While looking at some brochures, we noted that there was an old fort in Lincoln County, and decided to visit it. We found our visit well worth the time we spent there. Our tour started at the Visitor Center, a small museum at…Read More

While looking at some brochures, we noted that there was an old fort in Lincoln County, and decided to visit it. We found our visit well worth the time we spent there. Our tour started at the Visitor Center, a small museum at the fort. There were a number of exhibits that told a lot of the history of the fort.

Fort Stanton was established by an act of Congress in 1859. The fort had several notable commanding officers, but General John J. Pershing and COL Christopher "Kit" Carson were probably the most famous. In 1896, the garrison was withdrawn from Fort Stanton, and in 1899, the fort became the first Public Health Service Hospital for American Merchant Marine personnel suffering from tuberculosis. The choice of location was due to the dry, healthful year-round climate of the area.

During World War II, Fort Stanton served as the first internment camp in the United States. The crew of the German luxury liner Columbus was captured off Cuba in 1939 and spent the duration of World War II at Fort Stanton. Four members of the crew died during that time and are buried at the American Merchant Marine Cemetery at Fort Stanton. By 1952, drugs had been developed for the treatment of TB, and Fort Stanton was turned over to the State of New Mexico.

   Close

We picked up a wonderful map of Lincoln County, New Mexico in the lobby of our timeshare and it led us to several interesting, off-the-beaten-path places. One of these was the almost forgotten town of White Oaks. White Oaks was once a thriving…Read More

We picked up a wonderful map of Lincoln County, New Mexico in the lobby of our timeshare and it led us to several interesting, off-the-beaten-path places. One of these was the almost forgotten town of White Oaks.

White Oaks was once a thriving community with a population of several thousand. It thrived due to a gold strike made in 1879. Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett were part of its history, as well as W.C. McDonald, the first governor of New Mexico. As the gold being recovered dwindled and the railroad bypassed the town, the population of White Oaks declined. Today, there are just a few people living in White Oaks, but some of the historical buildings and the old cemetery remain to tell the story of what happened in White Oaks's past.

One of the local residents was nice enough to follow us to the cemetery and walk through with us, helping us find several graves of historical significance. He then suggested that we visit the museum in Carrizozo where books on the history of White Oaks could be purchased. We followed his suggestion and enjoyed the photographs and displays about White Oaks. We bought two books, and read them aloud on our way back to Kansas.

   Close

One of the interesting places we visited was the Fort Sumner State Monument. It is located a few miles SE of the city of Fort Sumner, and we found it worth the effort required to get there. The fort was originally built as…Read More

One of the interesting places we visited was the Fort Sumner State Monument. It is located a few miles SE of the city of Fort Sumner, and we found it worth the effort required to get there.

The fort was originally built as an army post to house the troops who guarded the Navajo Indians and Apaches who had been resettled nearby. We enjoyed walking around at the old fort site and viewing the displays in the visitors’ center. We then went through the Old Fort Sumner Museum, where we saw old photos of the fort and numerous displays and photographs pertaining to the lives of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett. Billy the Kid's grave is located behind the museum.

   Close

Before our trip, we had read a lot about Billy the Kid, and when we learned that our timeshare was so close to the location of so many of the events we had read about, we had to visit historic Lincoln, New Mexico. We…Read More

Before our trip, we had read a lot about Billy the Kid, and when we learned that our timeshare was so close to the location of so many of the events we had read about, we had to visit historic Lincoln, New Mexico. We picked a sunny day for our trip and spent the whole day exploring Lincoln.

Billy the Kid had been sentenced to hang, and was being held in the Lincoln County Courthouse. He managed to kill his guards and escape. Sheriff Pat Garrett tracked Billy to Fort Sumner, New Mexico and killed him. Billy the Kid is buried at Fort Sumner.

Lincoln has a couple of small museums, the Lincoln County Court House, and several buildings of historical importance. There is also a State Monument which explains the Lincoln County War--a five-day battle fought in 1878 over the control of the area's economy. We tried our best to see all of Lincoln, and I think we succeeded. By the time we returned to Ruidoso, our legs were tired and we were ready to call it a day.

   Close

Our plane arrived in Albuquerque at 10:20am on 5/20/05, with our destination being Ruidoso, New Mexico. It was early in the day, so we had time to visit Sandia Peak Tramway. We immediately became lost, since you cannot always rely on MapQuest for proper directions.…Read More

Our plane arrived in Albuquerque at 10:20am on 5/20/05, with our destination being Ruidoso, New Mexico. It was early in the day, so we had time to visit Sandia Peak Tramway. We immediately became lost, since you cannot always rely on MapQuest for proper directions. However, I was glad I had taken the time to scope things out online before our trip. It saved us some time, and we knew what we wanted to see beforehand.

We were fortunate or unfortunate, depending on how you look at it, to have arrived on the weekend that several thousand Harley Davidson motorcyclists hit Ruidoso for their spring rally. Actually, the noise of the bikes never bothered us, and it was kind of interesting to see that many in one place. There was a concert for the bikers Saturday night starring Brooks and Dunn, held at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort just outside of Ruidoso.

One of the first things we did after settling in was to check at the Chamber of Commerce, located in Mid Town, for things to see and do. I had already read about Monjeau Lookout, so we inquired how to get there. Take Ski Run Road one mile to the Monjeau turnoff (Forest Rt 117). The road gets pretty steep and rocky, and it would be easy to puncture a tire if you’re not careful. At the top, you are at an elevation of 10,356 feet. There are several picnic spots and the manned Forest Service tower. Take the steps up to the base of the lookout and enjoy a spectacular view of the Sierra Blanca Mountains and Ruidoso below. Along the way, you will notice the groves of Aspen, so pause and listen for the songbirds. We witnessed a spring phenomenon. There are just a few weeks each spring when the ladybugs gather in mass at the higher peaks. The air becomes thick with them, as well as the shaded corners of buildings. There are also many mule deer in the area that wander about people’s yards and in the golf courses, feeding at will. We also took a drive up the winding Ski Run Road to its end at Ski Apache. There are places to pull over and enjoy the view. The ski resort was not open, but there is a hiking trail if you are so inclined.

If you like to hike, there is a nice trail not far from town at the south end of South Fork Campground just past Bonito Lake. It follows the river at a gentle slope, and you can go for a day hike as far as you want to go, or you can do a loop and make it a backpacking trip. Visit ruidoso.net.

One thing we really wanted to see was Carlsbad Caverns. Plan on a 4-hour trip each way. We were advised to take Hwy 244 off of Hwy 70 going over the mountains and through the Indian reservation. This was a good choice, as it was more scenic and enjoyable and didn’t take any longer. It joins in with Hwy 82, and then you would head east to Hwy 285 and south from there. For a side trip or a trip all its own, you can go west on Hwy 82 through Cloudcroft and south out of town toward Sunspot Observatory. Sunspot takes 1 to 2 hours, depending on your interest level. If this is a separate trip from Ruidoso, you may want to go west out of Cloudcroft and down through the rugged mountains into Alamagordo. There you can take in the Space Museum and the Imax theater and spend the latter part of the day at White Sands National Monument. Try to hit it during a full moon. The 300 square miles of gypsum sand glows after dark.

We paid a visit to Bosque Del Apache Bird Sanctuary at San Antonio, NM before arriving back in Albuquerque, but it was the wrong time of year to see the cranes or the snow geese. November or December is the time to be there. Even then, you have to be there at just the right hour to witness the fly-out, when hundreds of birds take to the air all at once at the crack of dawn. It is a self-guided tour by car, getting out at strategic locations to walk into the natural habitat of the birds. For a few dollars, you can purchase an informative CD to play in your car that explains the points of interest.

It was such a long way from Ruidoso to Albuquerque that we decided to return a day early and rent a room closer to the airport. While there, we drove to Old Town just to look around and happened on a Porsche drive-through in the town square. All of the cars were vintage, so it was quite interesting to see. A few Native Americans were playing the drums and chanting all the while. This was on Route 66, which crosses the Rio Grande River. And a muddy river it is!

We found that this vacation was fairly inexpensive, since most museums and points of interest have low entrance fees, if any at all. We put 1500 miles on the rental car, so that was our biggest expense. You can eat very cheaply by frequenting the fast-food chains. It is harder to eat healthy, but not impossible. For anyone who likes the mountains and an outdoor experience, we highly recommend this area. We tend to find something interesting wherever we go.

   Close

My family just spent 3 days in Ruidoso with another family, lodging in the Upper Canyon area. It's a great place for a long weekend. Ski Apache is nearby. Beware that the road to the ski 'resort' is long, winding, and treacherous. I would not…Read More

My family just spent 3 days in Ruidoso with another family, lodging in the Upper Canyon area. It's a great place for a long weekend. Ski Apache is nearby. Beware that the road to the ski 'resort' is long, winding, and treacherous. I would not attempt it in inclement weather. But if you are not there for skiing, there is great hiking nearby. Check the Cedar Creek area of the Lincoln National Forest.

While there is shopping in Ruidoso, it's not a compact, 'walkable' downtown area for browsing.

People seemed pretty nice, with a good mix of locals and people that have vacation places in town.

   Close

From my understanding the horse races are a thing of beauty. Yet in the cabin and the mountain setting this place can not be beat for a weekend of fun and frolic.…Read More

From my understanding the horse races are a thing of beauty. Yet in the cabin and the mountain setting this place can not be beat for a weekend of fun and frolic.   Close