explore magazine 2015

8/20/2019 Explore Magazine 2015

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THE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEYTHE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEY 2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE4

CONTENTS

ROUTE 66

SCENIC TRAILS

TINKERTOWN

SINGLE ACTION SHOOTING

CIBOLA AND SALINAS

CELEBRATIONS

WILDLIFE WEST

MADRID

FARMING TRADITION

SOARING

PLENTY TO SEE, PLENTY TO DO

5

8

9

10

12

14

16

17

18

19

20

Cover design by Rory McClannahan


5/24


6/24

The Midway Trading Post between Moriarty and Edgewood hasbeen closed a long time. However, a group of volunteers sprucedup the building so visitors could stop and take a photo.

Route 66 through the Estancia Valley and East Moun-

tains. The committee has acquired grants to get murals

painted on Moriarty buildings, cleaned up the Midway

Trading Post between Moriarty and Edgewood andstarted an arts alliance all with the goal of making Route

66 a destination for tourists.

To refurbish the two Whiting Bros. signs, the committee

was able to secure a $7,715 grant from the Route 66 Cor-

ridor Preservation Program, which paid for half of the

cost. The rest was raised through a $2,000 appropriation

from the Moriarty Lodgers’ Tax Committee and private

donations.

An event was held in the summer to dedicate the refur-

bished signs, except that work had been halted — work-

men from Zeon Signs found a family of barn owls living

in the sign.

Instead of running the owls out of the sign, a decision

was made to let them raise their family and finish the

work when the owls left the nest.

By the middle of November, the owls were gone and

work on the sign was completed.

Sal Lucero was clearly moved by the outpouring of sup-

port for his business, more so because his wife, Inez, haddied early last year. The Luceros have owned the station

since 1985 when they bought it from the Whiting Bros.

Hidden Treasures on Old Route 66

From Page 5

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Prior to that, Sal had worked at the station since 1965 and

the couple raised their family in a small house behind the

location.

“This is really a great night,” said Roger Holden of the

RETRO committee. “It took a lot of work, but this will

serve as a beacon for visitors coming to see Route 66.”

Getting signs repaired is just the start for the RETROcommittee. The group has already started an Arts Alliance

and will taking on more projects to make Historic Route 66

a welcome destination for not only those who are seeking it

out, but those who are looking for a quick stop and a short

visit with history.

Visit us for conversation in atheologically diverse community.

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THE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEYTHE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEY 2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE

Explore Scenic Trails, Find Wonder

Visitors to the East Mountains

and Estancia Valley usually

enter and exit off of Old Route

66, but the Mother Road isn’t the only

historic route in the area.The area also is home to two scenic

routes that will make any trip to New

Mexico complete. Tijeras is a good

starting point for both the Salt Mis-

sions Trail and the Turquoise Trail.

The Salt Missions

Trail, as the name

indicates, was an

important looplong before motor-

ized transporta-

tion. From Tijeras,

take Old Route 66

through Edgewood

and Moriarty, then

head south on N.M. 41 and through

the Torrance County seat of Estancia.

Although you can’t see the dry salt

lakes from N.M. 41, you can almostsense that they lie to the east. On an

especially windy day, the salt dust

kicks up and you can taste it in the air.

The salt lakes were important from

the time that humans first made New

Mexico home. The Indians of the early

pueblos used to make long pilgrim-

ages to the lakes on foot as a religious

ceremony. The Tigua Indians did not

consider the salt as property of anyone tribe but the divine gift of Salt Old

Woman (the salt mother) who gave

herself freely to the Indians who came

to seek salt.

When the Spanish arrived, the lakes

continued to give its bounty freely.

Salt was important to these early

people, especially as a preservative,

but also for uses in mining.Eventually, though, claims were

made to the salt lakes and mining of

the mineral went into production,

Several companies made good money

in the lakes, but by the 1970s, produc-

tion of salt had moved elsewhere.

What we have left is the Salt Mis-sions Trails, a series of roads used

throughout history to move the salt.

To the south, N.M. 41 meets with U.S.

60, a route to Mountainair, Abo and

Belen. At Mountainair, N.M. 337 goes

north to Tijeras, where traders took

salt to the mountain communities and

missions.

The Salt Missions Trails were nameda New Mexico Scenic and Historic

Byway in 1994 and today, visitors can

travel the 140 mile loop to visit pueblo

missions, old farming towns and the

“Mother of all roads.”

Through the mountains north of

Tijeras, travelers can take the Tur-

quoise Trail. The Turquoise Trail

was designated as a National Scenic

Byway in 2000, the result of the workof a dedicated group of residents in

the Turquoise Trail Association. But

its history stretches back to the first

settlers in the area. The turquoise

and other precious minerals found

in the Sandia and Ortiz Mountains

were valued by nomadic and pueblo

Indians who made New Mexico home.

The minerals in the hills attracted the

Spanish and American settlers.The 62-mile trail begins in Tijeras,

which has long been a stopping point

in the pass between the Manzano and

Sandia Mountains.

Driving up N.M. 14 from Tijeras you

will pass through the unincorporated

communities of San Antonito, Cedar

Crest, San Antonio and Sandia Park.

The area is a mixture of old and new,with historic churches sitting next to

modern grocery stores.

Before leaving the Sandia Moun-

tains, the trail takes a detour up the

Crest Highway up to the 10,687 foot

Sandia Peak.

After your visit to Sandia Peak,continue up N.M. 14 where you will

shortly come upon the mining com-

munities of Golden, Madrid and

Cerillos. Golden was so named for the

gold found nearby. It’s a quiet little

village, but if your timing is right,

you can stop by the general store for a

soda pop.

Next on to Cerillos, where the bestturquoise in the southwest was once

found.

For more information on the Salt

Missions Trail, go online to www.

mrcog-nm.gov/special-studies/salt-

missions-trail. Information of the

Turquoise Trail can be found at www.

turquoisetrail.org

8


9/24

Good Things Come in Small, Eclectic Packages

Attracting thousands of visitors

from across the globe, Tinker-

town Museum in Sandia Park

has displayed the enchanting work of

Ross Ward for years.

Since Ward passed away in 2002 with

Alzheimer’s disease, he has inspired

many. His work, which originally

began as a hobby in 1962, grew and ex-panded into the 22-room museum that

it is today as a result of the amount of

public interest it received.

The exhibits currently store all the

woodcarvings and carnival paintings

he created, as well as auctioned items

collected during his trips. His widow,

Carla Ward, has continued to keep up

the museum for 32 years.

Visitors from all over the world

have come to Tinkertown to catch a

glimpse of Ross’s creative works ofart.

“One time, we had a group of visitors

from Jordan, Switzerland and Bos-

ton,” Carla Ward said. “They were all

friends and the most fun to talk with.”

Sightseers can mark their travels on

the giant map by grabbing some pins

from the gift shop and leave comments

in the guest book.

From fortune-telling and carnival

rides to western folks strumming

guitars, everyone has a different idea

of what’s interesting, Ward said.

Various quotes and slogans are scat-

tered throughout the exhibit rooms aswell, written by famous folks and Ross

himself.

“As you wander, keep your sense

of wonder.” This particular quote is

true for those visiting, and accurately

describes the lifestyle Carla and her

husband shared as avid explorers.

They made their way around the

country, collecting a variety of eccen-tric items in rather surprising places.

At an antique sale in Michigan, the

two paid $150 — a great bargain — for

a pair of giant shoes and pants worn

by a 430-pound, 8-foot tall carnival

worker in the late 1800s. The pieces

turned out to be a perfect addition for

Tinkertown.

Tinkertown is located on the Crest

Highway, about a mile from N.M. 14.For more information, go online to

tinkertown.com.

Tinkertown has been thrill-

ing visitors for more than 30

years.

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Explore the Old West at Founders Ranch

By Tex Ormond

SASS #4

New Mexico and the City

of Edgewood are home to

an organization dedicated

to keeping the Old West

alive! Founders Ranch, just

five miles south of Edge-

wood is home to the SingleAction Shooting Society, a

30-year-old membership or-

ganization that features Old

West shooting competitions,

including END of TRAIL,

the World Championship of

Cowboy Action Shooting,

which will be held this year

from June 26-28.Founders Ranch lies in the

pristine wooded hills east of

the Sandias and sports an

Old West village of mercan-

tile buildings and shooting

ranges. Cowboys, all suited

up in 1880s period costumes

hold periodic competitions

shooting the guns of the

Old West — single actionrevolvers, lever action

rifles, and vintage shotguns

… just like Roy Rogers,

Gene Autry, and Hopalong

Cassidy did on the silver

screen in the late 1940s and

early 1950s. These cowboys

are playing the same games

they played in their back-

yards as kids … the only dif-ferences now are the price

of their toys and adherence

to strict safety rules!

Founders Ranch offers

visitors an Old West en-

vironment for events and

celebrations. SASS offers

the Ranch for 4-H activities,

civic events, police training,

and, for SASS members,

the use of the chapel forweddings and funerals and

the Belle Union Saloon for

birthday and graduation

celebrations.

During END of TRAIL,

the Old West village really

comes alive as a recreation

of an Old West town. Ven-

dors hawk their wares to

cowboys and civilians alike.

Continuous entertainment

ensures activities for every-one throughout the day. Op-

portunities are provided for

all Ranch visitors to “pull

the trigger” and test their

skill on an old-time shoot-

ing gallery.

In addition to the Cowboy

Action Shooting program,

SASS Mounted Shooting

plays a prominent part in

the cowboy competitions

and doubles as an enter-

Single Action Shoot-

ing Society governs

Cowboy Action

Shooting

The Single Action Shooting Society holds its annual END OF TRAIL every June at FoundersRanch near Edgewood. Shooters from all over the world come to the event to crown the cham-pion at Cowboy Action Shooting. The best part, though, is that Old West attire is encouraged.

See Page 11

10


11/24

tainment venue. Mounted cowboys negotiate different

courses of fire with blank-firing firearms engaging bal-

loons along the way. Think barrel racing with guns. What

can be more “cowboy” than horses, riders, and blazing

six-guns?

Founders Ranch also features a unique for New Mexico

shotgun facility with a five-stand course and a 12-stationSporting Clays range. It’s the only Sporting Clays course

in New Mexico that is not situated in the desert. One must

be a member of SASS to use the facility, which has played

host to numerous charity events and a recent State Cham-

pionship competition. The Ranch is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

Wednesday through Sunday each week.

SASS is the parent organization for Cowboy Action Shoot-

ing. Through affiliated membership organizations, it estab-

lishes the rules and safety practices adopted by SASS clubs

around the world. It’s not uncommon for SASS members totravel extensively around the United States each year, but

also internationally. Europe, Canada, Australia and New

Zealand, as well as South Africa all boast affiliated clubs.

If you’re between the ages of 10 and 90 and are interested

in the Old West, its history, its costumes, or the shooting,

visit Founders Ranch. For total immersion, visit END of

TRAIL June 26 and 27.

Founders Ranch is located at 74 Barton Road south of Old

Route 66, but is most easily accessed using N.M. 217 south

to Juan Tomas Road.

For more information, go online to www.sassnet.com.

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Explore the outdoorsCibola National Forest and the Salinas Missions National Monument

Whether you like to explore the

past or take in a hike, thereare plenty of both in the East

Mountains and Estancia Valley.

To the north is the Sandia Moun-

tains and to the south is the Manzano

Mountains. Both ranges are part of

the Cibola National Forest. To the

south of the Manzanos is the Salinas

Pueblo Missions National Monument

wit the ruins at Quarai, Abo and Gran

Quivira.Hundreds of miles of hiking trails

criss-cross the Cibola National Forest,

which includes both the Sandia and

Manzano mountains.

Two U.S. Forest Service ranger

districts manage this portion of the

Cibola. The Mountainair Ranger

District covers the southern portion

that encompasses the Manzano Moun-

tains, and the Sandia Ranger Districtin the northern part covers the Sandia

Mountains.

Manzano Mountains

The Manzanos officially start west

of Chilili and stretch 20 miles south to

Mountainair. Lower, rounded peaks

called the Manzanitas, just south of

Tijeras Canyon, are mostly within theboundaries of Kirtland Air Force Base

and Isleta Pueblo.

Although there are plenty of similar-

ities between the Sandias and Man-

zanos, the Manzanos’ flora is more

varied and exotic than that of the

Sandias; the trails leading up to the

long, flat Manzano ridgeline tend to be

shorter and gentler than comparable

routes in the Sandias.You’re unlikely to find any wild

apple trees growing along the trails in

the Manzanos, but the name man-

zano comes from the Spanish word

for apple. Camping is allowed in the

Manzanos at Fourth of July, Tajique,

Capilla Peak, New Canyon and Red

Canyon campgrounds as well as Man-zano State Park.

More than a dozen excellent trails

climb from both sides of the Manzano

Mountain range. Three good ones to

try are Trigo Canyon, Fourth of July

Canyon and Manzano Peak.

Most people associate Fourth of July

Canyon with Forest Road 55, the popu-

lar fall-color driving loop. But three

excellent short trails start on the roadand end at the Crest Trail.

If you’re looking for a challenging

workout and stunning views, the

5.5-mile trip up Pine Shadow Trail to

Manzano Peak.

Sandia Mountains

The Sandia Mountain Wilderness,when it was established through the

Endangered American Wilderness Act

of 1978, was made up of 30,981 acres

of the Sandia Ranger District’s total

100,555 acres. Acquisition of the Elena

Gallegos Grant in 1981 increased it to

37,232 acres of wilderness.

More than 2 million people journey

to the Sandias each year to hike the

roughly 117 miles of the district’s

See Page 13

12


13/24

trails.

More than a dozen trails are avail-

able to choose from, with one scenic

favorite being the Crest Trail — the

longest trail in the Sandia Mountains

with a total length of 28.2 miles.

A host of hiking trails ranging fromeasy walks to more strenuous uphill

jaunts are accessible from the numer-

ous trailheads and picnic grounds

along the Sandia Crest Highway.

Hikers can also park at the top of the

Crest Highway and follow a portion of

the Crest Trail to the upper terminal

of the Sandia Peak Tramway, about

1.5 gentle miles away.

For maps of all the trails in theSandia Mountains, stop by the Sandia

Ranger Station at 11776 N.M. 337

South, just south of the traffic light in

Tijeras, or call 281-3304.

Salinas Pueblo Missions

Exploring the magnificent pueblo

ruins and impressive stone mis-

sion churches of the Salinas Pueblo

Missions National Monument is a

highlight of any tour of the Estancia

Valley.

The ruins at Quarai, Abo and Gran

Quivira have stood abandoned for

more than three centuries. Each site

is administered by the National Park

Service as a separate unit of the Sali-

nas Pueblo Missions National Monu-ment, which was declared a national

monument in 1909.

The roots of the Salinas Pueblos

trace back centuries to two ancient

Southwestern cultures that over-

lapped in the Salinas Valley.

Until the 10th century, the Mogollon

culture was dominant. Inhabitants

lived in pit houses and later in adobe-plastered pole dwellings.

By the late 1100s, Anasazi cultural

influence was apparent in the con-

tiguous stone and adobe homes. An

estimated 10,000 people inhabited the

area by the 1600s.

By the late 1670s, the Salinas villages

were deserted.

The pueblos and their missions seem

to have been abandoned very sud-denly, causing them to be known as

the “cities that died of fear.”

Monument headquarters, on U.S. 60

in Mountainair, serves as the informa-

tion center, museum and bookstore.

More information:

Cibola National Forest: www.fs.fed.

us/r3/cibola.

Salinas Pueblo Missions National

Monument: www.nps.gov/sapu.

Spring and Fall Tree sales alongwith technical services are

available from our partnering

agency NRCS.

We are here to help with your soiland water conservation needsand questions. Come see what

programs we have to offer

(505)384-2272 ext. 5715 S. 5th Street, Estancia, NM 87016

www.EastTorranceSWCD.org

East Torrance

Soil & Water

Conservation District Available For Our Landowners:

Conservation Cost-Share Assistance Programs

Native Grass & Wildflower Seeds for Sale

Informational Literature Available

Weeds of the West Books

V i s i t u

s

O n l i n e

A t :

w w w. e

s w c d. o

r g

O n O u r F a c e b o o k P a g e :

w w w .f a c e b o o k .c o m

/ E d g e w o o d S o i l a n d

W a t e r C o n s e r v a t i o n

D i s t r i c t

EDGEWOOD SOIL & WATER

CONSERVATION DISTRICT

2506 Route 66 • PO Box 1050

Moriarty, NM 87035 (1 Mile West of Moriarty)

(505)832-1111


14/24


Area Towns Strut Their Stuff With Fun Events

With strong agricul-

tural roots and a

hearty friendli-

ness, the people who call

the East Mountains andEstancia Valley home go

out of their way to welcome

visitors.

And there truly is not bet-

ter time to visit than during

one of the several festivals

held each year in our com-

munities.

East Mountain Celebra-tion - TijerasWhile each year’s celebra-

tion is held at either of the

community centers in the

eastern Bernalillo County,

the event is really a party

for all residents of the East

Mountains from Golden to

Chililli.

Normally held during thelast weekend in Septem-

ber or the first weekend in

October, the East Mountain

Celebration brings together

the mountain communities

to honor those who make

a difference. Each year,

up to 14 people are named

Citizens of the Year. Tohelp party, there are games,

vendor booths and plenty of

entertainment.

Run, Rally, Rock - Edge-

woodAlthough Edgewood, as

a community, has been

around nearly 100 years, it’s

only been since 1999 that itcould call itself a town.

To cel-

ebrate its

incorpora-

tion as a

municipali-ty, the town

throws a

party every

August,

tipping its

hat to its

location on

Old Route

66.

Run,Rally, Rock

will be held

this year

on Aug. 8.

The event

will kick

off at 10

a.m. with

a parade

down OldRoute 66

with a theme of “Sweet 16.”

There will be free food,

fun and fireworks spon-

sored by Rich Ford. Ven-

dors will have plenty to

offer and there will be

plenty of entertainment to

go around.Contact the Edgewood

Chamber of Commerce for

more information at 286-

2577 or go online to www.

edgewoodchambernm.com.

Pinto Bean Fiesta - Mo-

riartyIf you’ve never been to

Moriarty in the fall, youdon’t know beans. Those

in the Estancia Valley do.

Pinto beans were a huge

cash crop for the valley in

the early 20th century, and

the area was known as the

Pinto Bean Capital of the

World.

Residents from throughout

the valley and beyond come

together in Moriarty each

fall to celebrate the area’s

relationship with the local

legume at the annual Mori-

arty Pinto Bean Fiesta.

The bean fiesta will take

place on Sept. 19 this year.

Festivities start with a

pancake breakfast at the

City Park and generally in-clude fun runs, a pinto bean

cookoff, music, games, a

rodeo and a parade — all to

remind everyone of the im-

portant role the pinto bean

has played in the valley.

For more information on

the Pinto Bean Fiesta, con-

tact the Moriarty City

Hall at 832-4406.

Pumpkinfest - EstanciaThe Estancia Valley is

where Punkin Chunkin

dreams are made, and it is

home to a field where the

annual gourd launch brings

glory or shame to an elite

group of cannon builders.

The great, yearly pumpkin

launch has been going on

See Page 15

14


15/24

Local Festivals Celebrate A Way of Lifefor so long, it seems only

natural that there would be

a line of giant air cannons

lined up at the field outsideEstancia each year.

The 2015 Pumpkinfest,

sponsored by the Estancia

Rotary Club and includes

the annual Punkin Chunkin

event, will be held Oct.

17 off N.M. 55 just east of

Estancia.

Along with the big pump-

kin-shooting cannons, therealso are plenty of other

smaller contraptions, all

designed to hurl a pump-

kin as far as it will go. The

simplest of these is a simple

slingshot in which anyone

young and old can take a

turn at.

There’s also plenty of fun,

food, entertainment and

games.

For more information,

contact the Estancia Town

Hall at 384-2709 or go online

to townofestancia.com.

Sunflower Festival -

Mountainair

The Mountainair area is

bright with sunflowers at

the end of August.

To celebrate the annual

appearance of the sunflow-

ers, the Manzano Mountain

Art Council will hold the17th Annual Mountainair

Sunflower Festival on Aug.

29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The

Festival is based at the Dr.

Saul Community Cen-

ter, but spills out into the

streets of the town.

The festival includes arts

and crafts by local and

regional artists, featuring

for the fifth year, artists

from the Santa Fe Spanish

Market.

Other events include a

sunflower hat contest,street vendors, a silent auc-

tion and a raffle.

The town is also alive with

music including contempo-

rary as well as traditional

folk music and dance.

For more information, call505-384-9767 or go online to

MountainairSunflowerFes-

tival.org.

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16/24


Wildlife West In Tune With Nature

Wildlife West Nature Park is ahigh-desert animal preserveand music hot spot along

Route 66 in Edgewood.

It’s the central New Mexico homeof rescued native wildlife, a venuefor summer music festivals and 122acres of accessible nature trails thatlead visitors on a fun and educationaladventure.Twenty-four species of wildlife and

raptors call Wildlife West Nature Parktheir home — cougars, wolves, a blackbear, fox, pronghorn, javelina, hawksand more.

They all have names and they allhave stories. Hobo, an Americankestrel, was found living with a home-less man; Forrest, a gray fox, lost hisparents and was found in a boxcaralong railroad tracks in southern NewMexico.Other animals that have joined the

Wildlife West family include a grayfox, two crested caracaras (Mexico’s

national bird seen occasionally inNew Mexico), a bear and a coati,which is a relative of the raccoon andis sometimes known as a snookumbear.Animals are the main attraction

at the park, but it also plays host tomany other activities.In addition to the sometimes regal,

mostly furry and often entertainingcreatures at Wildlife West, the parkhosts a regular calendar of eventsincluding sunset barbecue chuckwag-on dinners, western music concerts,bluegrass festivals, melodrama andplay performances, junior zookeeperday camps, hayrides, disk golf courseand more. All events take place at thepark’s large all-weather amphitheateror in the restored western barn.Although a walk through the park is

entertaining enough, the fun doesn’tstop there. Each year during June,

July and August, Saturday nightsat Wildlife West are dedicated to anChuckwagon Supper and Show. TheChuckwagon features great food and

great entertainment. Cost is $25 foradults, $23 for seniors and $12 for kidsages 5 to 11. Reservations are requiredby 2 p.m. the day of the show by call-ing 505-281-7655.In addition to the zoo, the park hosts

many events throughout the year. For2015, events include:■ 13th Annual Wildlife Music Fes-

tival, Friday - Sunday, July 24 - 26.Friday Barn Dance, 7 p.m.; Saturday,

11 a.m. - 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 6p.m.This year’s headliners include James

Reams & the Barnstormers, QuebeSisters, Kitty Jo Creek, Dave Stamey,Anslover Family, Americal JeM, HolyWater & Whiskey, Trio Bijou, TheTumbleweeds, Polyphony MarimbaBan, High Ground and Zoltan Orke-star.

■ Harvest Festival, Aug. 15-16, 10

a.m. - 6 p.m.■ World Blacksmith Championship,

TBA. More than 40 blacksmiths fromall over the world compete.

Visitors will see professional farrierscompete for the World Champion-ship. Go online to www.worldcham-pionshipblacksmiths.com for moreinformation.■ Dirty Dash, Aug. 22. Runners chal-

lenge themselves and the mud on acourse that winds through the park.Go online to www.thedirtydash.com/race/new-mexico for more informa-tion.

The park remains beautiful year‘round with picnic areas, free drycamping and the covered amphithe-ater available for family events andcompany parties.Park admission is $9 for adults, $7 for

seniors, $5 for students and free forchildren ages 5 and under.For more information go to www.

wildlifewest.org.

16


17/24

A Day In Madrid

Is Worth The Trip

The village of Madrid is a lot of things to a lot ofpeople.

Old timers remember the mining days, although thelast coal mine shut in the in 1950s. The new old timers seeMadrid as somewhat of an art colony nestled among theSan Pedro Mountains.Modern visitors may consider Madrid to be a movie set

— the hit movie “Wild Hogs” in 2007 prominently featuredthe village.The thing about Madrid is that it is all that and much

more. It’s a great place to shop for art and jewelry, watcha softball game, listen to great live music, go to a museum,drink a beer or grab a milkshake. It’s no wonder that thevillage is a hub of activity on most days.“We really want it to feel friendly to anyone who comes

here,” said Melinda Bon'ewell, co-owner with her partner,Lori Lindsey of the Mine Shaft Tavern, the Madrid OldCoal Museum and Cowgirl Red.It was high-quality anthracite

coal that fueled Madrid’s found-ing, a commodity that became

even more valuable with thearrival of the railroad in NewMexico in the 1880s.By the mid-1950s and the ar-

rival of diesel fuel, the coalbubble burst and Madrid becamea ghost town virtually overnight.Its most recent renaissancebegan in the 1970s when theowners sold every house andbuilding in Madrid.Craftspeople bought the proper-

ties and stayed on, transforming the sleepy ghost town intoan artists’ mecca that seems endearingly stuck in a timewarp. It’s a mix of frontier life and hippiedom rolled into asingular place.The history of Madrid — plus the nice weather and the

town’s eclectic nature — is something that Bon'ewell saiddrew her to the area from the Northwest.However, it wasn’t long after arriving more than a decade

ago that Bon'ewell realized she wasn’t the only one follow-

ing a passion.“That’s always what happens when people come here —

they follow their passions,” Bon'ewell said.The first stop — or last — for many visitors is the Mine

Shaft Tavern, with its 40-foot-long lodgepole bar that datesfrom the bar’s opening in 1946 and a new deck that datesback only a few months.Next door is the Old Coal Town Museum, covering three

outdoor acres of mining equipment, railroad relics, vin-tage vehicles and a Santa Fe Railroad steam locomotive,

as well as extensive displays on the history of Madrid thatBon'ewell said she is constantly adding to.Shops and galleries now form the economic backbone of

the town, most in the weathered old homes and stores thatflourished in a bygone era, and now, once again.For more information, go to www.visitmadridnm.com.

JUNE 26 & 27: 8 AM to 5 PM, Single Action Shooting

Society “Wild West Festival at Founders Ranch,Edgewood”

JULY 4: Rte 66 Arts Alliance, “Field of Arts Festival”9AM to 4PM, Soccer Fields on Hwy 344

13th Annual Town of Edgewood Arts andMusic Festival, Wild Life West Nature Park andZoo.

AUGUST 8: Run Rally Rock on Route 66, celebratingthe Town of Edgewood’s 16th birthday.Festivities start at 10 AM with Fireworks at Dusk(weather permitting).

AUGUST 16:

Located east of the Sandia and Manzano

Route 66, Edgewood is the fastest growing

community in the State.

We are a thriving rural town where you can leave

behind the pace of urban life, yet still be within

an easy commute to Albuquerque and Sante Fe.

Whether you crave mountain vistas, grasslands,

forests, or quiet starry nights, we boast a quality of

life most places can only dream about. Drive easton I-40 from Albuquerque to the Edgewood Exit 187

and see for yourself.

Escape to Edgewood. You’ll be glad you did!

Join us for asummer of fun events

in Edgewood!

P h o t o

c o u r t e s y o f : N a d i n

JUNE 26 & 27: 8 AM to 5 PM, Single Action ShootingSociety “Wild West Festival at Founders Ranch,

Edgewood” JULY 4: Rte 66 Arts Alliance, “Field of Arts Festival”

9AM to 4PM, Soccer Fields on Hwy 344

JULY 24 6: 13th Annual Town of Edgewood Arts andMusic Festival, Wild Life West Nature Park andZoo.

AUGUST 8: Run Rally Rock on Route 66, celebrating

the Town of Edgewood’s 16th birthday.Festivities start at 10 AM with Fireworks at Dusk(weather permitting).

AUGUST 16: Rich Ford Steak Cook-o to 4-H

www.EdgewoodChamberNM.com

Located east of the Sandia and Manzano

Mountains of Central New Mexico, of historic

Route 66, Edgewood is the fastest growing

community in the State.

We are a thriving rural town where you can leave

behind the pace of urban life, yet still be within

an easy commute to Albuquerque and Sante Fe.

Whether you crave mountain vistas, grasslands,

forests, or quiet starry nights, we boast a quality of

life most places can only dream about. Drive east

on I-40 from Albuquerque to the Edgewood Exit 187and see for yourself.

Escape to Edgewood. You’ll be glad you did!

Join us for asummer of fun eventsin Edgewood!

P h o

t o c o u r t e s y o f : N a d i n e B e r g


18/24


Tradition Starts on the Farm

Since the first settlersarrived in the EstanciaValley, agriculture has

been a major part of life.This is no different in 2015

as it was in 1915, the onlydifference being the diver-sity of agriculture whichnow part of the valley.A century ago, farming

was king. New immigrantsarrived finding the valleyfertile and rain abundant.Dry land farming was agood way to make a livingand crops ranged from themighty pinto bean to wheatand other grains.But in a valley that has no

rivers and a few springs,droughts hit hard. By the1950s, true agricultural di-versity became imperative.With that diversity came

more livestock, whichchanged the character of

the valley, but kept its agri-cultural roots alive.Today, agriculture pays a

huge role in the economy ofthe valley.Ness Farms lies south of

Estancia, west of N.M. 41.It was started more than 35years ago by Eugene andSandy Ness, and produces

pinto beans, silage corn,pumpkins and alfalfa.Perhaps more important,

according to the Nesswebsite, “it provided a greatplace for raising … two sonsand daughter who, throughthe years, have contributedtheir skills to the ongoingdevelopment of the farm.”Today, the farm is largely

run by the two brothers,Steven and Brady. Steven

says he is too young toremember “the good olddays” of bean farming inthe valley, but he’s heardstories about trains comingthrough Estancia and pick-ing up boxcars of beans.

“And there’s the old beanco-op on Main Street inEstancia, and one in Moun-tainair, and Edgewood,too,” he notes.

Last year, the majority ofNess Farms’ 900 plantedacres are growing alfalfaand oats. “It varies,” Nesssays, “but we call ourselves

bean and pumpkin farm-ers.”

According to the USDA,

the market value of Tor-rance County products soldwas more than $58 millionin 2012, which was a 28percent increase in valuefrom 2007. Of that, about 60percent of those sales camefrom livestock. For Santa FeCounty, of which the north-ern third of the valley lieswithin, the market value ofagricultural products wasmore than $12 million in2012, with 75 percent of thatcoming from crop sales.The top crops in each

county?

Corn silage and hay.And although it counts for

only a fraction of the local

crops, Torrance County isthe top producer of sod inNew Mexico.Nearly 1.8 million acres

of land within TorranceCounty is used for agricul-ture.Agriculture education is a

way of life in our commu-nities as well, with strongFFA clubs and hundreds ofkids involved with 4-H.For information on agri-

culture in the valley, con-tact the NMSU CooperativeExtension Service office inEstancia at 505-246-4745 or

go online to torranceexten-sion.nmsu.edu.

Steven Ness of Ness Farms south of Estancia looks over a bean plant. Pinto beans have longbeen a product of the valley, but the area also produces corn silage, alfalfa and pumpkins.

18


19/24

The World Comes to Moriarty to Soar

The Estancia Valley is knownaround New Mexico for its pintobeans, pumpkins and friendly

folks.But the area has a much wider repu-

tation for something else: soaring.A convergence of factors has made

the valley, and Moriarty in particular,an internationally known center forthis pastime.The cool nights and warm days in

the valley create a desert thermal thatgives anything with wings a nice lift.

The Moriarty Municipal Airportserves as the base for glider enthusi-asts from far and wide. On nearly anyday visitors can ride out to the airportand watch as the gliders line up fortheir turn to be towed aloft.Steve Hill, chairman of the Airport

Advisory Committee and a pilot, saidthe Moriarty airport has gained areputation among glider pilots whoregularly compete in the Online Con-

test, a world-wide year-long competi-tion made possible by the Internet and

GPS.In fact, pilots flying out of Moriarty

ranking 10th in the world in 2013 for

the number of miles in flown, ninthin the world and first in the U.S. formiles-per-flight and second in theworld for speed.“Moriarty is

arguably the bestplace to fly glid-ers in the U.S.,placing No. 1 forthe past three

years and in thetop three for thepast five years,”Hill said. “Manypilots specificallycome to Moriartyto fly out of ourairport.”Sundance Avia-

tion at the Mori-arty Airport of-

fers glider ridesto the public and

the airport is home to the SouthwestSoaring Museum.For more information, contact the

museum at 832-9222 or 832-0755, orvisit the Web site at www.swsoaring-museum.org.

JAMES RETZER,

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20/24


Plenty To See, Plenty To Do

There is plenty to ex-plore in the East

Mountains andEstancia Valley, here aresome things that shouldn’tbe forgotten:

OLD TIMERS DAY Es-tancia celebrates its oldtimers — and young ones,too — on the last Saturdayin July. The event includesa parade, dances, a rodeoand class reunions.TORRANCE COUNTY

FAIR Held each August atthe Torrance County FairGrounds in Estancia.MANZANO MOUNTAIN

RETREAT AND APPLEFARM Each fall, the re-treat’s apple store opensfor a couple of weeks to sellthe best apples in the stateof New Mexico. The retreatalso is ideal for corporateget-aways and conferences.For info, go to www.manza-

noretreat.com.MCCALL’S PUMPKIN

PATCH Boasting a cornmaze acres in size, twohaunted houses and a giantpumpkin patch, McCall’s of-fers something for everyoneeach fall in Moriarty. Go tomccallpumpkinpatch.comfor more information.MEMORIAL OF PER-

PETUAL TEARS Locatedon the north freeway

frontage road in Moriarty,the field of headstones wasconceived as memorial forvictims of DWI. For info, goto www.dwimemorialofper-petualtears.org.

BICYCLING Whether it’sthrashing on the trails ofCibola National Forest or

time trials in the EstanciaValley, bicyclists can find just about any terrain toenjoy. Several competitionsare held throughout theyear. The Paula Higgins Me-morial Time Trials are heldeach Labor Day weekendsouth of Moriarty pittingriders against the clock.

Several world records havebeen broken during theevent. Go to nmcycling.com

for more info.MORIARTY HISTORICAL

MUSEUM The museumis open Tuesday throughFriday from 10 a.m. To 5p.m. and Saturday from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. within theMoriarty Civic Center at202 Broadway. Go to www.

moriartymuseum.org formore info.LEWIS ANTIQUE AUTO

& TOY MUSEUM ArchieLewis has been collectingcars and toys for years.Drop by the museum at 905Old Route 66 in Moriartyand browse his collectionof more than 6,000 toy cars,

trucks and trains as wellas more than 700 real carsand trucks. Open Monday

through Saturday from 10a.m. to 5 p.m., except forWednesday, when the mu-seum closes at 1 p.m. Call505-832-6131.SANDIA NATURAL HIS-

TORY CENTER The SandiaMountain Natural HistoryCenter is a joint project

between the New MexicoMuseum of Natural Historyand Science and Albuquer-que Public Schools thatoffers educational tours andlectures. The center, locatedin Cedar Crest, is not opento the public except for spe-cial scheduled events. Goto sites.google.com/a/aps.

edu/smnhc/home for more

There is never a lack

of events and places

to visit in the Estan-cia Valley and East

Mountains

See Page 22

20


21/24

Making The World A Better Place

We need Volunteers & Monetary Donations

www.SanctuaryZone.org505-384-0381

HelpStop the Violence

Wildlife Festival

Saturday, June 21, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.Free Flight Falcons Saturdaysand Chuckwagon Suppers &Shows June 14 - August 30, 6:00 p.m. Falcon ShowsSaturdays, June 14 - August 30, 6:00 p.m. Chuckwagon

World Blacksmith

Championship Friday - Sunday, October 24, 25 & 26Harvest FestivalSat. & Sun., August 16 & 17, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

EDGEWOOD, NMPhone: 505-281-7655

Toll-Free: [email protected]

WILDLIFE WESTNATURE PARK

12th Annual Wildlife

Music FestivalFriday - Sunday, July 25 - 27, 2013


22/24



information.CIBOLA ARTS GALLERYThis cooperative gallery

on U.S. 60 in Mountainairusually holds a monthlyshow featuring member art-ists. Contact the gallery at505-847-0324.SANDIA MX If you want

to catch some hot moto-cross action, head to thetrack on Martin Road, justoff Old Route 66 west of

Moriarty. The track hostspractice and racing everymonth through October. Inaddition, Sandia MX willhost a Mud-n-Color 5k Runon June 28 and Mud Bogson July 26, Aug. 9 and Sept.6. For more information, goonline to sandiamx.com.VETERANS MEMORIAL

IN TIJERAS Dedicated in

2010, the Tijeras Veterans

Memorial pays homage tolocal men and women whoserved in the military. Thememorial is located justwest of the East Mountain

Library.SHAFFER HOTEL Built

in 1923, the hotel and din-ing room boasts a Pueblo-Deco facade, a deliciousmenu and some say aghost or two. Located inMountainair, go to www.shafferhotel.com for moreinformation.

SANDIA CREST SNOW-SHOE RACE is held everyJanuary at Sandia Peak.Racers run a 5k race insnowshoes. For more infor-mation on the 2015 event, goonline to www.sandiasnow-shoe.com.

TIJERAS PUEBLO wasone of a handful of desti-nations for thousands of

pueblo dwellers when they

mysteriously desertedthe sophisticated pueblocities of the Four Cornersregion. Tijeras Pueblo wasinhabited from about 1300

to about 1425 A.D. Becauseof its largely undisturbedstate, Tijeras Pueblo isconsidered by the NationalPark Service to be of thehighest level of nationalsignificance to understand-ing prehistory in the UnitedStates. Tijeras PuebloArchaeological Site was

named to the National Reg-ister of Historic Places in2005. These days, the site istended by the park serviceand a group of dedicatedvolunteers, the Friendsof the Tijeras Pueblo. Aninterpretive center wasadded to the site and theorganization sponsors amonthly lecture series.

Tijeras Pueblo is located

behind the Sandia RangerDistrict office on N.M. 337,a half-mile south of Inter-state 40 in Tijeras. The trailbegins at the ranger station

and is about one-third of amile long. It is an easy trailand is mostly accessible towheelchairs. The Friendsof Tijeras Pueblo also has aWeb site at www.friendsofti- jeraspueblo.org.

MOUNTAIN VILLAGES The old Spanish land grantvillages of Chilili, Tajique,

Torreon and Manzanolive on, but 17th-centuryIndian Pueblos and mis-sion churches at Chilili andTajique have vanished.■ Chilili: A settlement 20

miles south of Tijeras inthe east Manzano Moun-tain foothills is one of theoldest place names in NewMexico. This Hispanic

settlement was establishedin 1841 as a land grant.■ Escobosa: A settlement

16 miles south of Tijerasin the Manzano Mountainfoothills. The name refersto grass residents used tomake brooms.■ Manzano: This small

Hispanic village takes its

name from the Spanish forapples. The settlement be-came a Spanish land grantin 1829.■ Punta de Agua: The

community near Moun-tainair took its name from“point of water” from aspring when it was settledafter 1850.■ Tajique: This was the

From Page 20

See Page 23

22


23/24


first of several Spanishsettlements in the ManzanoMountain foothills. It wasabandoned due to Indianraids but resettled as a landgrant in 1834.■ Torreon: Settlement

established on the site of anIndian pueblo. The village

received a land grant in1841.

PAA-KO RIDGE GOLFCLUB, located off N.M.14 north of Sandia Park,seems remote for worldclass golf course. But thecourse has captured theimagination of golf publica-tions such as Golf Digestmagazine, and has consis-

tently found itself rankedhighly on most lists of the

best public golf courses inthe United States.Designed by renowned

course architect Ken Dye,Paa-Ko Ridge is “easy onthe eyes and on the wallet,”according to Golf Digest.The course offers a resortfeel, with computerizedGPS golf carts that tell you

how far you are from pins.With greens fees rangingfrom $59 to$114 including a cart, Paa-

Ko is more expensive thansome public courses butless than joining a countryclub.For more information, call

locally at 281-6000 or tollfree at (866)898-5987; or go

online to www.paakoridge.com.

SANDIA PEAK SKI AREA not only has skiing and

snowboarding, but it alsois served by the world’slongest aerial tramway.The ski area’s winterseason runs mid-Decemberthrough mid-March,although the season issometimes shortened orlengthened depending onthe snowfall. The vertical

rise from base to the peakis 1,700 feet. The ski areaoffers 30 trails serviced byfour chairlifts, a surfacelift and a children’s mightymite. Ski patrol volun-teers are on duty daily. Acafeteria in the day lodgeserves breakfast, lunch andsnacks. For more informa-tion call 505-242-9052 or go

online to www.sandiapeak.com.

From Page 22

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5 Locations to Serve You

* Northeast ABQ

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* Tucumcari


24/24

NESS

PINTO BEANS

FARM

FRESH

For retail locations

visit nessfarms.netLike us on

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