A fisherman that we met on the lake told us about the town of Engle. He also told us Ted Turner (you know-the rich guy) has a ranch in the Engle area and we might see some of his buffalo. We did find a herd of buffalo near a watering trough. I found an article about the ranch on the internet that was quite interesting. The article includes some history of the ranch and how it is being used for research of wild animals now. The name of the ranch is Armendaris Ranch and they have tours in the spring. Here's the link to the article: http://www.livestockweekly.com/papers/03/08/28/whlarmendaris.asp
As we traveled to Engle, we found this monument about the El Camino del Tierra Adentro, "The Royal Road to the Interior." The road was one of the principal trade and transportation routes established by the Spanish from Mexico City. This portion of the highway was located in the flatlands east of the Caballo Mountains.
Engle, NM, was founded in 1879 on the route of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. It was a cattle town and shipping point during the construction of the Elephant Butte Dam. The town is located west of the White Sands Missle Range. Today only a few original buildings remain. The stucco building was once a schoolhouse and is now a church.
There is another small town, Cutter, in the same area. We didn't find it and we read that none of the original buildings are left. However, we did find a sign for a cattle ranch with the name of Cutter in it. Near the sign, we saw several sets of skeletons. Don't know the reason for their deaths but we didn't see any fences around the ranches.
We were surprised by the next area we saw. Spaceport America is being developed for commercial space travel. It is located on the plateau near the Cutter Cattle Company. Seeing this felt like something out of the comic books that predicated space travel. After seeing the site, we have also heard about it on the local news. There have been test flights and it is hoped to be used soon for space tourism flights.
This historic steel deck truss bridge, a Warren design, was built in 1927 over a steep gorge. Percha Creek Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 15, 1997.
Several historic structures that remain in the old mining town of Kingston, NM, are the assay office, an adobe fence and the old Percha Bank. The town was founded in 1882 when prospector Jack Sheddon make a rich silver strike. The 1890 census counted 7000 residents. Its current population is 25. It's located among the beautiful Black Range Mountains.
Someone has displayed some old tools, pots and pans, etc. on the side of a very old building in Kingston. The 1887 historic bell was used to warn of approaching Indians.
We stopped in Hillsboro, NM, to have lunch and visit the Post Office. The present day post office is in the original building which was built before 1893. The postmaster said this post office may be one of the possible closures. They will know by the end of March.
These ruins are of the Hillsboro courthouse that was built in 1892. Hillsboro was once the county seat of Sierra County. Mining was a big part of this city's history as well as ranching.
The jail stood beside the courthouse. The year of 1910 was etched in the cement on the side of the ruins. Not sure if that was when the jail was built, some repair work was done or if there was addition in 1910.
The 1892 Union Church, an Episcopal church which is still in use today.
This building is currently the Hillsboro library but at one time was the high school. Currently, all the school children go to school in Truth or Consequences ( T or C) about 32 miles away.
This mural was on the side of a private residence. Hillsboro has become a small community of artists, ranchers and retirees.
The Black Range Mountains were amazingly beautiful with many different rock formations.
The Caballo Mountains are located on the east side of the Caballo reservoir on the Rio Grande River.
We sent this picture to our kids and asked them to send money so we could buy a retirement home.
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