to 5 • Sat.-Sun. 10 to 4
575.538.3789 • 800.827.9198 414 N. Bullard Street Silver City, NM 88061 www.MimbresRealty.com
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
The Mining District
welcomes you to our mining district cities of Hurley, Bayard & Santa Clara.
BAYARD, HURLEY & PINOS ALTOS
John Sully and the Chino Payroll Robbery
The Town of Hurley, founded in 1910, celebrated 100 years May 8, 2010. Enjoy the Kneeling Nun scenic vista (pictured above) surrounded by rock-faced mountains.
575.538.3785 southwestnewmexico.org 201 N. Hudson St. Silver City, NM 88061
“In June of 1909 the old Santa Rita Del Cobre Grant… passed to the powerful and intelligent mining interests who now control Chino Copper Company.” --John M. Sully, mining engineer and general manager at Chino Mine, 1915
M
ore than any other individual, credit for the success of the Chino Mine - the world’s third largest open pit copper mine - belonged to John M. Sully. Following exhaustive field research, he proved his discoveries repeatedly over a period of years. The result was the formation of the Chino Copper Co., which began operations in 1909 and opened the Chino Mine shortly afterward. Under John Sully’s management, production began slowly. It increased to $4 million by 1912, and hit $11 million per year by 1915. Investors and all of Southwest New Mexico profited from the boom. Undoubtedly, so did John Sully, who was not only the general manager but the payroll courier for the mine. “My men,” as he liked to call the miners, were paid with silver dollars in sealed envelopes. On the 10th and 25th of each month, the payroll was carried to Hurley, NM by Sully, who had the only automobile available at the time. On the day of the robbery, August 10, 1911, Sully was accompanied by police chief Jim Blair and Dr. F.N. Carrier. Their vehicle was waylaid north of Hurley by two men who had studied the payroll routine. For whatever reason, however, the payroll was not on board that day. The robbers relieved the others of their cash, watches and rings, then fled toward the Mimbres where they soon were soon overtaken by a horse-mounted posse.
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 this page: Head frames of previous large-scale underground mining operations dot the region surrounding the Chino open pit mine.
ABOUT THE AREA 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.
LOCATION ATTRACTIONS
EVENTS
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.
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 Nov Hurley Christmas Bazaar. 575-537-2124
Fort Bayard. U.S. Infantry post built in 1863. Housed Buffalo Soldiers. 10 miles east of Silver City.
Kneeling Nun. Natural monolith resembling a praying nun. 15 mi. E. of Silver City at Santa Rita mine.
Bayard and Hurley are located on US180 in the heart of New Mexico’s largest and most historic mining district.
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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CATRON COUNTY
Reserve & Glenwood
The Cooney Brothers “Boys, you see the fix this leaves me in. Now, we have this mill. Will you stand by me for two weeks and let me see what we can do about concentrating that ore?” --Michael Cooney, mine owner and former faro dealer
Angelwings
Coordinated Care LLC. & Angelwings Home Care Serving Catron and Grant Counties. Homemaker Services.
Glenwood Office: 575.539.2227 Silver City Office: 575.534.0311
Alma Store & Grill 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. See our collection of antique photos and western memorabilia.
HC 61 Box 169, Alma, NM • 575.539.CAFE (2233)
Whitewater Motel Relax and Enjoy Vacationing in the Heart of Glenwood. • Dish Network • Refrigerated Air • Fantastic Views • Spacious Backyard
N
ear the small historic town of Alma, a large boulder stands next to Mineral Creek in the Gila National Forest. Inside of that boulder lie the remains of James Cooney, who had a positive impact on more lives in present-day Catron County, New Mexico, than he ever knew about. this page: The Sergeant James Cooney, originally from New Orleans, had been through foothills of the Mogollon the area several times while serving in the US Army at Ft. Bayard. On one rugged Mountains hold tales success and occasion, he had come across a rock outcropping that appeared to contain of failure… and the body silver. Impressed, he noted the location and kept his mouth shut about it James of prospector Cooney. all. As soon as he returned to civilian life, he returned to the mountains of opposite: Cooney’s tomb was blasted Mogollon. There he not only staked a claim, but founded a town that he out of solid rock. modestly called, “Cooney.” Less than five years afterward, James was killed in a clash with hostile natives. His friends blasted, chipped and carved his final resting place into solid rock. A year or so later, James Cooney’s brother Michael arrived in the area. He was reputed to have been a faro dealer in the East, but whatever his previous occupation, he turned out to be an astute mine manager. He persuaded eastern capitalists to invest some $60,000 to get things running again. When the investors visited the mine, however, they became convinced it was a folly, and withdrew further support. There was no leftover money to pay the workers. Michael took all the milled ore that had been collected, a mere
PO Box 158, Glenwood, NM • 575.539.2581 www.whitewatermotel.com
Tres Amigos Enterprises Inc.
Glenwood, NM • 575.539.2584 505.469.1561 • tresamigos@wildblue.net
Catron County Chamber of Commerce 575.533.6968 www.CatronCounty.org
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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com
EVENTS Feb Glenwood Park Barrel Race & Pot Blessing. 575-539-2321 Mar Dutch Oven Cook Off in Glenwood Park. 575-539-2321 Jul July 4th Celebration in Glenwood. 575-539-2711 July 4th Celebration in Quemado and Reserve. 575-533-6968
Jul Frisco CowBelles’ Ann. Western Art Auction. Dance and Barbeque in Glenwood. 575539-2711 Luna Pioneer Days and Rodeo. 575-533-6968 Aug Catron County Fair and Rodeo in Reserve. 575-533-6968 Sep Pie Town Pie Festival. 575-772-2525
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
Kenny Sutton, Licensed Contractor • New Construction • Adobe Homes • Metal Roofing
Outdoors 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.
six-ton wagonload, to the firm of Meredith & Ailman in Silver City, and asked what they would be willing to loan on it. The load assayed at $900, so the firm advanced Michael $800 to continue operations. The next load he brought in was sold for $1800. As the loads kept coming and the ore began to contain gold, the price of a wagonload went up to nearly $14,000. The Cooney mine was a bonanza. Today, not much is left of the town of Cooney. Cooney’s tomb, however, remains intact within Cooney’s Canyon, reminding us of what two brothers went through in order to make us all richer, both in substance and heritage.
ABOUT THE AREA
Three national forests share borders within this sparsely populated land of mountain lakes, hiking trails and campsites. Snow Lake on the north edge of the Gila Wilderness and Quemado Lake just south of US60 are excellent trout waters where only electric boat motors are allowed. In Reserve, a bronze statue commemorates lawman Elfego Baca, who endured a 33-hour shootout in 1884 against incredible odds. Glenwood on US 180 is the hub for Catwalk National Recreation Trail, with metal walkways clinging to narrow canyon walls, and the ghost town of Mogollon, a picturesque turn-of-the-last-century gold mining camp.
Catron County Chamber (575) 533-6968 www.catroncounty.org
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.
BOATING & WATER SPORTS Photo by Judy Wuthrich
MORE INFORMATION
HIKING
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.
Alma. Historic community 7 miles north of Glenwood. 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
Reserve is located at the junction of NM 12 and the San Francisco River.
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
ATTRACTIONS
LOCATION
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.
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Lordsburg HIDALGO COUNTY
The Strange Hanging Hampton Inn Lordsburg
of Arkansas Black
We love having you at Lordsburg’s newest hotel. Offering our Guests: • Clean and Fresh Hampton bed • 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 • TV - 32 Inch LCD HD
575-542-8900 • 1-800-HAMPTON Exit 22 off I-10 • 412 Wabash Ave. • Lordsburg, NM 88045
www.Lordsburg.HamptonInn.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.
G
Y “You can give me back my gun and I’ll shoot it out with you - all of you at once.” -- Robert “Arkansas” Black
In the Old West, men were often hanged for murder, cattle rustling, and horse theft. One man, however, was actually hanged three times for the crime of romance, and it all happened in Shakespeare, New Mexico, just two miles south of Lordsburg. this page: An Hidalgo Robert “Arkansas” Black was a saloon owner, well liked by County sunset in the Mountains. everyone in town - particularly the womenfolk. That was all Peloncillo inset: Shakespeare well and good until Arkansas took up with a married woman. Ghost Town is the site of a strange hanging. Such goings-on are hard to conceal in a small town, and soon inset: Shakespeare Town is the site other married women were demanding that their husbands do Ghost of a strange hanging. something about the situation. So one night a group of the town’s leading married men met with Arkansas and told him he had to leave town. Affronted, Arkansas grabbed for his pistol, but was
HIDALGO COUNTY EVENTS
Jan Annual Quilt Show. 575-542-9646 Feb Cowboy Poetry Fiesta. 575-542-9864 May St. Joseph’s Food Fiesta. 575-542-3268 Jul Lordsburg July 4th Activities. 5K/2mi. Run/Walk 575-542-8844 Parade, BBQ & Dance in Rodeo, NM Aug Nov Dec
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.
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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 MF 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 Studio-Gallery 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. w w w. s h a k e s p e a r e g h o s t o w n . c o m 575-542-9034
subdued by the others. The vigilantes bound the saloon keeper, forced him to the center of town, and hanged him from the cross-beam of a corral gate. After stretching his neck but not killing him, the group lowered Arkansas down and again told him to leave town. Profanely, he refused again, so they hoisted him up again. The third time he was hanged, Arkansas passed out and nearly died. Lowered to the ground and revived by means of a bucket of water, he was again made an offer that the vigilantes thought he couldn’t refuse. Arkansas, in turn, offered to kill them all in a fair and gentlemanly fashion, if they would show enough good grace to return his sidearm to him. Reluctantly, the vigilantes were about to hang Arkansas Black for the last time, when another saloon owner named Roxy Jay walked over and suggested that since Arkansas was so locally popular, they should run the woman out of town instead. After a subsequent visit by the vigilantes, the woman and her husband left town the next morning, and things returned to normal - at least, that is, by Shakespeare standards.
We have it all...
• Gorgeous Weather
• Beautiful Landscapes
• Historic Ghost Towns
• Artisans & Art Galleries • Year-Round Activities • Photo Opportunities Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness. Ragged and rugged, the historic Butterfield Stage Route forms the southern boundary.
LOCATION Lordsburg is located at the junction of I-10, US70 and NM90 near the Butterfield Trail stage stop of Shakespeare.
• Birding Habitats
For more information, contact: Lordsburg - Hidalgo County Chamber of Commerce 575-542-9864 • lordsburgcoc@aznex.net 206 Main Street • Lordsburg, NM 88045
MORE INFORMATION Lordsburg Hidalgo County Chamber of Commerce (575) 542-9864 www.LordsburgHidalgoCounty.net email: lordsburgcoc@aznex.net
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Deming LUNA COUNTY
Fort Cummings:
Guardian of the lower Mimbres “History may be searched in vain for an equal march of infantry.” --General Philip Cooke
T
raveling the highways in the present-day Deming area affords multiple opportunities to view the unmistakable profile of Cooke’s Peak from several different angles. However one looks at it, though, it always seems the same. Its summit towers boldly above many old west trails of southwestern New Mexico. Seated in our comfortable automobiles today, we see Cooke’s Peak simply as a landmark that tells us how close we are to home. It is hard to imagine the importance it held for travelers of 150 years ago, or the challenges it represented. At the foot of the mountain is Cooke’s Spring, which was the only dependable natural water source within fifty miles during its day. Nearby is Cooke’s Canyon, the only pass through the southern Mimbres Mountains. During times when wagons were often drawn by oxen, the region’s combined conveniences made it a natural gathering place for travelers of all descriptions. That meant it was also a very dangerous place to encounter others.
this page: Cooke’s Peak north of Deming was an important landmark for westward travelers and overshadowed Fort Cummings on the Butterfield Trail. opposite, inset: Visitor Center at Rockhound State Park.
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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
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Hampton Inn Deming We love having you at Deming’s newest hotel. Offering our Guests: • Clean and Fresh Hampton bed • 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 • TV - 32 Inch LCD HD
575-546-2022 • 1-800-HAMPTON Exit 85 off I-10 • 3751 E. Cedar St. • Deming, NM 88030
www.Deming.HamptonInn.com
Holiday Inn - Deming Stretch-out and relax in the largest and nicest courtyard in town. • Cool off in our 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 • Kids 12 and under stay and eat free
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
Great American Duck Race August 25-28, 2011 1-888-345-1125 202 S. Diamond St. • Deming, NM 88030 • info@demingduckrace.com
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For centuries previously, the place had been known to nomadic native tribes. By 1852, General Philip St. George Cooke and the 2nd US Dragoons had discovered the area and used it as a base camp. In 1863, the US Army sent a company of California Volunteers to establish a fort seven miles southeast of Cooke’s Peak. Completed two years later and designated Ft. Cummings, it guarded the Butterfield Stage line, the Pony Express, and private wagon trains moving through the Mimbres range. Life at Ft. Cummings wasn’t comfortable. The fort was surrounded by adobe walls ten feet high, and the buildings were made of adobe and wood. Accounts exist of soldiers attaching army blankets to the dirt floors by means of wooden pegs, and one eyewitness report tells of bunks standing with their legs in tins of water, to keep the red ants from invading the bedding. Often, footprints on the ground at early light told of the ATTRACTIONS City of Rocks State Park. Rock formations formed presence of intruders in the darkness, over 34 million years ago during a volcanic eruption. Overnight campsites; visitor center; botanical garden; unseen by the guards in the tower. Even wildlife; hiking; and more. Located 30 miles NW of tasks as simple as gathering water at the Deming on US 180 and NM 61. 575-536-2800 Deming Luna Mimbres Museum. Minerals, gems, spring required groups of heavily armed frontier military history and Mimbres exhibits. 301 S. Silver. 575-546-2382. men to accomplish. www. DemingLunaMimbresMuseum.com Luna Rossa Winery. Through it all, Ft. Cummings and its 575-544-1160. www.LunaRossaWinery.com mud walls served the area now encomRockhound State Park. Collect up to 15 lbs of rocks. The 250-acre park haspicnic facilities; overpassed by Luna County off and on for night camping; hiking trails; wildlife; and exhibits on local history of Buffalo Soldiers, Apache Indians and twenty-three years before being permamore. 14 miles southeast of Deming. 575-546-6182 nently decommissioned in 1886. Now Spring Canyon State Park. Realize a serene beauty and complete sense of isolation. Picnicking all that remains are the foundations of facilities. Ibex, wild goats from Iran, may be encountered. 575-546-6182 www.cityofdeming.org the adobe walls. It seems a lonely place, St. Clair Winery & Visitor Center. 575.546.1179 www.stclairvineyards.com but possibly no lonelier than it seemed Pancho Villa State Park. Located on the site of during the years of westward migration, old Camp Furlong where Villa raided the U.S. This 61acre park offers a massive desert botanical garden, when soldiers lived and died there. camping and museum/visitor center. 575-531-2711 U.S. and Mexico Port of Entry. 24-hour crossing Columbus / Palomas. 3 miles south of Columbus. 575-531-2686
above: Deming continues to maintain many of its early 20th century downtown buildings that contribute to the community’s old west spirit. inset: Voires “Pit” Park includes amphitheater, covered pavilion and exercise trail.
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.
Founded in 1962, First New Mexico Bank is a hometown bank serving a diverse and growing region. At our locations in Deming, Columbus, Hatch, Las Cruces, Anthony and Silver City, our friendly staff is dedicated to treating each customer as family. We’re committed to excellent service, delivering quality products, continued community involvement and nothing but the best for our customers. As we grow and the region grows, one thing will remain the same: we’ll always strive to meet the needs of each unique community where we are located.
“We’ve got the Hometown Spirit!”
Full Service Lender FHA, VA, USDA Guaranteed, Conventional, Construction, Purchases and 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 Rosa
Adina
Las Cruces DOÑA ANA COUNTY
Fourteen Days from St. Louis: Mesilla and the Butterfield Stage “Remember boys, nothing on God’s earth must stop the United States mail!” -- John Butterfield
O
n September 16, 1858, a stagecoach left St. Louis, Missouri on the first leg of a journey almost three thousand miles long, bound for San Francisco, California. On board was a New Yorker named John Butterfield, the man who had instigated this entire arduous undertaking. Emerging from Texas, the relayed stagecoach reached Mesilla, New Mexico - adjacent to present-day Las Cruces exactly two weeks later before continuing on toward Arizona. Mesilla Station was the largest station in the state, since the village of Mesilla at that time was one of the more important commercial centers in Southwest New Mexico. This inaugural adventure became just one of many exploits of the Butterfield Overland Stage Company, and helped make the Butterfield Trail famous throughout the West. John Butterfield, who had previously co-founded the American Express Company with two gentlemen named Wells and Fargo, was at the zenith of his career. In 1857 he had competed with eight other business entities and won a $600,000 government contract to deliver mail from St. Louis to San Francisco in 25 days or less. It was the largest such contract that had ever been awarded at the time. To facilitate the transportation process, the company blazed 2,812 miles of trail through this page: Flamenco dancers perform to deserts and mountain ranges, and built 140 relay stations using Spanish guitar music the historic Mesilla whatever building materials were at hand. It was at these sta- in Plaza. tions, such as Mesilla, that horses and coaches were switched, mail was exchanged by drivers, and passengers could get a rough meal before continuing their journeys. Coaches held nine passengers, rather than the six usually depicted in the movies, and the fare was $200 - about $3,000 today. Passengers were obliged to get out ABOUT THE AREA Las Cruces is one of the nation’s top communiand walk along particularly difficult sections of the trail. The ties for business and retirement. Visitor opportunities include museums, galleries, a restored downcoaches typically were fitted with canvas sides, doors and roofs. town main street area, a river walk ending at Mesilla The mail was carried tucked away under the driver’s seat. Passengers Valley Bosque State Park and scenic hiking trails on both sides of the rugged Organ Mountains. were encouraged to carry weapons for use in the eventuality of Old Mesilla offers an escape from daily stress with a traditional plaza surrounded by Spanish terriunfortunate encounters with hostile natives. Despite these limitatorial architecture and the towers of San Albino Basilica. The village provides excellent dining and tions, the venture was an overwhelming one-of-a-kind shops and galleries. It was the success, and made two runs per week. regional headquarters for the Butterfield Stage and the site where Billy the Kid was sentenced to hang. In 2011, traveling by air-conditioned automobile from El Paso to Las DONA ANA COUNTY EVENTS Apr Annual Border Book Festival. Cruces, Deming or Lordsburg, it is 575-523-3988 www.borderbookfestival.org difficult to imagine what those May Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in Mesilla. www.oldmesilla.org 575-524-3262 journeys were like. Just the Southern New Mexico Wine Festival. www.nmwine.com 575-522-1232 same, the spirit of Mesilla Sep Hatch Chile Festival. 575-267-5050 Station and the Butterfield www.hatchchilefest.com Diez y Seis de Septiembre Fiesta in Trail remain a part of Old Mesilla. www.vivamesilla.org 575-524-3262 The Whole Enchilada Fiesta. West Country today. www.enchiladafiesta.com 575-526-1938 Sep/ So. New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo LOCATION Fort Selden. An 1800s cavalry New Mexico Farm & Ranch 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
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
OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com
Heritage Museum. 3000 years of New Mexico agricultural history. 4100 Dripping Springs Rd.575-522-4100 www.frhm.org 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.
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
www.snmstatefair.com 575-524-8602 Dia de los Muertos at the Plaza www.oldmesilla.org 575-647-2369 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 Oct Oct/ Nov Nov
RAMAD A PA L MS H O T E L & CONFERENCE 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 marRA MA D A PA LMS garitas, imported beers and specialty wines. We also offer Hertz Rental Car services. DE LA S C RUCE S Our rooms are designed for your comfort and convenience. You have the following room 201 E . UNIV ERSITY AV E. options: VIP suite, balcony room, poolside room, or deluxe room. Our motto is "mi casa es I-10 E XIT 142 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 CR UCE 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 also 575.526.4411 RA MA D A LAS C RUCE S.C OM 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. OLD WEST COUNTRY LAS CRUCES
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Southeast ALAMOGORDO, ARTESIA
& EL PASO, TX
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. Alamogordo’s area attractions include the history of international space flight, the history of missile development, and a cluster of solar observatories, a valley covered by white sand dunes and black solidified lava flows, an old west homestead, thousands of prehistoric petroglyphs and wilderness access to 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.
this page: The sun sets on mounds of yuccas at White Sands National Monument. Southeast New Mexico and West Texas share a unique playground that includes horse racing, skiing, shopping, museums, the arts and a variety of exciting festivals.
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Alamogordo OTERO
COUNTY
Gypsum Sand & Space Age Technology
create unbelievable attractions
erving as the access hub for a host of intriguing geologic formations, outdoor recreation, prehistoric artistry and advanced technology, Alamogordo also offers its own enticements for visitors to pull off the freeways. There is nothing more exciting to youngsters and grownup alike than the New Mexico Museum of Space History, with its OMNIMAX screen and planetarium, hands-on space displays and rockets. The community is also home to the Southwest’s oldest zoo and a toy train depot with rides through the park. Coupled with its downtown historic district, complete with galleries and coffee shops, Alamogordo should be on your local day-trip itinerary as a destination from El Paso and Las Cruces. From your Alamogordo base, visit the Oliver Lee Memorial State Park south of town with its desert mountain hiking trails, White Sands National Monument to the west and the high mountain village of Cloudcroft to the east. North of town lie the Valley of Fires National Recreation Area, a craggy old lava flow area, and the Three Rivers Petroglyph National Recreation Site with thousands of the ancient rock carvings and access to hiking trails into the White Mountain Wilderness below 12,000-foot Sierra Blanca. Las Vegas style gambling and scheduled entertainment are just up the hill on the Mescalero Indian Reservation.
S
LOCATION
Alamogordo is located at the junction of US70 and US84, between Las Cruces and Ruidoso.
EVENTS Mar Apr
May
Jun
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Dog Canyon Experience. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. 575-437-8284 Trinity Site Tour. 575-678-1134 White Sands International Film Festival Premiere Showing. www.wsiff.com National Astronomy Day NM Museum of Space History 877-333-6589 www.nmspacemuseum.org Heritage Preservation Day. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. 575-437-8284 Shuttle Camp begins. 877-333-6589 www.nmspacemuseum.org
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Aug Sep
Oct Dec
Spotlight on Tailgate begins Live Music. 575-437-2840 www.nmspacemuseum.org Otero County Fair. 575-437-6120 19th Annual Cottonwood Festival 800-826-0294 Oasis Star Party. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. 575-356-5331 White Sands Balloon Invitational. 575-437-6120 Trinity Site Tour. 575-678-1134 Deck the Hall Holiday Music Fest. 877-333-6589 www.nmspacemuseum.org
MORE INFORMATION
Alamogordo Visitors Center (575) 4376120 or (800) 826-0294 www.alamogordo.com. City of Alamogordo http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us/site4.aspx.
Technology pervades the region with the Sunspot solar observatories perched on the 9000-foot ridge overlooking Alamogordo, the world’s most advanced fighter jets stationed next door at Holloman Air Force Base and the nation’s largest military base at White Sands Missile Range. The White Sands base also features a museum and rocket display. opposite: White Sands National Monument is a great place to play and to learn the geology that created miles of gypsum dunes. Special programs are offered throughout the year. inset, left: Three Rivers Petroglyph National Historic Site offers access to some of the 20,000 rock images carved by people of the ancient Jornada Mogollon Culture. above: Forty-five miles of lava fields cover Valley of Fires Recreaton Area.
ATTRACTIONS Alameda Park and Zoo. Oldest zoo in the southwest with exotic and indigenous animals. 100-year old Toy Train Depot. 1321 N. White Sands Blvd. 575-439-4290 www.alamogordo.com. Founders Park. Honoring the people and cultures involved in establishing the City of Alamogordo. 10th St. and White Sands Blvd. New Mexico Museum of Space History. Model 2001 space station, Clyde W. Tombaugh Space Theater with a 40-foot wrap-around OMNIMAX screen and audio system and the John P. Stapp Air and Space Park collection of historic space items. Hwy 2001 off of Scenic Drive. 877-333-6589 www.nmspacemuseum.org. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. Rebuilt and authentically furnished 19th-century ranch house, recreational trail, developed picnic/campsites with panoramic view of the Tularosa Basin. 409 Dog Canyon Rd. 575-4378284 www.nmparks.com. Three Rivers Petroglyph Site and Recreation Area. One of the largest, over 21,000 petroglyphs, and most interesting sites in the desert southwest scattered over 50 acres. 575-585-3458. White Sands National Monument. Nearly 300-square miles of glistening white gypsum sand dunes. US70 between the Las Cruces and Alamogordo. 575-679-2599 or 575-479-6124. www.white-sands-new-mexico.com
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Artesia EDDY COUNTY
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above: Photographs taken from Ghosts of the Guadalupes by Jerry Cox (jerryrcox@yahoo.com). Original photographs stored at The Southeastern New Mexico Historical Society, 611 N 4th Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220. below and right: The Rustler and The Trail Boss bronze sculptures from the Cattle Drive Series.
Photo courtesy Artesia Chamber of Commerce
t the end of the Civil War in 1865, a glut of cattle in Texas and strong markets in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico gave rise to The Cattle Drive and vast cattle empires spearheaded by the likes of John Chisum. Cattle dealers hired a trail boss, cook, horse wranglers, cowboys and a guide to make the push to market. The cowboys, or vaqueros, worked long, hard hours, exchanging tired horses for fresh ones to keep up the pace, always on the guard for predators and rustlers. The men who drove cattle from Texas up along the Pecos River during the mid 1860s until the barbed wire era of the early 1900s were tough, independent and courageous. Those who chose to settle down and ranch in the surrounding plains and the rugged Guadalupe Mountains and those attracted to the Artesian water system near the Pecos River, retained that independent spirit necessary to face the rugged terrain, harsh climate and lawless conditions of the time. With the arrival of the railroad in 1894, Artesia became first, a cattle shipping point and economic base for area ranchers and cattlemen; and second, a home for determined farmers irrigating with the artesian water. The strong wills of these farmers and ranchers were matched by the risk-taking oil wildcatters who burst onto the scene when oil was discovered in the area in 1924. The Cattle Drive bronze monument series in downtown Artesia is designed to represent and honor the early cattle industry in southeastern New Mexico. The Trail Boss, The Vaquero, and The Rustler are three larger-than-life bronze sculptures representing personalities common in the Pecos Valley during the Cattle Drive era. The rustler’s face may remind one of Billy the Kid, one of the most notorious names in southeastern New Mexico. Other monuments represent pioneers of the oil industry and Sallie Chisum, an entrepreneur and developer during Artesia’s development era. Her efforts led her to be known as the First Lady of Artesia. Be sure to start your visit at the Historic Train Depot/Artesia Visitors Center and take a walking tour through an intriguing collection of public art, shops, restaurants and entertainment in historic downtown Artesia.
ATTRACTIONS
Artesia Historical Museum & Art Center. This home was built for Charles and Anna Moore in 1904 with cobblestones from the Penasco River. The Moores sold the house to the S. S. Ward family in 1906. When Mrs. Ward passed away in 1967, her heirs gave the house to the City for a museum, which opened in 1970. The house was listed on the New Mexico Register of Cultural Properties in 1976 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Eddy County Shooting Range. Weekly scheduled shoots, open & registered. 131 Firehouse Rd. www.ecsra.com
WALKING TOUR ATTRACTIONS
Travel through the past and experience Artesia through the eyes of the pioneers and settlers of the Southwest as you take our Walking Tour at your leisure. It begins at the Train Depot & Artesia's Visitors Center. It proceeds through town, stopping at each of our History in Bronze monuments. Historic Train Depot / Artesia Visitors Center. 107 North First Street The Trail Boss. Corner of Main and First Streets. Unveiled in 2007 as the first in a series of three sculptures called The Cattle Drive. The Vaquero. Corner of Second and Main Streets. The second in the series. The Rustler. In the roundabout at Second and Texas Ave. The third in the series, unveiled in 2009. First Lady of Artesia Monument. South Third and West Main Streets. The niece of famed cattleman John Chisum, Sallie Chisum became a strong businesswoman and an important developer during the settlement of Artesia. Ocotillo Performing Arts Center. 310 West Main Street. Offering a variety of entertainment ranging from community theater to nationally acclaimed musicians, concert artists, theater productions, education and culture. Heritage Plaza & Walkway. 320 West Main Street Land of the Sun Theater. 418 West Main Street Derrick Floor & Oilfield Pioneer Monuments. Sixth and Main Streets. A bronze artistic representation of a four-man crew on a drilling rig.
EVENTS Mar Jun Jul Sep Oct Nov Dec
Main Event Car Show & Cruise. 575.746.9477 Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. 575.746.2744 Fourth of July Celebration. 575.746.2744 Eddy County Fair & Rodeo. 575.746.2744 Gathering of Wheels Car Show. 575.746.6497 Clays Crusher Fun Shoot. 575.746.2744 Art in the Park. 575.746.4212 Balloons & Bluegrass. 575.746.2744 “Take Me Home” John Denver Tribute Show. 575.746.2744 Light Up Artesia. 575.746.2744
LOCATION
Artesia is located in southeastern New Mexico, nestled between the two larger cities of Roswell to the north and Carlsbad to the south. The Texas border is less than 100 miles away to the east and the beautiful mountains, including the towns of Cloudcroft and Ruidoso are to the west. Artesia is a perfect center point for southeastern New Mexico.
MORE INFORMATION
Artesia Chamber of Commerce 107 North First Street • Artesia, NM 88210 (575) 746-2744 • (575) 746-2745 - fax 1-800-658-6251
OLD WEST COUNTRY ARTESIA
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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
H O TEL ART E SI A 203 N. 2ND ST. • ARTESIA, NM 88210 888.746.2066 • WWW.HOTELARTESIA.COM OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.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.
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.
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 COUNTRY
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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 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
El Paso WEST TEXAS
The Railroads come to El Paso “…El Paso is the best place in the United States to make a fortune in a single lifetime.” --Judge Allen Blacker
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 TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com
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l Paso, Texas can be justifiably proud of its long history; the “Pass of the North” has existed for over four hundred years and was a nineteenth century destination along the famous Butterfield Trail. Probably no single day in its history, however, had a bigger or more lasting impact on the city than May 19, 1881. That this page: was the day that the Southern Pacific Railroad rolled into town. The downtown skyline of El The Southern Pacific was the first railroad to arrive, but it was by no means Paso includes a backdrop of its the last. Even as the celebration was taking place, the Texas & Pacific and the i n te r n a t i o n a l Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio were laying track toward El Paso at a rate n e i g h b o r , Juárez, México. of almost one mile per day. Though El Paso had long touted itself as the inset: The star Franklin “Gateway to Mexico,” its role as a port of entry became even more pronounced on Mountain. after the Mexican Central built a line from Ciudad Juarez to Mexico City, and a spur across the river to the “Pass of the North.” Today that stretch of track is still the longest in Mexico, and the only direct line connecting Mexico City with the US border. The effect that all this activity had on the town’s growth was phenomenal. A year before the arrival of the Southern Pacific, El Paso had a population of about seven hundred. Within ten years, the population had swelled to over ten thousand. When the railroad tracks were first laid, they were located so far north of town that most people doubted that the town could ever expand that far. It jumped the tracks within two years. El Paso’s central location between even larger cities also made it a regional center for performing arts and boxing exhibitions. Among the many celebrities of the day who performed there were Sarah Bernhardt, John Barrymore and Harry Houdini.
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 geese by the hundred species of birds without leaving home. Visitors, of course, 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 19 13 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. 8 7
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OLD WEST TRAILS www.oldwestcountry.com
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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
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Visitors Center Mimbres Museum Historic Walking Tour Golf Course Historic Luna County Courthouse
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Old Mesilla x San Albino Church
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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)
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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)
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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
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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 Silver City, NM 88061 PERMIT No. 10
OLD WEST COUNTRY
P.O. Box 884 Silver City, NM 88062
1-800-548-9378 www.oldwestcountry.com e-mail: info@oldwestcountry.com
RESERVE
T OR C
LORDSBURG
Gila Cliff Dwellings
Organ Mountains
Mineral Hot Springs
Shakespeare
Desert Bloom Lake Roberts Rock Climbing Our Lady of Health Church The Catwalk/Glenwood
DEMING
Duck Races
SILVER CITY
Elephant Butte Lake
LAS CRUCES
LORDSBURG
SOCORRO
LAS CRUCES
ELEPHANT BUTTE
RESERVE
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
DEMING
SOCORRO
Mogollon
SILVER CITY
Willow Creek
T OR C
LAS CRUCES
SOCORRO
SILVER CITY
San Miguel Mission
DEMING
DEMING