Ghost Towns and Other Ruins

Most of what we call ghost towns are not entirely uninhabited. Some have quite a few residents, in fact, but what they all share is evidence of times and lives now long gone. We have pictures of only a few of them right now, but we will be adding more as we can. If you visit ghost towns, please do not take souvenirs home with you, or before long nothing will be left.

(Click on any thumbnail for the larger picture)

Winston and Chloride

are just a few miles apart, and each is home to a number of people

Winston

Chloride

NM HWY 52

From Winston, Highway 52 may be taken north through some interesting country. Some of you may be surprised to discover that a State Highway can be a dirt road. At one point you actually drive through someone’s yard. Don’t worry, though, it is really a pretty good road.

The cleft in the picture on the right is called the Monticello Box Canyon, and if you stop where we did to get that picture, you will be standing very near the spot called Ojo Caliente where Geronimo was first betrayed. The area surrounding this spot, including that canyon and the land on the far side of the hill it clefts, is the area he called home, and tried very hard to preserve for his people.

Just before Highway 52 ends at US Highway 60 you will pass the

Very Large Array

If you ever go to Hillsboro for the Apple Festival (and we highly recommend you do), you might try driving south down picturesque Highway 27 through . . . .

Lake Valley

Forts

There are old military forts throughout New Mexico and the west, many of them are easy to find and visit. This can be especially rewarding for those with African roots, because nearly all of these forts were manned by “Buffalo Soldiers” at one time or another.

Fort Craig

Once the largest military installation in the west, the layout of this fort and its history are of significant interest, militarily and historically. It is not far from Interstate 25 and just south of the Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge.

Fort Seldon

Also quite near Interstate 25, at Radium Springs, not far north of Las Cruces, Fort Seldon, though somewhat less significant historically than Fort Craig, has an excellent museum and interpretive center, with knowledgeable and friendly staff. This type of adobe construction was typical of forts throughout the southwest.

Dripping Springs

Not far outside the city limits of Las Cruces, nestled in the Organ Mountains, there is a hidden little canyon containing the ruins of a one-time resort and TB sanatorium. It is an easy and pleasant hike from the visitor center, and there is a lovely tree-shaded picnic area with a restroom. Another hike from the same center takes you to the cave where a much-loved hermit lived out his days long ago.

We seem to have lost some of our pictures of Dripping Springs, so until we take some more, here is a link to a site with some good pictures and some history.

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