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The Village of Capitan
Surrounded by the tall
pines of the Lincoln
National Forest, Capitan is
ideally located in the
heart of historic Lincoln
County. Home to 2,000
unpretentious residents,
the Village is situated
between the Capitan and
Sacramento Mountains at
an elevation of 6,530 feet.
Enjoy a temperate
climate, days filled with
brilliant sunshine, cooled
by the brisk mountain air.
Founded in the 1890's,
incorporated in 1941, the
Village retains its small
town, western heritage.
Buried on the grounds of
the Smokey Bear
Historical Park is
Capitan's most famous
resident, Smokey Bear.
The badly singed black
bear cub was rescued from
a 17,000 acre fire in the
Capitan Mountains. Each
year the residents
celebrate his fame with 2
separate events: Smokey
Bear Days in May & the
Smokey Bear Stampede, 4
days of festivities in July.
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The Town of Carrizozo
Nestled in the shadows of
the beautiful Sacramento
mountain range, residents
and visitors alike enjoy
the pleasant climate of the
high desert, yet are less
than an hour from the tall
pines and skiing areas of
the Lincoln National
Forest. Carrizozo boasts a
growing art community
while maintaining a small
town atmosphere. |
From its beginnings as an
important railroad town
in the late 1800s, to its
modern-day status as the
county seat, Carrizozo has
a rich history. Visitors are
welcome to tour the
newly-opened Carrizozo
Heritage Museum to learn
more about the heritage of
the town. Nearby
attractions include the
fascinating Valley of Fires
lava flow & camground
and a 9 hole golf course
open to the public.
Nogal
Enjoy a spiritual retreat
at the annual Nogal Mesa
Ranchmen's Camp
Meeting. Take a scenic 15
mile twilight drive
through the canyons on
Hwy 37. |
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White Oaks
Once the second largest
city in the state, White
Oaks remains a thriving
ghost town of what it was
before the gold and coal
mines petered out. One of
the finest remaining gems
is a brick four-room school
house with a small
museum documenting the
past. The Miner's Home &
Toolshed Museum is a
restored family home
featuring period drawings
and photos. Now home to a
enterprising group of
artists and craftmen,
annual events include
White Oaks Artists Studio
Tour and Gold Rush Days,
a rowdy celebration of the
heritage of this unique
community. |
Historic Lincoln
Famous as the stomping
grounds of Billy the Kid,
Lincoln is an authentic
step back in history. Many
buildings have been
restored, and the town is
kept much the same as it
was in the late 1800s.
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The Lincoln County War,
the last great shootout of
the Old West, grew from a
conflict between two rival
mercantile
operations. Notorious for
the "Five Day Battle,"
Lincoln was once labeled
the most dangerous place
in New Mexico.
The Lincoln County
Courthouse was once the
Murphy-Dolan store. Billy
escaped on April 25, 1881,
killing two deputies. Three
months later, Billy was
killed by Sheriff Pat
Garrett at Ft. Sumner New
Mexico.
San Patricio
The town became a
favorite hangout of Billy
the Kid during the time of
the Lincoln County War.
In 1878 a posse ransacked
the village while
searching for Billy and
other "Regulators." |
San Patricio, in more
recent times, has been
home to actress Helen
Hayes, author Paul
Horgan and artists Peter
Hurd & Henriette Wyeth.
Hurd bought land along
the Rio Ruidoso and built
an adobe hacienda by the
river. An avid polo player,
Hurd built his own polo
field and a stable for his
ponies. Adjacent to the
polo field, is the Hurd
La Rinconada Gallery.
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