Encounter the Paranormal in New Mexico
With barely more than 1,000 residents, the village of Cimarron, New Mexico, is home to more ghosts than people. This is where the wild west happened! Located right on the Santa Fe Trail, this town and its historic 1800’s saloon are where infamous southwest outlaws came to drink, gamble, and raise hell. If you want to encounter the paranormal in New Mexico this weekend, then this is the place to be.
Where to Stay to Experience the Paranormal in New Mexico
There are over a dozen other haunted sites in and around Cimarron, so you’ll get the most from your visit if you stay for the weekend. The experience wouldn’t truly be complete without staying a night in a haunted hotel. Book a room right in the paranormal heart of Cimarron, at the famously haunted St. James Hotel.
Cimarron’s renowned saloon and the hangout of notorious outlaws is now called the St. James Hotel. Paranormal researchers have documented the presence of multiple ghosts in this hotel, which was originally called Lambert’s Inn. The establishment was a popular saloon for cowboys and traders. Outlaws like Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, and Buffalo Bill were regular patrons, and there were many violent deaths on the property.
If they’re booked, then consider staying at the historic Laguna Vista Lodge in nearby Eagle Nest. This is another old saloon and one time brothel. It was originally called the ‘El Monte,’ and is haunted by the spirit of a saloon girl who is still waiting for her long lost husband to come for her. There are also many private cabins on the river and apartments that you can rent for the duration of your stay at close to motel prices.
Where to Go to Observe the Paranormal in New Mexico
Staying for the weekend will give you time to enjoy a haunted hike up to the Urraca Mesa, where legend holds that the gates of hell are kept closed by the magic of cat totems that are disappearing. Cimarron is also surrounded by the ominous presence of old, abandoned ghost towns. These include Dawson, Colfax, and Elizabethtown.
Dawson was one of these bustling, southwest mining towns until two terrible accidents changed everything in the early 1900’s. There are 400 iron crosses in the Dawson Cemetery to mark the graves of those miners. They stretch out in rows on a lonely hill, in an abandoned town. It’s an eerie scene under an autumn sky.
Colfax is on private property, so you can only see the ghosts of once used roads in the distance. Elizabethtown was New Mexico’s first incorporated city. It was famous for the boarding house murders of Charles Kennedy. There is very little left of what used to be active mining communities in Elizabethtown, Colfax, and Dalton. Yet, those who can appreciate the spooky stillness and timeless atmosphere of a ghost town will want to visit.
While you’re seeking out your paranormal experiences, remember to stay safe, watch out for venomous creatures, and keep New Mexico clean. Have you encountered the paranormal in New Mexico? Tell us the story! Or learn about some of the haunted legends of New Mexico from Anahy Nuñez.
