Nov
4
Tracking Down Ghosts
Yesterday afternoon, interactive planning director Jeannine, Donna (house planner Jack Thomasson’s sister) and I headed out on an adventure. We decided to soak up a little local culture and hit the Turquoise Trail in search of old ghost towns. The scenery was amazing; the sites haunting. Ramshackled and rubbled remains of what once were booming little communities filled me with a twinge of sadness. What must it have been like to be right in this spot almost 200 years ago, when gold seemed to tumble out of every crevice and turquoise was king? And then to be one of the last residents standing when the boom faded — along with friends and rivals?
Enjoy the photos … see if you can identify where these shots were snapped.
You could wrap the history around you on a cold night.
Gosh, MARY, I don't think I can identify ALL the photos, but I've made some good guesses:
#3. Somewhere along the Turquoise Trail?
6. Mariachi/guitarist: left over from the last HGTV crew party?
7. Mailboxes: in front of Scripps Networks corporate office?
8. What Not Shop: a boutique on El Paseo in Palm Desert, CA?
9. Old Tree: Where the Bears all hang out at night?
10. Old House: My old neighborhood?
13. Red-sided Building: in Santa Fe?…well, after all, it says so in big letters!
14. Ghost Town: my old neighborhood?
17. Boots: my walk-in closet?
20. Wild West Town: Downtown Knoxville?
21. MARY's Bar: that's an easy one—along the Maine coast in Isle au Haut.
Did I get any right, MARY?
Happy Turquoise Trails!
Coop, you're to funny!
Good guesses Coop… Again you made me laugh this morning!!! Mary, great pictures!!! Reminds me of a few trips my Husband and I made looking for unique locations. I wonder if the Ghost Hunters have been out there to conduct their Paranormal sweeps to see who is hanging around!!! Love life by living green!!
And I couldn't believe that you had your bar, Mary…
DB Coop: Good post, good Laughs…especially 10, not expected, right in the middle hidden. Humor so early this morning.
Let's see your on Highway 14, I'm guessing, I forget the name of that town there, Madrid, NM. (had to lookd it up), a complete eclectic sort of artistsy unique bunch around the town.
The town IS Madrid, pronounced by locals as Maa drid, not like the city in Spain. It's the town where the movie Wild Hogs was filmed. So glad HGTV is FINALLY building a one story dream house and in my neighborhood, too! We currently live in a pueblo house. Can't wait to see the pictures as the dream house progresses.
Dear Mary: I think you have been tracking down ghosts along Route 66 in New Mexico, which is indeed the Land of Enchantment. Traveling the old Mother Road during its hey-day New Mexico presented the first glimpse of the exotic cultures of the southwest. For the Route 66 traveler today, as your photos show, it is the fascinating Native American and Spanish cultures encountered from the old Indian Pueblos dating back to days before European colonization to the old town plazas of Santa Fe and Albuquerque!! I think you took a ride traveling from EAST to WEST, much like the Joad family in "The Grapes of Wrath", to get photos of the ghosts' historic past!!
Marie, you know your NM stuff. I've been visiting there for a couple years since my son did residency and became an MD in outlying Pecos (lovely mountains). My favorite day with him has been on the Turquoise Trail to Madrid and Cerillos, so I recognized some of those pics, and you filled me in on a little additional history. Then, you spoke about route 66…well, turning 66 with my twin sister this year, we decided to celebrate and got our kicks all the way from Illlinois to Santa Fe. There's a little cross section of Route 66 that my son travels everyday near his home. Loved your info!
Edie
Is that San Ysidro along Hwy 550?!?
Haven't been there. Those ghost towns are in pretty good shape compared to those in our part of the country. Maybe it's the dry air…It preserves them well.
And yes, DBCoop's answers did make me chuckle. DBCoop is just naturally funny….I'm guessin'.
Don't have a clue where they were taken, but sure enjoyed looking at them. Thanks.
Dear;Mary!The area turquoise and lead deposits were critical to the jewelry and pottery making of the prehistoric Indians and these mines influenced Spanish settlement. The Cerrillos mining district is one of the oldest and most marked of the Old Spanish mineral developments in the Southwest. In fact, turquoise is still being mined here on several private claims. Cerrillos was full of hearty miners who extracted gold, silver, lead, zinc and turquoise from area mines at its peak in the 1880’s. The miners supported the town’s 21 saloons and four hotels. While it was once seriously considered as the capitol of New Mexico, today Cerrillos, with its dirt streets, is a picturesque reminder of the Old West. There are several Shops & Galleries, a Post Office, Health Clinic and family homes. Visit the Cerrillos Turquoise Mining Museum & Petting Zoo and the Cerrillos Hills Historic Park which has 5.2 miles of hiking and biking trails. The town 's church Saint Joseph’s church has mass Sunday morning.
This is an interesting area for me.
Did I Tracked the Ghost `.~
I love this story about Mary of Mary's Bar! I wanted to share this with you! Enjoy everyone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr1w4VjR9vE
Living the Dream!
Enjoyed the video Lynn! You're an expert at finding unique things.
Hi again! These were the easy ones but I thought I'd pass them along anyway.
#6 – Sculpture outside of Jezebel Gallery and Glass Studio, located at 2860 State Highway 14 N., Madrid, NM 87010
#8 – Visit the Cerrillos Turquoise Mining Museum, where relics from the region's prospecting history include Native American, Spanish, and Anglo tools. Displays also include such artifacts as photos, maps, rocks, gold pans, and more. Take a walk through the town of Cerrillos and see the Opera House, Hotel, and the What Not Shop. If you look closely, you just might spot some of the locations used in the Young Guns films.
#10 – Conley Studio Pottery on the Turqouise Trail in Madrid, NM
#21 – Mary's Bar (See my previous post!)
Living the Dream!
Adding to my list…
#19 – The Saint Joseph Church, built in 1922, still holds mass every Sunday and the village water still flows from the original dam that the Santa Fe Railroad built. It is located in Cerillos, NM. St. Joseph’s church, on the main street, is a photo op. It's an active church and you can attend Mass there. It won't take you long to walk the main street. There are a few artists' studios and Mary's Bar, where you might want to stop to wet your whistle and pet the cats.
Living the Dream!
keepin' on keepin' on…
#7 – Mailboxes outside of James Leigh Hayes Fine Arts and Moonbow Herbs & Gifts on the west side of Main Street near the middle of town (Cerrillos). This shop offers custom herbal blends, luxurious lotions, essential oils, botanical baths, original art of all genres, music, jewelry, clothes, stones, traveler’s treasures, and decadent delights.
Living the Dream!
Is there a pool at the HGTV 2010 dream home? I would think with the very hot days.
Beautiful !!! cannot wait to start the entry process to win this …my son lives in Sandia Park and that is close !!!
I agree with the remarks about Madrid, spent a whole day there was wonderful and driving along 66 is fantastic !!
Wow! Thanks to all of you for your wonderful research. I've certainly learned a lot. But special thanks to Coop for his original guesses. He made all of us laugh, even PFG. That should keep out "spirits" up. I feel we are all coming together as a friendly group, and that makes me so proud. Pleasant turquoise dreams all.
It seems some of my earlier guesses were a little off target. Thank goodness we have plenty of dedicated bloggers to set things right.
Of the three "ghost towns" along the Turquoise Trail where MARY and friends enjoyed their scenic drive, Golden is most aptly named, since it was a placer gold mining town. As far as businesses, the Golden General Merchandise Store, opened in 1918, is about it. (Not much competition!)
Madrid, up the road a pace, was well known in its day for coal, producing 250,000 tons per year at its peak. When coal mining stopped in 1954, the town's population evaporated along with the coal mine profits. Still, the town is now a stronghold of artisans and shops for those cruising the Turquoise Trail. The quaint little town is well known for its spectacular annual Christmas light display.
Before arriving at Santa Fe on the drive north from Sandia Park is the living ghost town of (Los) Cerrillos, where the actual MARY's Bar is located, along with the What Not Shop, the Hanging Tree, and St Joseph Church. What could I have been thinking earlier?
Happy Turquoise Trails!
The little town of Cerrillos used to be a bustling mining town, boasting 17 bars. Mary is still running "Mary's Bar" even though she is now in her 90's. My husband and I own the Cantina across the street (no, it's not open for business) and his aunt still lives in the old hotel.
This little town was the main set for the movie "Young guns" and can also be seen in Outrageous Fortune, Beer for my Horses, and many more.
Thomas Edison stayed in Cerrillos while working on a process to extract gold for the rock without using water. He was not successful. It is still told that even Lily Langtree sang at the Opera House.
A real treat is to visit Cerrillos Halloween Night. The town comes alive with children and adults in costume and truely lives up to reputation of a being ghost town.
By the way, for those travelers wishing to enjoy the natural beauty, fascinating history and ghostly charms of the Turquoise Trail just a few days longer, consider another one of its most inviting treasures, the delightfully memorable Hacienda Doña Andrea de Santa Fe. This B&B in Cerrillos, which overlooks the nightlights of nearby Santa Fe, is a nine room romantic hideaway where all rooms are traditionally yet finely furnished, and include a cozy fireplace and private patio. It seems to be a favorite spot for weddings, honeymooners, or just folks seeking a slice of the good life away from the big city crowds. Sounds like the perfect place to start out treasure hunting along the Turquoise Trail, OR the ideal spot to finish up after a hard day in the gold mines.
Any room at the Inn will do—just book me in!
It's great that HGTV has brought so much positive attention to our area!
You all have done your homework, sounds like you know the Turquoise Trail pretty well. Love those pictures and love the great comments!!!
Hacienda Dona Andrea de Santa Fe is a great place to stay if you are coming to town to tour the Dream House. We went yesterday, really gorgeous!!!
Can't wait to meet the new neighbors!
Look like Santa fee new maxico
home decor guy
http://www.homedecornew.com (Discount home decor products store)
WOW!! I don't have to do any research, with Marie, Coop and Lynn on "Post"!! You guys are amazing. And Alma, thank you for your details, as well. We enjoyed staying at "Seret's 1001 Nights" when visiting Santa Fe.. Around $80 and it is beautiful and well kept!! I love the atmosphere and the smells of the pinon!!!!! Jump on that Harley or a bike and meet others at the Plaza. Or just shop… they have everything!!! We had our wedding bands made there!! If you want a more "famous" place to stay, I would suggest the Inn of the Turquoise Bear, well known for keeping the company of many famous artists, musicians and photographers, like Georgia O'Keeffe, Ansel Adams, O. Henry (writer) and many others… At least have an afternoon drink there and you will be absorbed in creativity. New Mexico is amazing that way. No matter your "gift", you will feel open and relaxed, therefore enhancing your abilities! I love to take pictures, post them in a recycled paper book and writing stories of what we observed, enjoyed, feasted on and who we met. Another great idea, drive up to the Taos' Native Village. Some of my husband's best pictures are from there!!! Love life by living green and having a dream!!
Hi Reneelovesgreen! So happy to hear from you! WOW! I would love to hear more about your wedding bands. Are they silver or gold? Both are very prominent in the area!
As much as I am enjoying 'researching' the area and the photos, I have to agree that I enjoyed Coop's versions of the photos the best!!!!! Thanks Coop for the chuckles!
Marie – I was thinking of your friend Donna yesterday…sending positive thoughts to you and to her as well!
Mary – Thanks for the pure entertainment and for providing a venue for me to meet such great people!
Hope all is well with everyone!
Living the Dream!
reneelovesgreen; brown bears, black bears, and now in Santa Fe, Turquoise Bears? You know how bears and I don't get along. Is it safe at the Inn?
I agree with you, the Taos Native American Village is a must see. It's been more than a few years since my last visit, but I'm sure the Pueblo will be there awhile longer….
LynnCoggin, glad you enjoyed my wild guesses, even though I wouldn't win any points for them on a TV quiz game show. I'd be thrown off in no time! Talk about paranormal….
Turquoise Trails and Timeless Treasures to all my fellow Dreamers!
Yo, Katydid, can you hear those New Yorkers celebrating the Yankees' win all the way over in Michigan?
Guess it's Happy Ticker Tape Trails on Wall Street.
Yeah, Coop, I called that one early on, not that we were all happy about the outcome. Great post from reneelovesgreen. Surely you cannot resist staying at the Turquoise Bear! If you do, I will commission an artisan to carve a beautiful and harmless bear out of a hunk of turquoise. All you have to do is shop the Santa Fe Plaza until you find the one that has it.
I knew it! Famous artists, authors and most of all, photographers, love the New Mexico experience. Hope the lucky winner of this fabulous DH10 will let their creative side go wild.
Coop, it depends on what you consider safe. I don’t think that the bears will bother you on that property..as it does have 3 resident dogs… But, with the wine and cheese, you could bearly keep from napping!!! Turquoise Dreaming!!! And making me laugh again!! Lynn, the wedding bands were silver… I don’t really like gold….I like to mix platinum with silver, a lot.. We enjoyed that week …… so serene and special!!!!! Love life by living green and having a dream!!
Oh, the area is so quaint and rural, sunny too! I think these pictures are near the HGTV 2010 Rock Star home, San Pedro Overlook. That happens a lot in various areas, that are dependent on a type of field or industry specific. One thing for certain is change, nothing stays the same. There are places even in NY that aren't the thriving towns they once were, but not a ghost town, it's because they were big industrial and we outsource many labor products.
Almost everyday I do searches to find my ultimate retirement location and home. Lately I have been drawn to he NM area because of it's beauty and serene location. HGTV has done it for me with this one. I must win and will think positive to WIN!!!
Fabulous job again HGTV. Can't wait to start signing up. HURRY!!!!!
I lived in New Mexico in the early 70s and loved the food and the art. Green chile and pork tamales –yum. Look forward to entering the new dream home contest
hi it is a beatiful place at the turquoise .I live befor new mexico Albuqueque and I love the place .
I was born in Bernaillo NM. Grew up in CA, Now in AZ and cannot wait to be able to sign up to get a chance to win this beautiful home. I Love New Mexico!!!