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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
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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
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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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THE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEYTHE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEY 2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE
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
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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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Internet Service
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THE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEYTHE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEY 2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE
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
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12
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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
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 GUIDE
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
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14
8/20/2019 Explore Magazine 2015
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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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PO Box 118 * Estancia * 384-2369Serving Torrance & Southern Santa Fe Counties
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THE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEYTHE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEY 2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE
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.
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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
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THE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEYTHE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEY 2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE
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
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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.
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THE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEYTHE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEY 2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE
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
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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
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THE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEYTHE EAST MOUNTAINS AND ESTANCIA VALLEY 2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE2015-2016 VISITORS GUIDE
Plenty To See, Plenty To Do
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
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Plenty To See, Plenty To Do
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
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NESS
PINTO BEANS
FARM
FRESH
For retail locations
visit nessfarms.netLike us on