KINGSTON (26 miles west of I-25 take exit 63 onto NM 152). Thank you! By far the most notable is the Dawson Cemetery, filled with the supposed ghosts of miners. MONTICELLO (25 miles NW of Truth or Consequences ). Are you game for this creepy yet cool drive through the ghost towns in New Mexico? Flames destroyed the commercial structures in about 30 minutes. The town was renamed in 1881 by its first postmaster, John Sullivan, of Monticello, N.Y. HANOVER/FIERRO (8 miles north of bayard on NM 536). The map is 2.5 MB. It was New Mexico's first incorporated town. Reasons to Take a New Mexico Road Trip. Elizabethtown began in 1866 with the founding of area gold mines and the Mystic Copper Mine. . 45th most populous state. The town of Montoya, in Quay County, was born as a loading point for the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1902. The town began in 1860 when three frustrated 49ers, Thomas Birch, Colonel Snively and another guy named Hicks, stopped to take a drink in Bear Creek and discovered gold. The trip includes everything from old bridges that are no longer in use, ruins of an old fort, abandoned sanatorium buildings, ghost towns not included on this list, and more. In the 1920s and 30s, Madrid was as famous for its Christmas lights as for its coal, and airlines used to reroute traffic during the holidays to show passengers the sight. Copper mining also took place here. The latter was believed to be an act of arson. The trip covers 574 miles and takes 11 hours and 27 minutes without stops. ELIZABETHTOWN (five miles north of Eagle Nest on State Road 38). The once initial mining camp of Organ was officially established as a community back in 1883, though there had been mining activity since the late 1840s. Not even Victorio and Geronimo, nor the troops sent in by the governor, could tame Mogollon. The only residents left there are either too old or poor to leave, and the homicide rates (the victims principally including mayors, politicians and activists) are sky high for a town with only 10,000 residents. A few were farming communities that flourished for a time and mysteriously fell silent. Saved from img-aws.ehowcdn.com. New Mexico (NM) Abiquiu ; Things to Do in Abiquiu ; Ghost Ranch; Search . If you look, you can read the names of legendary people written in the dust: Johnny Ringo, Russian, Bill, Toppy Johnson, Roy Bean, Butch Cassidy, Madame Varnish, Black jack Ketchum, Mangas Coloradas, Billy the Kid, James Cooney. During the 1880s, Chloride was a busy mining town. Discover (and save!) Road Trip: Ghost Towns of Colorado. Georgia on My Mind: Georgia O'keeffe and Ghost Ranch Country Tour. 6. Motto: "Crescit eundo" (It grows as it goes) 3. If you're not careful wandering through Colorado's ghost towns you just might catch gold fever. COLFAX (15 miles northeast of Cimarron on US 64). It was New Mexico's first incorporated town. Braithwaite is a mere 20-minute drive from downtown New Orleans. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: The remains of Engle lie 16 miles east of Truth or Consequences. After Hurricane Isaac in 2012, the town experienced intense flooding that forced most residents to relocate. Population: 2,085,572 (20134est.). Other sites are unpopulated but still have standing buildings. If you fancy a road trip back in time, drive around this loop of seven ghost towns. Years before the California and Colorado gold rushes, the site of Golden became the first gold rush west of the Mississippi River. MAGDALENA (28 Miles west of Socorro on US Route 60). Ghost Town. The next stop on our road trip takes us down the Ghost Town Trail to Gleeson, a former mining camp settled at the base of the Dragoon Mountains, about 5 miles from Courtland. Aug 17, 2014 - This Pin was discovered by Lisa D'Ambrose. Glenrio, Texas (Your reaction) Thank you! CERRILLOS (28 miles south of Santa Fe on State Road 14). It is difficult to tell when you have left Hanover and reached Fierro. Explore. The history of Chloride reads like the script for a bad western – silver strike, population boom, Apache raids, salvation by the militia, cattle versus sheep, tar and feathering, even bear attacks. People visiting the cemetery have reported seeing people who appear to be visitors just vanish in thin air or other ghostly figures walking around. It's unsettling to remember that 30 miles of tunnels snake beneath your feet (although they're now blocked off). Perhaps one of the most dangerous ‘ghost towns’ in Mexico, the former cotton cultivating town of Guadalupe, Chihuahua, is currently considered something of a no-go area. Some locations will not have cell phone coverage. The Los Alamos History Museum is a must-see attraction in this high-altitude town. Today, travelers can still take in the nostalgia of the Mother Road, neon signs and all. Newkirk, New Mexico 3. By 1920, Glenrio had a hotel, a hardware store, and a land office, as well as several grocery stores, service stations, and cafes. Two or three houses and a few other buildings remain today. Three miles north of Carrizozo on US Hwy 54 is the turn-off to the “ghost town” of White Oaks. The Phelps Dodge Company bought the mine in 1906 and increased development. Admitted as the 47th state of the Union on January 6, 1912 8. Photo: New Mexico Tourism. This state is a beautiful one in many ways, but there is an opposite side to it, as well. 877 Reviews #2 of 16 things to do in Abiquiu. “ This town is a fantastic tribute to New Mexico history, the mining experiences, ghost town memories, and love for the people who lived, worked, parented, contributed, and died here. Lincoln was at the center of the Lincoln County War, 1876-1879, and is the historical home of Billy the Kid. Magdalena was known as the "Trails End" for the railroad/spur line which was built in 1885 from Socorro to Magdalena to transport the cattle, sheep wool, timber and ore. PIE TOWN (84 Miles west of Socorro on US Route 60). Jarilla Junction, once a station on the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad, was renamed Orogrande when a gold nugget the size of a man's finger was discovered in 1905. Route 66 l… Lake Valley became in important railhead and prospered until the silver panic of 1893. Most of what remains is equipment from the Kelly Mine. And if you listen, you can hear the names of fabled mines whispered on the wind: Bridal Chamber, Confidence, Little Hell, Calamity Jane, Hardscrabble, Mystic Lode, North Homestake, Little Fanny, Spanish Bar. GOLDEN (10 miles south of Madrid & 15 miles north of Tijeras on NM 14). Planning an unforgettable experience in New Mexico is easy with a free New Mexico True Adventure Guide. A tent city quickly filled with over 300 miners, store owners, adventuresome women and children. Lake Valley clung on until 1974, when the death of the last resident officially turned this place into a ghost town. The town became a California State Park in 1962. The New Mexico State Penitentiary is known for being really creepy, especially due to the fact that it had one of the worst prison riots in American History. Today, many people say it’s haunted by the restless spirits of those murdered. Engle. Lake Valley was once a silver-mining town, centered around the Bridal Chamber Mine. Staff writer for Only In Your State and freelance writer. After flying into Albuquerque, I rented a car for an exquisite road trip up the Turquoise Highway. It’s known for tons of ghostly activity, a lot of UFO sightings, and having quite the gruesome history that may have lead to the supposed other-worldly presences that remain there. The cemetery is full of hundreds of graves, many of them were miners who died in horrific mine explosions in the area. Ghost towns are just the start of some of the many creepy places in New Mexico. Learn More. In February 1902, the El Paso & Northeastern Railroad finished the “Arrow Route,” a stretch of track between El Paso and Santa Rosa, where a connection to Leadbelly’s Rock Island Line awaited. There are many fascinating and intriguing sights to see along this iconic road but if you want a themed trip, the Route 66 ghost towns are a great option. MOGOLLON (9 miles east of Alma on State Road 78). At the end of the 19th century, Mogollon was a mining town with a rough reputation. Discover (and save!) Keep in mind some of the towns mentioned on the map and trail are in remote locations. Its name comes from an early bakery for making dried-apple pies that was established by Clyde Norman in the early 1920s. Some of these desolate spots are partially on private land, so watch where you wander. Safe practices, requirements, and status of tourism businesses in New Mexico. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Ghost Ranch. With so many potentially restless spirits who met an untimely end, it’s no wonder why a lot of people would call the Dawson Cemetery the most haunted place in the state. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Colfax may be said to have ridden to prosperity on the coattails of Dawson in the late 1890s, when Dawson mushroomed as a coal boomtown. The earth here was probably dry and unyielding but with rules like that, it’s hardly surprising that the town ran out of residents! Pack your bag, and buckle up it’s time to plan your journey that just might give you goosebumps. Take time to relax with a glass of vino at one of the indie wineries in Corrales: Acequia Vineyards and Winery, Milagro Vineyards, Corrales Winery, and Pasando Tiempo Winery. The road leading to Mogollon continues deep into the Gila back country, though the road quality rapidly deteriorates beyond the town. Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! We outfit our rig and trailer for weekend warrior mode and head to West New Mexico for some overland travel with friends. You find them all here in every one of New Mexico's six regions. Juliet can be reached on Twitter @JulietWrites. mi. Corrales is the largest small town on this road trip, with a population of 8329. I stopped in the funky art town of Madrid, continued on to Santa Fe, then took the high road to Taos. The second one I searched out was Glenrio. Lake Valley. See what life in the past was like here first hand. Today, the historic Mary Plantation is one of the only active structures in the area. Ghost Town Road Trip Oct 30, 2017 Gold was found in Bodie, California in 1859 and mining continued until 1942 when the town was abandoned. ANCHO (24 miles north of Carrizozo, Located west of the Lincoln National Forest 2 miles east of U.S. highway 54.). Kingston’s history is a tale ripped from the pages of a western novel. Saloons, gambling, dance halls and women of ill repute put Loma Parda on the map; especially if you were a soldier bored with your isolated existence at Fort Union. Mining was mainly Zinc and the big business was the Emerald Zinc mine built during World War one. We even made an abandoned places road trip through the state similar to this one that’ll bring you to quite a few places that are being reclaimed by nature. White Oaks is not your typical flat-roofed adobe New Mexico historical experience. LAKE VALLEY (17 miles south of Hillsboro on State Road 27). Our loop begins and ends in Engle because it’s so close to Truth or Consequences – you’re going to want a soak in one of the town’s hot springs after all that driving! And history is created every day. There are many ghost towns in New Mexico scattered across the state, the byproduct of New Mexico’s mining and railroad history. For nearly 60 years after the great gold strike of 1878, Mogollon had a reputation as one of the most wide-open towns in the West. Geronimo’s Apache tribe once roamed the rugged and beautiful Gila wilderness, including the lush creek-fed valley where Kingston was founded. The site uses cookies to store information on your computer. Blas and Espiridón Durán, two brothers, owned wells in central New Mexico which could provide water to railroad work crews. The town was briefly known as “Turquoise” in the 1870s for the semi-precious stone found in the area. In the 1980s, prisoners took over the facility for 36 hours and over 30 people were killed or tortured in the process. Mexico Road Trip Map This custom map of all the road trips in Mexico includes all of the best Mexican road trips, and where you should stop to sightsee and/or stay a night or two. Lindsey Kennedy . There are ghost towns galore in New Mexico and this scenic drive connects seven abandoned places in a rough loop. To open any of the road trip maps into your own Google Maps app, simply tap the small square icon on the top right-hand side of the map when looking at this article from your phone. View the guide online, or request to have one sent to you. DAWSON (17 miles east of Cimarron on US 64 and A38). Read our Privacy Statement to learn more. Day Eight of my Cross Country road trip takes me thru New Mexico where I took less traveled roads and stopped at small towns . Loma Parda became the town where soldiers could go for wild nights. The town's greatest population was around eighteen hundred at the turn of the century. More than a score of these towns have enough life in spite of the ravages of vandals and weather to be interesting to the special breed of human whose eyes light up at the mention of them. PINOS ALTOS (8.5 miles north of Silver City). (550 km). This is a partial list of ghost towns in New Mexico in the United States of America. Can I visit any abandoned places in New Mexico? By using the site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. Hiking, horseback riding or mountain biking is a more effective (and safe) means of exploring the Gila beyond Mogollon. They molder into oblivion, their shells of buildings like specters against the sky, these towns that witnessed some of America’s most romantic and rapacious history. Many are on private property. Quite a few towns have a number of inhabitants. Today it is a pseudo ghost town with a handful of full-time residents. National Forests and Public Wilderness Lands. 7 Ghost Towns to Visit on a Route 66 Road Trip... 1. Ghost Ranch. COLFAX (15 miles northeast of Cimarron on US 64) Colfax may be said to have ridden to prosperity on the coattails of Dawson in the late 1890s, when Dawson mushroomed as a coal boomtown. Shakespeare was once called Mexican Springs and it was a tough place to call home. Click on the image to download a printable PDF map of the Ghost Towns featured on the Ghost Towns Trail. This town is a fantastic tribute to New Mexico history, the mining experiences, ghost town memories, and love for the people who lived, worked, parented, contributed, and died here. your own Pins on Pinterest Literally hundreds of towns not only died, they vanished. Word spread like wildfire, soon there were over 700 men prospecting in the area. Ghost towns can include sites in various states of disrepair and abandonment. Located along New Mexico Highway 142, Monticello was originally named Canada Alamosa Spanish for "Canyon of the Cottonwoods" and was first settled by ranchers and farmers in 1856. Apache Indian attacks were an ongoing threat – the town’s founder, a man by the name of Harry Pye, was slaughtered during one assault. Kelly is a true ghost town, without a single resident. Prospecting had started as early as 1879 in the Jarilla Mountains but the 1905 discovery started a gold rush and gave birth to the town of Orogrande. Fate dealt the town a double whammy when the silver panic of 1893 was followed by a saloon fire in 1895. Travel Trip Planning New Mexico, United States. There were no Conquistadores bringing the word of God to the native population. Please note that you can only view Shakespeare on an organized tour – these take place twice a month. In the end, it was the silver panic that reduced Chloride’s population. The last residents of Kelly departed in 1947, and most of their homes were painstakingly hauled down to Magdalena. MONTOYA (Just west of Tucumcari on Old Route 66). Pie Town is located along U.S. Highway 60 in Catron County. What is the most haunted place in New Mexico? CHLORIDE (5 miles southwest of Winston off State Road 52). Ghost towns are everywhere, and for many, these abandoned spaces hold a romantic fascination and make an excellent summer road trip. See what life in the past was like here first hand. Visit New Mexico for a unique family vacation filled with exciting activities like skiing, hiking, shopping and sight seeing. Note: the map will open in a new window. May 7, 2019 - This drive connects many ghost towns in New Mexico in a convenient loop. Although the current population of Pinos Altos is 198 according to the last census, the town bills itself as “a mining ghost town that still thrives.”. Educational sites, Art Museums. This railroad town was established in 1879. MADRID (30 miles southwest of Santa Fe on State Road 14). Love New Mexico? 877 Reviews #2 of 16 things to do in Abiquiu. A newspaper, the Glenrio Tribune, was published from 1910 to … Orogrande​ ( 36 miles south of Alamo­gordo and 49 miles northeast of El Paso, Texas, on U.S. To download the map right click and save to your computer. “Straddling the New Mexico & Texas border, Glenrio was established in 1903 when the railroad came through. HILLSBORO (18 miles west of I-25 take exit 63 onto NM 152). If we had to chose which of the haunted places in New Mexico was the worst, many people would definitely say Dawson Cemetery. Primarily serving the cattle ranches of the area, an old store, built of solid stone, carried goods and supplies for the villagers.