Fall in New Mexico, Part 2

When we first arrived in Santa Fe, we noticed a sign for Madrid as we took our exit for the RV park. I remembered that town from “Wild Hogs”, a movie that we always enjoy and wondered if it was the same place the movie was filmed. Another sign indicated that the route towards Madrid was the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway. Of course, both of those sounded good to me.

beautiful scenery along the turquoise trail

I did a little research and discovered that part of “Wild Hogs” was filmed in Madrid and it was only about a 20 minute drive south of the RV park. So of course we had to drive down and check it out. The building that housed Maggie’s Diner in the movie was built specifically for the movie by Disney and was left there afterwards and is used as a souvenir shop today. Parking was a little tight in town and the owner of Maggie’s said we could leave the car there as we walked around town.

Madrid was found in 1895 as a coal mining town and was wholly owned by the company. By 1954 the coal company closed and most of the residents moved away and Madrid became a ghost town. Today it is a small artist community with a population of 247 per the 2020 census.

We headed south on the Turquoise Trail for a very scenic drive and discovered the drive goes right through Madrid. As a matter of fact, it seemed like it was the only road in the town. It was a very quaint little town, with mostly art studios and souvenir stores. There were a couple bar/restaurants, so after browsing in the stores, we stopped at the The Mine Shaft Tavern.

the entrance looks like you are entering a mine shaft

This tavern was there when the mine was operational is and right beside the Coal Mine Museum where you can learn about the mine and history of the area. The Mine Shaft Tavern is very rustic and retains the character of the mining era. We enjoyed our visit, especially chatting with the bartender who was very friendly and informative. She suggested coming back on Saturday when they would have a band playing on the deck located at their cantina situated above the tavern.

Of course, we decided that would be a great idea so added that to our plans for the week. Saturday was a beautiful day so we decided to spend the morning at Pecos National Historical Park and then go to Madrid for a late lunch and stay for the band in the late afternoon. It was a perfect day for a drive around the surrounding countryside.

looking up the hill to the remnants of the Pueblo

Pecos National Historical Park is the site of the Pecos Pueblo home to the Pecos. It was built in the 1400’s and at one time the pueblo was a quadrangle of more than 600 rooms. It was four to five stories high in some places. Only remnants Pueblo foundation still exist. There are also remnants of the mission church built by the Franciscan priests and the kiva’s which were underground structures where the Pueblo ceremonial rooms. The Pecos Pueblo was a thriving community as well as a popular trading place for the Plains Apache, Comanche and Navajo.

the foundation is about all that remains from the peublo

The mission church at the pueblo was being used for a wedding the day we visited so we could not see the inside of the church. It is the fourth church built on this spot and it was built in 1717 and it was built on the remains of the 1625 church that had been destroyed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Between Comanche raids and Hispanic settlements taking over the fertile agricultural fields, as well as epidemics and diseases, the Pecos people did not survive at this Pueblo. In 1838, the last of them left and walked to the Pueblo of Jemez where their descendants live today. I like to think that some of those descendants were the wedding celebrants we saw during our visit.

views from the pueblo; isn’t new mexico beautiful?

my hair went a bit crazy in the wind that day

We ended this beautiful day back in Madrid with lunch at the Mine Shaft Tavern. Then we had dessert and drinks at the Cantina where we sat outside and afternoon sunshine and the local band. All in all, we enjoyed the day and side trips that we took while in Santa Fe.

The rest of the weekend turned very cold, so we didn’t really do any more touring before leaving Santa Fe. While the sun was out and it warmed up a little on Monday, we decided to visit Santa Fe Brewing Company for Tim to try their beer. It was a very short drive from the RV park so we had to stop there. They had a really nice outside area but we sat inside because it was still a bit cool. Tim said he enjoyed the beer that he tried.

Our week in Santa Fe seemed to go by very quickly. I am so glad we were able to stop there in our travels. Next up is Elephant Butte, NM and its neighboring town, Truth or Consequences, then off to Alamogordo and a visit to White Sands National Park. Of course, I have to end this post with another beautiful sunset.

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