1. Ruidoso 411- About Ruidoso
Ruidoso New Mexico
Ruidoso 411 is Ruidoso New Mexico’s information central.
We have included a large selection of maps and contact information for all things Ruidoso. From
horseback riding, fishing, outdoor sports, restaurants, nightlife, skiing, horse racing, it is all here
at Ruidoso 411.
A mountain resort town, Ruidoso lies in the Sierra Blanca mountain range of New Mexico,
where it merges with the Sacramento Mountains to the south. Ruidoso is a rapidly growing
resort community due to the region’s alpine scenery, Ruidoso Downs racetrack, and slopes of
Ski Apache, the Mescalero Apache Indian-owned ski resort on the 12,000-foot (3,700 m)
mountain Sierra Blanca. The tribe also operates the Inn of the Mountain Gods resort in the area,
which includes a casino, hotel, and golf course. Ruidoso is the largest community in Lincoln
County and serves as the regional economic hub.
Grindstone Dam- Ruidoso
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2. Ruidoso picture collage
Grindstone Reservoir- Ruidoso, NM
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3. Grindstone Dam from the east-Ruidoso
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4. Early travelers navigated by the peak of Sierra Blanca, also known as “old Baldy” back in the
old days. It all began with a mountain, in the middle of the surrounding desert a 12,000 foot
peak rises up in Lincoln County. About 30 million years ago, subterranean volcanic activity
pushed up enormous mountain, which some call “White Mountain” or in Spanish Siera Blanca.
Sierra Blanca is the southern most mountain in the United States with a high enough elevation
that will support alpine vegetation. Sierra Blanca refers to the snow that tops the mountain
during the cold season.
The Hispanic farmers settled along the Rio Bonito. In Fort Stanton, the US Army post
established in 1855 to provide protection from Apache raids. In 1869, Lincoln County was
created, and the regions largest community was renamed Lincoln. About this time, former
soldier Paul Dowlin and his brother built in Adobe mill on the bank of the Rio Ruidoso, and a
small community grew up around it. The young outlaw known as Billy the Kid is the best-known
character of the Lincoln County war, which was a struggle for political and economic domination
of the region in the state. The forests in Lincoln County provided good cover and hiding spots
for members of both sides of the war.
In 1907, a road had been graded from Alamogordo to Roswell. Ruidoso visitors returned home
with stories of tall pines, cool forest and swift mountain streams in the Ruidoso area. The stories
encourage visitors to make the journey to what is now Ruidoso. The town of Ruidoso, was
established in 1891, and began to have a few permanent residence, notably the Wingfield
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5. family. During the Great Depression, Ruidoso continued to grow because of the town’s
reputation as a place to have a good time with gambling, bars, restaurants and fun. Ruidoso
Chamber of Commerce was officially organized in 1944. Artists discovered Ruidoso and open
their studios for the summers. A nearby community named Hollywood was home to a racetrack
name Hollywood Park which opened in 1945. Eventually this became Ruidoso Downs. Ruidoso
Downs is now home to the All American Futurity which is the world’s richest quarter horse race
with an annual purse of over $1 million.
In 1938 a small ski area opened at the end of Cedar Creek with gasoline powered tow rope
visitors could write to the top of the end of Cedar Creek. In the 1960s permission was granted
by the United States for service to build the ski area on Sierra Blanca.
Charles Wingfield and his family arrived in Ruidoso in 1884 in a covered wagon. They had come
from Texas. He got a job at the mill, where four children were born one named Isaac Wingfield
who would become an important public figure in Ruidoso. In 1922 a Amilia Church open the first
commercial cabin operation in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Singing Pines Cabins opened and upper
Canyon in 1922, shortly followed by Ruidoso Lodge in 1924. A small grocery store opened near
the entrance to Upper Canyon and was operated by Warren Barrett.
In 1929 Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth came to Ruidoso on their honeymoon. The couple
lived on a ranch in San Patricio and painted many scenes of life in the Hondo Valley in Ruidoso.
The Playground of the Southwest: Ruidoso claims the name of playground of the Southwest. By
1954 The Hwy. from El Paso to Alamogordo was completely paved visits to the national forest
increased from 178,000 in 1952 914,000 in 1959. In the 1930s Ruidoso adopted the slogan
“Playground of the Southwest”. Movie stars began to show up such as Robert Mitcham who
supposedly gotten the fight Win, Place and Show saloon in Ruidoso. WPS is still there
operating 7 days a week.
to be continued…
Ruidoso, New Mexico
Spring Break Ruidoso information:
Just a quick note about spring break in Ruidoso New Mexico.
Go to http://cabininRuidoso.com if you need accommodations in Ruidoso.
Ruidoso is the playground of the Southwest and there’s always plenty to do
during spring break in Ruidoso New Mexico. Skiing is at full tilt, the casinos
are rock and, the weather is fantastic as of March 12, 2012. We just had a
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6. great snowfall in all of those who were in Ruidoso had a great time playing
in the snow and sure enough Ruidoso New Mexico is in its finest form with
sunshiny days for the second and third week of March 2012.
If you haven’t experienced Ruidoso during spring break it’s absolutely amazing. There plenty
of places to shop lots of folks walking the streets, and of course the nightlife is always fun at the
quarters and when place and show, not to mention the end of the mountain gods and Billy the
Kid casino. Dancing is always a great event during spring break in Ruidoso New Mexico.
I’m a full-time residence so I get to enjoy it off but I am sending out an invitation for anyone and
everyone to come enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the world and definitely the most
beautiful place in New Mexico or even the Southwest. Complacent disc golf, go hiking, party all
you want and come enjoy one of the greatest spring break adventures you will ever have in
Ruidoso New Mexico.
And again if you need spring break accommodations go to http://cabininRuidoso.com or visit the
cabin in Ruidoso promotional video on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qTXBjfY9E4Ruidoso New Mexico
Ruidoso New Mexico Ruidoso 411- About Ruidoso
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