Welcome from the Socorro County

Chamber of Commerce

President Meza presenting the “Woman of the Year” award to MaryAnn Chavez-Lopez
at the 2011 Community Award Banquet

On behalf of the Socorro County Chamber of Commerce, I welcome you, your family and friends to our
friendly community. Socorro is one of the largest counties in New Mexico, rich in both history and culture.
Socorro Country has a very diverse habitat with beautiful and majestic scenery. The county is comprised of
the most northern reach of the Chihuahua desert, rolling hills and forested mountains. The Rio Grande flows
through the center of the county on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. The natural wetlands along its banks have
been enhanced with additional man made ponds to create the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. The
refuge is open to the general public to view and learn about the resident and migratory animals. The refuge is
world famous for its large flocks of greater sandhill cranes and snow geese that arrive each fall and depart in
late February.
For history buffs, our county has battle fields of the civil war, historical army fort and the original Spaniard
trail that early settlers traveled from Mexico City to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The El Camino Real (Royal Road)
has an International Heritage Center to celebrate its route through our County and the State of New Mexico.
We value you as a guest and promise to make your stay enjoyable. Our County has many fine businesses that
are truth worthy, reliable and will provide you with excellent customer service. The City of Socorro is the home
of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, a 4 year university that is consistently rated as one of the
country’s best value in both the Princeton Review and Money Magazine.
As the President, I encourage you to stop by our office which is located on the historical park or plaza for
additional information about our friendly community. Vios con Dios!

Sincerely,
Sue Meza
President
2 Discover Socorro & surrounding areas El Defensor Chieftain
 Enjoy your visit ...
Dear Visitor,
Welcome to Socorro County. We are
honored to have you as our guest! As
you will see throughout this guide, this
area has a great deal to offer and your
time here is sure to be enjoyable.
As you drive around Socorro County,
I am sure that you will notice that we
are a farming and ranching commu-
nity. And, if you are here in the summer
months, there is always great fresh pro-
duce that you can pick up, either at the
farmers’ market or at one of our many
produce stands.
New Mexico Institute of Mining and
Technology is located at the center of
Socorro and is one of the top engineer-
ing schools in the nation. The campus is
beautiful and is the perfect place to go
for a leisurely walk. And, if you like to
play golf you are going to love the New
Mexico Tech 18-hole golf course.
Our mild climate makes this the per-
fect place to get outside and have some
fun. If you are an animal lover you may
want to visit the Bosque del Apache
and Sevilleta Nation Wildlife Refuges.
Or, if you just want to enjoy our mild
climate and beautiful scenery, you can
hike one of the many trails around the
Rio Grande, or in the canyons scattered
across the county. If relaxing is your
main goal, then Escondida Lake is the
place for you. There is a playground for
the kids and a fishing hole with plenty
of shade.
No matter what you decide to do with
your time here in Socorro County, I am
sure you will have a great time.
Thanks for visiting us and we hope to
see you again!
Sincerely,
Danny Monette
Board of Commissioners Chair
Socorro County
El Defensor Chieftain
Dear Visitor,
As mayor of the City of Socorro, I would like
to thank you for your interest in our beautiful city.
The City of Socorro has much to offer visi-
tors, current and future residents. For individuals,
families and new business owners who decide to
make Socorro their new home, welcome!
Socorro has a small town charm, but is large
enough to have modern schools, infrastruc-
ture/computer lines and medical facilities.
For the new business owners, Socorro has
an industrial park with low lease rates and all
underground utilities. New Mexico Tech also
has a business and research park that is avail-
able for new businesses to lease.
Nearby, the City of Socorro’s renovated
airport has two runways, the longest being
5,800 feet. Socorro is also located at the inter-
section of Interstate 25 and State Highway 60
and has a north to south railroad with a spur
to the industrial park.
Locally, the community has many edu-
cational, recreational and points of interest
including:
• Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
• The Very Large Array (Radio Telescopes)
• El Camino Real International Heritage
and Cultural Center
• Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge
• Magdalena Ridge Observatory
• Trinity Site Open House
(White Sands Missile Range)
• U.S. Forest Service Lands
• Bureau of Land Management Lands
• Performing Arts Series
We, at the City of Socorro, hope you enjoy
living in Socorro. If any of us can be of fur-
ther assistance in your move, please call our
office at 575-835-0240 or the Chamber of
Commerce at 575-835-0424.
Sincerely,
Ravi Bhasker
Mayor
City of Socorro
Discover Socorro & Surrounding areas 3
Dear Visitor,
Welcome to the rich history of
Magdalena. Enjoy our relaxing,
small town friendly atmosphere.
In recent years, Magdalena has
attracted various types of artists
with a diverse variety of media
and style. Their work is proudly
displayed in several galleries and
shops around Magdalena.
As you visit our Village, we
invite you to stop by our visitors
center.
The Village of Magdalena
is surrounded by the Cibola
National Forest and other public
lands. Here you can enjoy an
abundance of outdoor activities
including hiking, camping and
viewing wildlife.
View many of our historic
buildings which are scattered
around town as well as our
Magdalena livestock pens and
rodeo grounds. Also stop by and
visit the ATSF Train Depot which
now serves as our public library
and museum.
Enjoy,
Sandy Julian
Mayor
Village of Magdalena
 Heritage
Welcome ................................................................. 7
Our Rich History ...................................................... 8
2010 Calendar of Events .................................... 10

Outdoors
Bosque del Apache ............................................. 12
Sevilleta ................................................................. 15
Nature Areas ......................................................... 16

Culture
Socorro’s Historic Plaza ......................................... 17
Heritage and Visitors Center .............................. 17
Agriculture ............................................................. 18
San Miguel Mission .............................................. 18
Farmers Market ..................................................... 19
Hammel Museum ................................................ 20
El Camino Real International
Heritage Center ................................................... 22
Gran Quivira ......................................................... 22
Fort Craig ............................................................... 23
Ghost Towns .......................................................... 23

Table of Contents
Science and Technology
Very Large Array .................................................. 24
Astronomy ............................................................. 25
Trinity Site .............................................................. 26
New Mexico Tech ................................................. 28
Mineral Museum .................................................. 29

On the Cover: The cover of this year’s visitors guide
— designed by Rebecca Apodaca — reflects some of the
elements that make Socorro County worth discovering.
Discover Socorro is a copyrighted publication
of El Defensor Chieftain, a part of Number Nine Media, Inc.
Communities
San Antonio .......................................................... 30
Magdalena ........................................................... 34
Boxcar Museum .................................................... 35
Alamo .................................................................... 36
Our communities ................................................. 37
Sports and Recreation

El Defensor Chieftain
New Mexico Tech Golf Course ........................... 38
Fire Academy ...................................................... 39
Rock Climbing ...................................................... 40
Mountain Biking ................................................... 40
T.H. Lang David B. Puddu Active Interests ...................................................... 41
Vice President/COO Camping ............................................................... 42
President
Birding ................................................................... 43
Horseback Riding ................................................ 44
Back Country Horsemen .................................... 44
Departments Rock Hounding .................................................... 44
Hiking ..................................................................... 45
T.S. Last . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Manager On the Fly ............................................................. 46
Jackie Schlotfeldt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor City Parks ............................................................... 47
Kelcie MacRunnels. . . . . . . . . . Sports Reporter
Suzanne Barteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reporter Arts and Entertainment
Rebecca Apodaca. . . . . . . Production Manager Performing Arts Series ......................................... 48
Trish Martinez . . . . . . Administrative Assistant Garcia Opera House ........................................... 49
Byron Whitehorse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising Theater .................................................................. 49
Desiree Herndon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising
Plenty to do .......................................................... 50
For More Information .......................................... 53
Paul Ulibarri Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Distribution
Melissa Montoya . . . . . . . . . .Business Manager
Directories
©2011 El Defensor Chieftain Vital Statistics ......................................................... 52
Education .............................................................. 54
Church Directory ................................................... 54
Contact us at Business Directory ................................................. 55
200 Winkler St., Socorro, NM 87801 Socorro County Resource Guide ........................ 58
Telephone: 575-835-0520 • Fax: 575-835-1837 Magdalena Map .................................................. 60
On the web at: www.dchieftain.com Socorro County Map ............................................ 61
El Defensor Chieftain Socorro Map ......................................................... 62
4 Discover Socorro
 Bienvenidos! ... Welcome to Socorro County
W e welcome readers to Socorro County and our
Discover Socorro Visitors Guide, and hope you find
our community as unique and enchanting as we do.
Renowned for its diversity and contrasts, New Mexico is
one of the nation’s gems. Socorro, the second oldest com-
munity in this culturally rich state, is one place you definitely
don’t want to miss.
Inhabited for more than 800 years, Socorro remains inte-
grally linked to its storied past while blazing new technologi-
cal trails that will, no doubt, lay the groundwork for a vibrant
future as well.
While much of the county is rural, it also plays host to one
of the nation’s premier research universities, New Mexico Tech.
While archaeologists survey the remains of 800-year-old
Indian villages, astronomers are using a vast radio telescope
array to peer deep into the past and future of the universe.
While visitors from around the world visit the site of the
first atomic bomb explosion in 1945, researchers a few miles
away are developing the very latest information on explosives
and counter-explosives technology in one of the nation’s lead-
ing Homeland Security programs.
Thousands of visitors come to see the two wildlife refuges in
the county — many to attend the annual Festival of the Cranes
at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Hundreds
more come to reenact one of the most important Civil War
battles for control of the West, the Battle of Valverde, and to
visit the remains of 150-year-old Fort Craig, the Union fort
associated with that battle. Others come to follow the route of
El Camino Real, the “Royal Road to the Interior” that brought
16th-century Spanish explorers through the valley. Their story
is now told at the one-of-a-kind El Camino Real International
Heritage Center south of Socorro.
While old-timers return to Magdalena each year to celebrate
the village’s glory days as a cattle railhead, just a few miles
away on 10,600-foot Magdalena Ridge stands a new state-of-
the-art, rapid-response 2.4-meter optical telescope for defense
and private use. Magdalena Ridge Observatory received “first
light” late in 2006. It has since been joined by an optical inter-
ferometer, an array of several optical telescopes, that have the
equivalent viewing power of a 400-meter telescope, and keep
the area on the cutting edge of astronomical research.
While residents here enjoy a small-town atmosphere year-
round, Socorro is home to one of the finest entertainment ven-
ues — Macey Center — and a Performing Arts Series unheard
of in cities this size.
The following pages expand on these features and so much
more that this unique region has to offer the visitor, the new-
comer and even those who’ve been around awhile.
In the end, you will likely conclude that discovering Socorro
and the surrounding areas is an ideal pursuit.
We recommend, however, that you give yourself ample time.
There’s a whole world of excitement and enchanting times
to be had — make sure you don’t miss out on the myriad of
sights, sounds and attractions that make Socorro County one
of the richest destinations — not only in New Mexico but in
the country.
El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • HERITAGE 7
 Our Rich History ... Diverse cultures
T o say Socorro and the
surrounding commu-
nities are steeped in history
Army established Fort Conrad
in 1851, but found it indefensi-
ble and relocated to the newly
and tradition would be a huge built Fort Craig in 1854.
understatement. The Civil War made its
More than two centu- way into New Mexico and
ries before Christopher Socorro County. On Feb. 21,
Columbus’ fabled sojourn to 1862, Union and Confederate
the New World from Spain, forces engaged in a daylong
Piro Indians — the southern- battle south of Socorro near
most Pueblo tribe — inhabit- Fort Craig — called the Battle
ed nearly two dozen villages of Valverde. On March 30,
along the Rio Grande from the Confederates met stiffer
San Marcial to La Joya. The resistance and lost the Battle of
Piros, living in pueblos since Glorietta near Santa Fe, which
at least the 1200s, weren’t forced their retreat from New
the only Indians to call this Mexico back to Texas.
land home — Apache Indians The Battle of Valverde
also inhabited much of the is reenacted every year in
area that today is called the Socorro, with hundreds of
Middle Rio Grande Valley. Civil War buffs in atten-
As the Spanish explorers dance to participate or watch
in the mid-16th century began the many demonstrations of
to make their way north from warfare.
Mexico, they followed the Socorro and the surround-
Rio Grande and established ing area boomed after the
El Camino Real — the Royal Civil War, thanks to mining
Road into “New Spain.” As strikes — lead and zinc in
a result, they were frequent the Magdalena area and silver
visitors at the Piro villages. on Socorro Peak. The railroad
Socorro got its name in arrived in 1882, fueled from
1598 from explorer Juan de the vast coal fields east of San
Oñate, whose tired and hun- Antonio.
gry men were given food Socorro, with her mines,
and shelter by the Piros. He mills, and smelters, became
renamed the Pilabo pueblo “Socorro,” which means “help” or the center to this diverse mining activity. In 1889, the government
“succor” in Spanish. chose Socorro as the site for its new School of Mines (now New
In the early 1600s, Franciscan friars built missions at Socorro, Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, or New Mexico Tech
Senecú, near San Marcial, and Sevilleta, near La Joya. for short), which opened in 1893.
In 1680, when the Pueblo Indians of Northern New Mexico The glory days of mining are recalled each year in Socorro
staged their revolt against the Spaniards, the people of Socorro during the ’49ers celebrations, events put on by New Mexico
and surrounding areas fled. The Piros did not participate in Tech to relive the school’s early days and pay tribute to the area’s
the revolt and headed south to El Paso, Texas, with the Spanish mining history.
troops and settlers. Livestock, ranching and agriculture has always been integral
When the Spaniards came back up the valley, they found the to the fabric of the area and those who call it home. Huge cattle-
abandoned pueblos from Senecú to Sevilleta had been pillaged drives were commonplace, with thousands of cattle driven to
by the Apaches. For the next 100 years, there were few settlers Magdalena — “The Trails End” — where the cattle trail met the
in the area. railroad. The cattledrive days are over. Cattle from area ranchers
The resettlement of Socorro began in the early 1800s, and, in are now shipped by truck. Magdalena still relives those days each
1815, 21 families were given land grants to settle here. Socorro July in its annual Old-Timers Days.
flourished because of the fertile farm land and grazing along the Agriculture remains a mainstay of the area and is a key ele-
river. However, occasional attacks by the Apaches remained a ment of the annual Socorro Fest. Local farmers sell their goods
constant threat. on the Socorro Plaza every Tuesday afternoon and Saturday
When New Mexico became a territory of the U.S. in 1848, morning during the city-sponsored Farmers’ Market.
the region saw some relief as the military established a series of
forts for protection against the Apaches. In Socorro County, the n See History, Page 9
8 HERITAGE • Discover Socorro El Defensor Chieftain
 DON’T MISS THIS
Battles for Socorro
The fourth weekend of February,
Union and Confederate camps set up
near Socorro to reenact the historic
Battle of Valverde and occupy the town’s
Plaza in the Siege of Socorro. The Battle
of Valverde and other skirmish scenarios
are held out at “Fort Escondida,” about
three miles north of Socorro. Tours of
the camps, dances, period secession
debates and other entertainment also
occur during the event.
February 25-27
El Defensor Chieftain
History:
Continued from Page 8
Today, a new economy has emerged
in Socorro. It is based in part on New
Mexico Tech, recognized as one of
the nation’s premier research universi-
ties. An explosives test range, seismic
research center, optical telescopes, the
Very Large Array radio telescope, and
other facilities have also made Socorro
a premier high-tech center.
Nature also plays a big role, since
the county contains two of the nation’s
most important national wildlife ref-
uges, one of which draws thousands to
the area annually to enjoy the majesty
of the migrating sandhill cranes.
And the area’s rich and varied his-
tory has spawned a number of annual
celebrations that continue to grow in
popularity.
Sources: City of Socorro, Socorro
County Chamber of Commerce, New
Mexico Tech, Socorro County Historical
Society, El Defensor Chieftain archives.
Discover Socorro • Heritage 9
 Bienvenidos Socorro Heritage and Visitors Center

2011 Calendar
February 5 - Community Arts Party, Finley Gym, Ronna 575-835-5688
February 19 - Historic Forts’ Day, El Camino Real Heritage Center, 575-854-3600
February 26 - Science Olympiad, NM Tech Campus, Rose 575-835-5678
February 25-27 - Battles for Socorro Civil War Re-enactment, Visitors Center 575-835-8927
March 10-12 - Socorro Warrior Baseball Invite, SHS Baseball Field, Alan 621-3825
March 20 - 6th Annual Socorro General Hospital Spring Tea, Lorraine 575-835-6431
March 22-23 - Seery Invitational Golf Tournament, NM Tech Campus 575-835-5335
March 26 - Socorro County Arts Spring Open House, Alamo Gallery & Gifts 575-835-2787
April 1-2 - NM State Science & Engineering Fair, NM Tech Campus, Rose 575-835-5678
April 2 - Trinity Site Open to Public, White Sands Missile Range 575-479-6124
April 2 - Trinity Site Shuttle, City of Socorro Public Transportation 575-835-1501
April 2 - Very Large Array Guided Tours, 50 miles west on Hwy. 60 575-835-7243
April 2 - Friends ofthe Library Book Sale, NM Tech Campus 575-835-1114
April 16-17 - Tour of Socorro Mountain Bike Race, Camille 505-350-4116
April 22 - Earth Day Celebration, Historic Plaza, Socorro Visitors Center 575-835-8927
May 1-2 - "M" Mountain AYSO Soccer Tournament, Wes 575-838-5135
May 7-8 - Mother's Day Pow Wow, Sedillo Park, Donna Monette 505-881-8847
May 9-10 - NMAA AAAAA State High School Golf Tournament, Golf Course 575-835-5335
Just west June 3-4 - North South A-AA, SHS Baseball Field, Alan 621-3825
of Plaza June 7-11 - Socorro Open Golf Tournament, NM Tech Golf Course 575-835-5335
July - October - Socorro Farmers Market, Historic Plaza, Tom 575-517-0463
217 Fisher July 4 - Concerts and Firework Display, NM Tech Campus, Ronna 575-835-5688
Socorro, NM July 8-10 - Magdalena Old Timers Reunion, Magdalena Village, Donna 505-401-4352
July 11-12 - Sun Country Junior PGA Golf Tournament, NM Tech Golf Course 575-835-5335
575-835-8927
July 25-27 - Sun County Junior PGA Championship, NMT Golf Course 575-835-5335
August 6 - 16th Annual Socorro Chile Harvest Triathlon, Camille 505-350-4116
August 19-20 - Socorro Girls Soccer Cup Tournament, Socorro High School, Charlie 575-835-0700
August 27 - Rio Grande Valley CASA Golf Tournament, NM Tech Golf Course, 575-835-5335
August 27 - Toy Train Show & Swap Meet, Best Western Conference Center, Jon 575-418-7534
(Dates and events are subject to change; we recommend you confirm in advance)
10 heritage • Discover Socorro El Defensor Chieftain
 Socorro celebrates History,
Technology, Birds & Enchanted Skies
of Events
September 1-3 - Socorro County Fair & Rodeo, Socorro County Extension 575-835-0610
September 3 - Socorro County Fair Parade, Socorro Visitors Center 575-835-8927
September 15-16 - NMT Presidents Golf Tournament, NMT Golf Course, Colleen 575-835-5352
September 23 -25 - Honey-Doo Couples Golf Tournament, NM Tech Golf Course 575-835-5335
September 24 - "M" Mountain Fly-In, Socorro Municipal Airport, George 505-401-2391
Sept. 28 - Oct. 1 - 18th Annual Enchanted Skies Star Party, Socorro Visitors Center 575-835-8927
Sept. 30 - 0ct. 2 - San Miguel Fiesta, Parish Office 575-835-2891
Sept. 30 Oct. 2 - Chile Chase Golf Tournament, NM Tech Golf Course 575-835-5335
October 1 - Trinity Site Open to Public, White Sands Missile Range 575-479-6124
October 1 - Trinity Site Shuttle, City of Socorro Public Transportation 575-835-1501
October 1 - Very Large Array Guided Tours, 50 miles west on Hwy. 60 575-835-7243
October 1 - Oktoberfest, Hammel Museum, Bob Eveleth 575-418-8132
October I - Chile Proppers Model Aircraft Fly, Carl 575-835-4568
October 7-8 - Alamo Indian Days, Alamo Reservation, Angela Apache 575-854-2543
October 7-8 - 9th Annual Socorro Fest, Historic Plaza, Socorro Visitors Center 575-835-8927
October 10-12 - NM Seniors Match Play Golf Tournament, NM Tech Golf Course 575-835-5335
October 15 - Sevilleta & LaJoya Open House, 575-864-4021
October 21-23 - 89th Annual 49ers Celebration, NM Tech Campus, Colleen 575-835-5352
October 22 - 89th Annual 49ers Parade, California Street to the Plaza, Colleen 575-835-5352
October 30 - Hamfest, Socorro Amateur Radio Association, Al 575-835-3370
November 12-13 - 32nd Annual NM Mineral Symposium, NM Tech, Virgil Lueth 575-835-5140
November 15-20 - 24th Annual Festival of the Cranes, Bosque del Apache Refuge 575-835-2077
November 18-20 - Festival of the Cranes Arts & Crafts Fair, Garcia Opera House 575-835-8927
November 19 - Celebracíon de Otoño/5th Anniversary El Camino Real Heritage Center 575-854-3600
November 19-20 - Enchilada Dinner Fundraiser and Crafts Fair, San Antonio School 575-835-1758
November 19-20 - Turkey Tune-Up Soccer Tournament, Sedillo Park, Barbara 575-838-2525
December 3 - Christmas Electric Light Parade, Socorro Visitors Center 575-835-8927
December 3 - 8th Annual Luminarias on the Plaza Art Walk, Socorro County Arts 575-835-2787
December 10 - Shop Socorro AUCTION, Finley Gym, Chamber of Commerce 575-835-0424
(Dates and events are subject to change; we recommend you confirm in advance)

El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • HERITAGE 11

 Bosque del apache ... A beautiful site
N estled along the banks of the
fabled Rio Grande just south of
Socorro lies the expansive Bosque del
Apache National Wildlife Refuge —
one of the Southwest’s greatest natural
treasures.
Located on more than 57,000 acres at
the northern tip of the Chihuahuan desert,
the Bosque — as it’s referred to locally —
is home to hundreds of species from mam-
mals to birds and reptiles to fish.
And while this unique wildlife won-
derland boasts extensive farmlands and
riparian forests — perfect habitat for
countless critters — it’s the 12,900-plus
acres of moist bottomlands that serves
as home to the Bosque’s most famed
residents — the birds.
Tens of thousands of ducks, Canada
geese, light geese and sandhill cranes
make an annual sojourn to the Bosque
del Apache, where the often mild climate
provides a perfect winter habitat for these
majestic winged, part-time residents.
As you move away from the water, the
landscape changes dramatically. Rising
from an elevation of 4,500 feet — where
reptiles and amphibians share space with
their feathered friends — up to more than
than 6,200 feet, the riparian and desert
habitat welcomes a wide range of mam-
mals, including elk, deer, bobcats, coyotes
and javelina, among others.
If it’s more tame scenery and sightsee-
ing opportunities you’re looking for, fret
not. Bosque del Apache is also home to
breathtaking flora.
While it’s an easy destination to reach
by vehicle, visitors will want to make a pit
stop at the refuge’s Visitor Center where
12 outdoors • Discover Socorro
they can get some friendly advice about
where to go, pick up a souvenir or two and
glean some knowledge about this veritable
paradise.
In addition, a 15-mile tour loop offers
hundreds, if not thousands, of spectacular
viewing and photographic opportunities.
For those who wish to experience the
Bosque on a more up-close-and-personal
level, a network of trails crisscross the
Bosque landscape. Strategically placed
benches and observation points line the
refuge trails offering respite for weary
sightseers. Picnic areas are popular for
those who need to refuel before hitting the
trail again.
Three wilderness areas — Indian Well,
Little San Pascual and Chupadera — boast
plenty of options for hikers who want to
further explore this outdoor paradise.
Numerous educational and instruc-
tional sessions — intended to arm visitors
with knowledge and insight — are held
throughout the year.
Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the Bosque del Apache NWR
is one of the nation’s most progressively
managed facilities. The refuge’s manage-
ment — a team of talented and dedicated
individuals with a wealth of varied skills
and knowledge — works tirelessly to
ensure the Bosque’s goal of providing
habitat and protection for migratory birds
and endangered species is achieved.
The management team is not the only
group that makes the Bosque hum. The
Friends of the Bosque del Apache, a
dynamic and energetic group of volun-
teers, operates with the singular goal of
helping to ensure the refuge’s visitors
— whether feathered, finned, furred or
human — are well cared for.
So whether you’re stopping at the
Bosque del Apache for a few hours or a
few days, you will undoubtedly leave a lit-
tle wiser about the Refuge, its mission, its
inhabitants and the New Mexico treasure
that continues to draw a flock of visitors
each and every year.
The Bosque del Apache National
Wildlife Refuge is located approximately
10 miles south of San Antonio, N.M. Exit
139 off I-25. Drive approximately two
miles and take a right on N.M. 1. The
Visitor Center is located on the west side
of the highway.
For additional information, call the
Bosque del Apache NWR at 575-835-
1828, visit the website at www.fws.gov/
southwest/refuges/newmex/bosque/ or
visit the Friends of the Bosque’s website at
www.friendsofthebosque.org.
El Defensor Chieftain
 DON’T MISS THIS
Festival of the Cranes
The biggest event held in Socorro County each year,
the Festival of the Cranes will celebrate its 24th year this
November.
Thousands of human visitors from around the world will
flock to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, where
what some call a “miracle of nature” occurs each year.
The event is a celebration of the sandhill crane’s return to
prominence in the Rocky Mountain flyway. But other featured
guests of honor are the blue heron, Canada geese, light geese,
bald eagles, American coot, owls, swans, American white
pelicans and others.
The festival is not just about viewing and photographing
these fabled flyers. More than 100 special, festival-related
events — from hands-on workshops to informational pre-
sentations — are held continuously over the course of the
five-day event.
Make plans early for this popular event, which is a col-
laborative effort between the Bosque del Apache NWR, the
Friends of the Bosque del Apache and the City of Socorro.
Visit the Friends’ Web site at www.friendsofthebosque.org/
crane, or call 575-838-2120.
November 15-20

14 outdoors • Discover Socorro El Defensor Chieftain

 Sevilleta ... Ecological research
T he Sevilleta National
Wildlife Refuge is about
20 miles north of Socorro and
encompasses 230,000 acres,
200 miles of roads and 130
miles of fencing. The refuge
includes four major ecological
zones ranging from Chihuahan
desert to the riparian forest
of the bosque, and more than
1,200 species of plants call
the refuge home along with
225 species of birds, 58 spe-
cies of reptiles, 89 species of
mammals and 15 species of
amphibians.
The land belonging to the
refuge was once part of the La
Joya land grant under Spanish
rule and stayed as a large block
until it eventually came under
ownership of Socorro County.
The land was purchased
from the county in 1936 by
Thomas Campbell, who oper-
ated it as a cattle ranch for 30
years. The land was later donat-
ed to the Nature Conservancy
and then transferred to the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service in
1973, and the refuge was offi-
cially established.
In 1988, the refuge became
home to the Sevilleta Long-
Term Ecological Research
Program, conducted by the
University of New Mexico. The
refuge plays host to dozens of
research sites that monitor the
slow ecological changes occur-
ring on the refuge. At any given
time there are 100 different
research projects going on at
the refuge by students and sci-
entists from in and out of state.
water fowl and cranes, as well
as using a portion of the acre-
age for public use.
The Youth Conservation
For information about the
Corps is another summer
employment program on the research conducted and photos
refuge for students ages 15 of animals and wildlife at the
to 18 who are spending eight refuge, visit http://sev.lternet.edu.
weeks at the refuge learn- While much of the refuge is
ing about conservation work off limits to the public due to
and helping with projects and the research-oriented nature of
maintenance on the refuge. the facilities, the site does have
The students enrolled in
a visitors center and a short
the paid program, in addition
to understanding what a ref- informative hiking trail. Small
uge does, may also do things sections are open to the public
from planting trees, improv- for limited hunting during the
ing refuge wildlife habitats, winter and for birdwatching,
clearing streams to handling photography and other activi-
office work. ties during the summer.
Another addition to the ref- For more information about
uge happened in 2010, when
visiting the refuge, visit www.
600 Gunnison prairie dogs
were re-introduced to the ref- fws.gov/southwest/refuges /
uge. The prairie dogs used to newmex/Sevilleta/index.html.
be native to the area prior to
the property becoming a ref-
uge in 1973, but most had been
eradicated during the time the
land was operated as a cattle
ranch.
Although the refuge cur-
rently encompasses 230,000
acres, the refuge is consider-
ing acquiring 1,250 additional
acres located near San Acacia,
known as Indian Hills Farm.
The farm consists of approxi-
mately 600 acres of agricultural
land and 650 acres of wild lands.
The idea behind acquiring more
land is to provide a habitat for

DON’T MISS THIS

Sevilleta Open House
Most of Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is closed to the pub-
lic, but some areas are opened up for special tours and hikes once a
year at its annual open house. The open house will feature guided
tours, hikes, exhibitions and lectures relevant to the refuge. For
more information call 505-864-4021.
October 15
El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • OUTDOORS 15
 Nature Areas ... The great outdoors
S ocorro has many options
for a quick picnic or a
nature walk within a few min-
utes of Socorro.
• Escondida Lake: Located
a few miles north of Socorro,
Escondida Lake offers angling
opportunities, camping, play-
grounds, picnic facilities and
rest rooms. Catfish are stocked
during summer months and
trout are stocked in the winter
months.
• Box Canyon: The 320-
acre Box Canyon Recreational
Area is a rugged and scenic
area that is renowned for its
technical rock climbing and
bouldering opportunities. The
site is frequented by both
veterans and amateurs, as
well as commercial compa-
nies that bring visitors from
Albuquerque to climb at the
site. Rest rooms are the only
16 outdoors • Discover Socorro
facilities at the site.
• Socorro Nature Area:
The Socorro Nature Area is an
environment education area in
the bosque north of Socorro.
Two trails are available for a
self-guided tour, one a half-mile
long and the other just over
a mile long. An information
kiosk, picnic tables, group
shelter and rest rooms are
available at the site. Groups
can also reserve the site for
events or camping.
• San Lorenzo Canyon: A
hidden jewel tucked into the
hills below Polvadera Peak
north of Socorro. The scenic
canyon is great for day hikes
and picnics. There are no facil-
ities at the site.
• Quebradas Back Country
Byway: The byway offers 24
miles of great views with the
luxury of not having to leave
your air conditioned vehicle.
The route winds its way from
Escondida to U.S. 380, just
east of San Antonio, N.M.,
and a stone’s throw from the
entrance to the Stallion Gate
at White Sands Missile Range.
• Riverine Parks: A dozen
small parks dot the Rio Grande
between San Antonio and San
Acacia. There is access to the
river and picnic tables, but no
other facilities.
El Defensor Chieftain
 socorro’s historic plaza ... The heart of our city
L ocated in the
heart of the city,
the Historic Plaza is the
venue for many trea-
sured events for which
the City of Socorro is
well known. Like the
end of the trail, it is the
Plaza where events such
as the Fourth of July,
49ers and the Christmas
Candy Cane Electric
Light parades come to
the end of their down-
town route.
A roundabout adds
to the enchantment of
the Plaza, offering visi-
tors an extraordinary
view of the communi-
ty park. The Historic
Plaza’s charming gaze-
bo, tall shade trees and
cozy benches provide
an inviting atmosphere
where old friends gath-
er and new friends are
made.
A hot spot, the Plaza
is the go-to place for
music, socials, cook-
offs, history and arts.
SocorroFest is but
one of the annual cele-
brations of the commu-
nity held at the Plaza.
the Farmers’ Market to
Earth Day celebrations
and community yard
sales, the events may
differ but the location
never changes.
However, like the
seasons, what does
change is the look of
the Plaza — from cool
spring-like colors when
the buds on the trees are
blooming, to the rich
greens of summer, and
the oranges and yel-
lows of autumn. Winter
sparks a different look
as the glow from the
luminarias light up the
night at the Plaza and
local artists brave the
cold to display their
work and offer unique
gift ideas for the upcom-
ing holidays.
The Historic Plaza is
more than just a venue
The daylong event is Other events include of a history buff, then the for events — it’s a magi-
held every October, and the Blessing of the Battle of Socorro reen- cal place, a foundation
what you will find there Animals, where our four- actment will take you that brings the commu-
is live music, dancing, legged and sometimes back in time and back to nity together, maintain-
food and craft vendors, two-legged friends receive the Historic Plaza. ing old traditions and
as well as homegrown the Lord’s blessing. From posole cook- creating new ones along
fruits and vegetables. And if you are more offs, Hot August Nights, the way.

Your first stop ... Socorro Heritage and Visitors Center

S ocorro’s Heritage and Visitor
Center at 217 Fisher, just off the
historic plaza, is the central hub of plan-
ning and organizing for a wide array of
special events and activities sponsored
by the city for the entertainment and
enjoyment of tourists and residents alike.
Housed in an historic structure built in
1913 for the City Water Commission and
later used for the Police Department, the
Visitor Center is open to the public from
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday,
and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturdays, from
March to October. Winter hours are 9
a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
El Defensor Chieftain
and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
In addition to brochures for area
attractions, the Visitor Center displays
historical and cultural artifacts, includ-
ing portraits of Socorro mayors from
1883 to the present, photographs of the
1939 flood that devastated the town of
San Marcial, and a letter signed by the
notorious former lawman and mayor
Elfego Baca. Visitors can watch short
documentaries about Socorro’s Hispanic
heritage, and purchase T-shirts, post-
cards and other souvenirs.
For more information, call 575-835-8927
or visit www.socorronm.gov.
Discover Socorro • culture 17
 san miguel mission ... A place of sanctuary
F ounded by two Franciscan priests
traveling with Don Juan de Onate
in 1598, the historic church now known
as San Miguel was originally called
Nuestra Senora del Socorro (Our Lady
of Perpetual Help) and gave Socorro
its name. It was abandoned during the
Pueblo Revolt of 1680, and rebuilt on
the same site in the early 1800s. San
Miguel Church in Socorro and six other
churches in the surrounding area make
up the San Miguel Mission.
Local legend tells the story that
before settlers fled in 1680, parishio-
ners took apart San Miguel’s solid silver
Communion rail and buried it along with
other sacred and valuable items belong-
ing to the church. The buried treasure has
been never been found, although many
have searched, and as recently as 1980 a
reward was offered for its recovery.
The story is also told that the mis-
sion was renamed San Miguel in
honor of an apparition said to have
appeared during an Apache raid, of the
Archangel Saint Michael standing on
the church steps, brandishing a sword
and frightening off the attackers.
In 2010, the collapse of a wall at one of
the outlying mission churches, La Sagrada
Familia in Lemitar, led to the discovery of
dangerously high moisture content in the
adobe walls of a second outlying church,
in San Antonio, and in two walls of San
Miguel Church, in Socorro.
Restoration work is under way
at La Sagrada Familia, but the San
Antonio church has been closed, and
its fate is uncertain.
Portions of San Miguel have been closed
also, however services are still held in the
Parish Hall on the weekends, and in Our
Lady of Guadalupe Chapel during the week.
Although major portions of the
church will have to be repaired, Father
Andy Pavlak is determined that with
the help of the community and the
Commission for the Preservation of
DON’T MISS THIS
Historic New Mexico Churches, the San Miguel Fiesta
building can and will be saved. The annual San Miguel Fiesta honors the patron
Contributions to the building fund saint of the mission with a three-day celebration of
can be made by calling 575-835-2891. music, dance and tradition. Events include Mariachi
For more information about the his- Mass, a procession from the church to the Historic
toric San Miguel Church, visit www. Plaza, and the coronation of the Fiesta King and Queen.
sdc.org/~smiguel/. September 30 - October 2

Agriculture ... A ‘growing’ industry

S ocorro County is the third
largest county in New
Mexico and is primarily a farm-
ing and ranching community.
From raising cattle to growing
alfalfa and chile crops, Socorro is
rich in agriculture.
New Mexico State University
Socorro County Cooperative
Extension agent Tom Dean said
ranching consumes approximately
60 percent of the land mass in
Socorro County, with cattle pro-
duction playing a big part.
“New Mexico produces a lot of
DON’T MISS THIS beef for the nation,” Dean added.
Alfalfa and chile are two of the
Socorro County Fair and Rodeo largest crops raised, along with
A four day celebration of heritage and agriculture with rodeo a variety of others such as corn,
events, country-western music, livestock competitions, com- Sudan, oats and winter wheat
munity parade, carnival fun, gardening and home economic rotated in and out.
displays and plenty of food vendors. “Socorro has some of the best
September 1-3 chile in the state,” Dean said.
18 Culture • Discover Socorro
And there’s nothing better
than the smell of fresh green chile
being roasted at local roadside
produce stands.
What also makes Socorro so
unique, Dean explained, is that
produce grown by farmers is sold
to produce stands in the county.
“It goes from the field to the
produce stands, and people like it
and keep coming back,” Dean said
of the fresh chile and produce.
There is also a number of dairy
producers, with approximately 13
dairies located at the northern end
of the county.
County 4-H and FFA clubs are
also very active through the exten-
sion service and Socorro High
School. These organizations par-
ticipate in livestock and rodeo
competitions at the County Fair.
El Defensor Chieftain
 Farmers’ Market ... Locally grown produce
T he Socorro Farmers’
Market makes it easier
to get your recommended five
to seven daily servings of fresh
fruit and vegetables — as well
as locally produced canned
goods, cheeses and crafts.
The outdoor Farmers’
Market season begins in mid-
June and ends in late October,
when the first freeze occurs.
Vendors can be found selling
their wares every Tuesday, from
5 to 7 p.m., and every Saturday,
from 8 a.m. until noon, on the
Historic Plaza in Socorro.
The indoor Winter Market
operates from 9 to 11 a.m.
every Saturday from November
through February, at the Socorro
Community Kitchen on Center
Street, on the south side of the
Finley Gym Complex.
Satellite markets also take
place on Thursdays from late
July to late October, on the
El Defensor Chieftain
Alamo Navajo Reservation and
in the Village of Magdalena.
Deborah Dean, director of
the City of Socorro’s Tourism
Department, stresses the impor-
tance of the Farmers’ Market.
“You’re getting the freshest
produce, supporting local farm-
ers, helping the local economy
and you know the person you
bought the food from — and it’s
fresh,” Dean said. “Most of the
time it’s picked the same day.”
Vendors pay a fee of $25
for the season or $5 per visit.
Participating vendors are only
allowed to sell products they
have grown, caught or made
themselves.
The market also serves as a
social event, and often features
live music, dance performances
and cooking demonstrations.
“That’s what a farmers’
market is. It’s a social gathering,”
explained Dean. “You know that
every Tuesday you can go to a
place and talk with friends, buy
Discover Socorro • Culture 19
some food, and go home and
cook it. One of the benefits is that
we’re here on the Plaza, the hub
of the community.”
In recent years, the Women,
Infants and Children program
has partnered with the Farmers’
Market, offering nutrition
vouchers to their clients for pro-
duce. The Farmers Market is
also involved in two nutrition-
al enhancement programs for
seniors in which they are also
given vouchers to purchase pro-
duce at the Farmers’ Market.
A Socorro couple started the
Farmers’ Market over a decade
ago. As many as 20 local farm-
ers and artists participate in the
event, which has attracted more
than 600 shoppers at one time.
For more information, con-
tact the Socorro Heritage and
Visitor Center at 575-835-8927,
or visit farmersmarketsnm.org.
HAMMEL MUSEUM ... Remarkable piece of history
T he Hammel Brewery and
Museum, formerly known
as the Illinois Brewing Company,
was built in the early 1880s by the
Hammel brothers after they headed
west from Illinois and settled in
Socorro.
The museum started out as a beer
garden and progressed into a suc-
cessful brewery. A June 16, 1893,
Chieftain newspaper article, said the
brewery produced “the best beer made
anywhere in New Mexico.”
Over its years of operation, the
brewery evolved into an ice plant and
soda bottling plant after Prohibition
shut down beer production in 1919.
Although electric refrigerators
were introduced in the 1920s, the
ice plant continued to prosper, along
with the introduction of cola drinks,
the Hammel’s bottled products
for Pepsi Cola, 7-Up, Nesbitt and
Grapette flavored drinks.

n See Hammel Museum, Page 21

20 CULTURE • Discover Socorro El Defensor Chieftain

 Hammel Museum:
Continued from Page 20

The brewery itself consists of four sections, includ-

ing a three-story section used for storage. The two-
story section, the brew house, was used for cooking and
mixing hops during the boom years.
Although Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the
brewery never went back to making beer.
In 1986, Clarence Hammel donated the brewery,
located on the corner of Sixth and Vigil streets, to the
Socorro County Historical Society. From the original
adobe building where the brewery first opened its
doors to the later additions made of stone, the Historical
Society has preserved the brewery as a museum, mak-
ing it a “must see” attraction for visitors.
Eight rooms, each numbered, tell the story of the
history of the brewery that once was a flourishing busi-
ness for nearly a century. From the main office, where
Hammel conducted business, to the mash room where
DON’T MISS THIS the beer was made, the museum is a remarkable piece
of history.
Oktoberfest The museum is open the first Saturday of each
An annual event and celebration of the founding of the month from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information,
Hammel Brewery and Museum. contact the Socorro County Historical Society at 575-
October 1 835-3183 or visit www.socorrohistory.org.

Your hometown COMPLETE LINE

of home furnishings

n iture
Plaza Fur

FUTONS • BUNKBEDS • LIVINGROOM SETS

RECLINERS • MATTRESSES
DINING ROOM TABLES
and much, much more!

PLAZA FURNITURE
215 Fisher (on the plaza) Socorro, NM
575-838-0499
Open: M-F 9am-5:30pm • Sat 10am-3pm
El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • culture 21
 el camino real
international heritage center ...
A momument to ‘The Royal Road’

E l Camino Real International Heritage Center, a New Mexico State

Monument, honors the contribution El Camino Real de Tierra
Adentro — The Royal Road to the Interior — has had on New Mexico and
its people.
Located between Socorro and Truth or Consequences, the center over-
looks the still pristine desert known as the Jornada del Muerto (the Journey
of Death), a 100-mile stretch of the trail where no water could be found.
When the Spaniards began their conquest of “New Spain” in the 1500s,
thousands of Pueblo Indians lived along the Rio Grande in today’s New
Mexico. Trails along the river connected these pueblos.
In 1598, Juan de Oñate led the first expedition of colonists into New
Spain. Establishing a trail from Zacatecas, Mexico, to near Santa Fe, he fol-
lowed these Indian trails in places and blazed his own trail in others. For the
next 300 years, El Camino Real was the dominant road into New Mexico.
Over the trail came thousands of Spanish and Mexican colonists. Many
of the old New Mexican families living here today are direct descendents of
these early travelers. Along with these adventurous settlers came the culture
and heritage of Old Spain and Mexico.
Franciscan priests and friars, the Spanish language, music, stories, and leg-
ends; all of these cultural elements arriving over the centuries are what formed
the New Mexico culture we know today — and a heritage unique to the rest of
the United States.
El Camino Real International Heritage Center is open five days a week,
and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. To get there, take Exit 115 off I-25 and
travel east for about 3 miles.
For more information, call 575-854-3600 or visit www.elcaminoreal.org.

gr an quivir a ... Ruins of a lost society

L ocated in the far northeast corner of
Socorro County, Gran Quivira
is one of three pueblo ruins that make
up the Salinas Pueblo Missions, a
National Monument.
Abo, Quarai and Gran Quivira were
home to a people who lived in stone,
apartment-style complexes for centu-
ries until they abandoned the area in
the 1670s. They forged a stable agricul-
tural society and participated, through
rule and ritual, in the cycles of nature.
These Pueblo Indians were a mix of
two ancient southwestern cultural tra-
ditions — the Ancestral Puebloans, or
Anasazi, and Mogollon — whose roots
date back 7,000 years.
When the Spanish came to the
area some 400 years ago, they
worked to Christianize the natives
22 culture • Discover Socorro
and had missions built at each pueb-
lo. At Gran Quivira, two mission sites
can be found, although one was never
completed. Remnants of kivas, used
by the native people in practicing their
own religion, are located nearby.
Gran Quivira, also known as
Las Hermanas, is the largest of the
Salinas pueblos and was an impor-
tant trade center before and after the
Spanish entrada. The people who
once lived there were absorbed by
other communities after the Pueblo
Revolt of 1680.
Gran Quivira is located about 20
miles south of U.S. 60 on N.M. 55. A
visitor center for the Salinas Missions is
located at the turn-off in Mountainair.
For more information, call 505-
847-2585 or visit www.nps.gov/sapu.
El Defensor Chieftain
 fort cr aig ... A Civil War battle site
Fortthe failure
Craig was established in 1854, after
of the briefly occupied and ill-
conceived Fort Conrad, seven miles to the north.
Like other forts of its day, Fort Craig was built
to protect travel routes and settlements from Indian
attacks. The location was chosen to protect both El
Camino Real and the Jornada del Muerto, both of
which were primary links between the Mexican
port of Vera Cruz and cities of Albuquerque and
Santa Fe.
The fort is famous for the ensuing Civil War
Battle of Valverde on Feb. 21, 1862. Many consider
the battle to have been a Confederate victory, how-
ever the Union forces held the fort and destroyed a
number of Confederate supply wagons. What sup-
plies remained were destroyed later at the Battle
of Glorietta and forced a retreat that ended the
Confederate push for military conquest of the West.
In 1885, with the Indian Wars essentially over,
the fort was permanently closed. Nine years later
it was sold at auction. It was later donated to the
Archealogical Conservancy and was transferred
to the Bureau of Land Management in 1981, but
nearly a century of looters, scavengers and nature
have taken their toll on the site.
DON’T MISS THIS
Historic Forts Day
Discover the forts along the ancient Camino Real de Tierra
Adentro (the Royal Road to the Interior), the oldest trail in
New Mexico. The event includes living history reenactments of
soldier camp activities including bullet making, black powder
demonstrations, treadle sewing, open fire cooking and more.
Held at the El Camino Real International Heritage Center 35
miles south of Socorro.
February 19
Celebracion del Otoño
El Camino Real International Heritage Center will celebrate
its fifth anniversay with ongoing activities that include a caretta
(wagon) building demonstration, living history reenactments,
and a folklorico dance performance. The event will also feature
a slideshow lecture on El Camino Real by Paul Harden, presi-
dent of El Camino International Heritage Center Foundation.
November 19

ghost towns ...

Gone but not forgotten

M any ghost towns are scattered throughout Socorro County,

dating from the Territorial days before New Mexico became
a state in 1912. Some, like Council Rock and Rosedale, were founded
on the promise of silver and gold, but were abandoned when the riches
failed to materialize or the mines were depleted. Others, like Adobe
and San Pedro, began as stage stops and trading posts that faded when
trading routes changed over time. Still others, like Riley, were victims
of drought or, like San Marcial, were drowned by floods.
All of them serve as reminders of Socorro’s rich and varied
past. However, not all of them are accessible to the public. When
the U.S. government approved the establishment of the White
Sands Proving Ground in 1945, several ghost towns located
within the missile range’s boundaries became permanently off-
limits. In other cases, the original town sites are located on pri-
vate property and can’t be visited without the permission of the
property owner.
A Ghost Town Guide, written by local historian Paul Harden and
published by the Socorro County Chamber of Commerce, is avail-
able that gives driving directions and GPS coordinates for six sites
that are open to the public and can be reached year-round by vehicles
with two wheel or four wheel drive.
For more information, call the Socorro County Chamber of
Commerce at 575-835-0424 or visit www.socorro-nm.com.
El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • culture 23
 very large arr ay ... A heavenly experience

T he National Radio Astronomy Observatory,

which operates radio telescopes from
Hawaii to the Virgin Islands, has the majority of its
workforce in Socorro County, where it operates the
Very Large Array.
The VLA consists of 27 radio antennas, 82 feet
out over the Plains of San Agustin, about 20 miles
west of Magdalena and 50 miles from Socorro on
U.S. 60.
The signals from each antenna are combined
electronically to simulate the resolution of an
antenna capable of extending 22 miles in diameter.
The original Very Large Array was the back-
drop to the 1997 film “Contact,” starring Jodie
Foster.
Radio telescopes observe spectrums outside
the range of visible light, helping scientists make
discoveries that would never be detectable to the
naked eye.
Using VLA technology, scientists recently were
able to detect water in a galaxy 11 billion light-years
away, track the continued expansion of a supernova
that happened 140 years ago, and observe a distant
galaxy that is creating 700 new suns per year – 200
times the rate of the Milky Way Galaxy.
In 2010, the VLA flipped the switch on retooled
telescopes, with new electronics that replaces out-
dated parts to become the Expanded Very Large
24 science & technology • Discover Socorro
DON’T MISS THIS
VLA Tours
Special two-hour guided tours are offered twice a year at the
Very Large Array west of Magdalena, coinciding with the two
dates Trinity Site is open to the public. The tours are held every
30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 575-835-7243 to sign up.
April 2 and October 1
Array. This expands the spectrum 8:30 a.m. to dusk for self-guid-
and bandwidth available for scientists ed walking tours. A gift shop and
to explore. The updates also increase learning center is located on site.
the array’s efficiency about 10 times, The VLA is also open on the first
improving its sensitivity enough to Saturday of every month for guided
detect the weak transmission of a cell
phone from as far away as Jupiter. tours and family-friendly activities
For information on the VLA and centered around a different theme
the research of the NRAO, visit www. each month. For more information,
nrao.edu. contact VLA Education Officer
The VLA is open everyday from Judy Stanley at 575-835-7243.
El Defensor Chieftain
 Astronomy ... A star gazer’s delight
T he high desert climate of Socorro,
and its location well-distant from
urban light pollution, create excellent dark
sky observing opportunities year-round for
both amateur stargazers and professional
astronomers. When there are no clouds, the
Milky Way shines overhead in the night
sky. Given the ideal conditions, it’s no won-
der that public and private star parties and
astronomy workshops abound at the local
observatories and many other locations.
The Etscorn Observatory on the New
Mexico Tech campus, built in 1993, is at 10,600 feet on top of South Baldy Guests of the annual Enchanted Skies
run by the NM Tech Astronomy Club Mountain to the west of Socorro, and Star Party are given a rare opportunity to
and is surrounded by earth berms to is a prime astrophotography location. tour this facility, which is normally off-
minimize light pollution from the campus Although its primary purpose is for limits to the public.
and town. Telescopes include a 20-inch research, the MRO is open to the public Weekend workshops providing family-
Dobsonian inside a 15-foot dome and a on special occasions. centered hands-on astronomy activities
Celestron 14 on a Paramount GT-1100 Twenty miles east of San Antonio take place at various times during the
mount. Etscorn is open to the public on the is the U.S. Air Force GEODSS site at year at the beautiful and remote Sevilleta
first Saturday of every month for Guided White Sand Missile Range, one of three National Wildlife Refuge, and the Bosque
Night Sky Stargazing, and at many other deep space surveillance operations that del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
times during the year including the annual track objects as far as 20,000 miles away, For more information, contact VLA
Enchanted Skies Star Party. as part of the United States Strategic Education Officer Judy Stanley, at
The Magdalena Ridge Observatory is Command’s Space Surveillance Network. 575-835-7243.

DON’T MISS THIS

Enchanted Skies Star Party
Isolated from big city lights, Socorro is an ideal location
for nighttime viewing of planets, stars and galaxies. For 18
years, Socorro has played host to the Enchanted Skies Star
Party, a four-day event that features seminars, workshops,
lectures and star gazing. While some events require a fee
and advanced registration, some activities are free and open
to the public. For more information, call 575-835-8927 or
visit www.enchantedskies.org.
September 28 to October 1

El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • science & technology 25

 trinity site ... Where ‘The Bomb’ was born
T he sun rose twice over the New
Mexico desert southeast of
Socorro on July 16, 1945. Trinity Site is
the location of the detonation of the first
atomic bomb on White Sands Missile
Range.
On that morning at 5:29:45, the suc-
cessful testing of the atomic bomb, that
was three years in the making, was the
beginning of the end of World War II.
Although what had taken place at
Trinity Site that summer day was not
revealed until after the weapon was used
against Japan, the explosion was felt and
windows were broken out of as far as
160 miles away.
Trinity Site is open twice a year
to the public for a walk-through visit,
on the first Saturday of April and
October. Nestled deep within the des-
ert terrain, visitors to the site will see
ground zero, where the atomic bomb
exploded, the base camp where scien-
tists and support staff were housed, the
remains of one of the tower columns,
26 science & technology • Discover Socorro
and the Schmidt/McDonald ranch
house south of the site where the core
of the bomb was put together.
Buses leaving at regular intervals
take visitors to the McDonald Ranch
House where the plutonium bomb was
assembled.
A monument and various artifacts
associated with the test are available
for viewing — such as a sample of
Trinitite, a glass-like substance left
behind when the sand fused together
from the heat of the blast.
Although what took place at Trinity
Site that summer day was not revealed
until after the weapon was used against
Japan, the explosion was felt and win- DON’T MISS THIS
dows were broken out of as far as 160
miles away. Trinity Site Open to Public
The site became a national historic Located on White Sands Missile Range, Trinity
landmark in 1975. Site is open to the public just twice a year. Socorro
For more details on the site and Transportation offers a shuttle to the site each day.
Call 575-835-1501.
requirements for visiting, visit the Web
site at www.wsmr.army.mil. April 2 and October 1
El Defensor Chieftain
 new mexico tech ... World class education
S ocorro is home to the
New Mexico Institute of
Mining and Technology, origi-
nally founded in
1889, as the New
Mexico School
of Mines. As the
largest employer
in the county, the
university offers
not only a world-
class education
to students; it
also is an impor-
tant economic
cornerstone to
Socorro.
The student
population at
Tech is close
to 2,000. Graduate and under-
graduate degrees are offered in
areas such as science, technol-
ogy, engineering, math, phys-
ics, computer science, earth sci-
ences, mechanical engineering,
electrical engineering, biology
and chemistry.
Education isn’t the only
focus at Tech.
Sometimes referred to, in
jest, as a “research institution
with a university attached,” the
university has more than a dozen
research divisions that allow for
groundbreaking science experi-
ments to be conducted.
From the skies, with the
Magdalena Ridge Observatory
located high atop Mount
Baldy, to below ground at
the National Cave and Karst
Research Institute, scientists
study how the world works.
The largest research divi-
sion at Tech is the Energetic
Materials Research and Testing
Center, which conducts anti-
terrorism training and land
mine detection. Socorro resi-
dents are accustomed to earth-
shaking explosions and deep
booms that drift down from
the research facility behind
“M” Mountain.
New Mexico Tech is also
well known among scientists,
28 science & technology • Discover Socorro
engineers and employers —
and that reputation gives Tech
graduates an advantage in the
job market, often
with higher-pay-
ing salaries.
While educa-
tion and research
are top-notch at
Tech, there is also
an abundance of
opportunities for
students as well
as community
members.
The school
has more than 40
clubs and organi-
zations that range
from rock climb-
ing, caving and off-roading to
ballroom dancing and rugby.
The Performing Arts Series
at Tech brings musicians and
artists from around the world
to Macey Center, where more
than a dozen shows are per-
formed each year.
Tech’s year-round swimming
pool and full-featured gym are
available to students and faculty.
The university’s outdoor facilities
include a rock-climbing wall, ten-
nis courts and intramural fields.
In addition to all the aca-
demic and community pro-
grams, Tech offers classes to
the general public through its
Community College at Tech
program. There are a multi-
tude of courses to choose from
including: fine arts such as pho-
tography, ceramics and metal
art, to classes that get your
heart rate going like aerobic
kickboxing and karate. Classes
in yoga and pilates are also
available as well as classes in
dance, music and basic com-
puter programs.
In 2010, Tech was ranked
number 12 in the nation in the
“best value” category by the
Princeton Review.
To find out more about what
New Mexico Tech has to offer,
visit www.nmt.edu.
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 Miner al Museum ...
A hidden gem
T he New Mexico Bureau
of Geology and Mineral
Resources’ Mineral Museum
is one of Socorro’s hidden
gems. Located in the Workman
Addition on the NM Tech cam-
pus, the collection features more
than 15,000 specimens, with a
special emphasis on minerals
found in New Mexico. Highlights
include a collection of gold, sil-
ver, and precious gems referred
to as “Coronado’s Treasure
Chest,” smithsonite from the
nearby Kelly Mine, and a stun-
ning ultraviolet-mineral exhibit.
Historic tools and equipment
used in the mining industry
through out time are displayed
in the main gallery. Other exhib-
its include meteorites, fossils,
thematic displays illustrating the
mineral wealth from the Las
Cruces, Silver City, Bingham,
Magdalena, Golden, Dixon,
El Defensor Chieftain
and Grants areas, and more.
Visitors may also purchase
specimens displayed in a case
by the entry way. Proceeds
from the sales are used to pur-
chase new museum material.
In addition to the display gal-
lery, the Mineral Museum main-
tains a large reference collection
for scientific research. Access
to the reference collection can
be arranged by contacting the
museum director.
One of the big events of the
year is the New Mexico Mineral
Symposium. Celebrating its 32nd
anniversary in 2011, the sympo-
sium is scheduled for Saturday
and Sunday, Nov. 12-13.
The museum is open Monday
through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday,
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more
information, call 575-835-5420 or
visit geoinfo.nmt.edu/museum.
Discover Socorro • science & technology 29
 San Antonio ... A ‘Burger Town’
S an Antonio, N.M., is known to some
as the gateway to the Bosque del
Apache National Wildlife Refuge where
thousands of visitors come every year to
photograph the flocks of Sandhill Cranes
and other migrating birds who make the
refuge their winter home.
San Antonio is also the birthplace of
Conrad Hilton, one of New Mexico’s ear-
liest legislators and founder of the Hilton
hotel empire.
Since the 1940s, when scientists work- first test of the atomic bomb. The beauti- this tradition that by December every year,
ing on the Manhattan Project at the nearby ful hardwood bar that runs the length of the walls and ceiling are covered with the
Trinity Site stopped here for meals, San the café came from the first Hilton Hotel. names of people who have come to the Owl
Antonio has been known as the place to go The story goes that after the hotel burned Bar from all over the globe. In 2003, the
for a world-class green chile cheeseburger. down, Civilian Conservation Corps work- Owl Bar Café & Steakhouse was listed on
For decades, hungry travelers in the know ers carried the bar from its original site to Epicurious.com as one of the top 10 burgers
have planned their itineraries to arrive at the Owl Bar. It took them two days, and all in America.
San Antonio just in time for lunch or dinner. they asked for in compensation was burg- Across the street is the Buckhorn
The Owl Bar Café & Steakhouse serves ers and a little beer. Tavern, built in 1943, and known to locals
up several slices of history with their A tradition for many years at the Owl as just Manny’s for the original owner,
World Famous Burger. While waiting — Bar is for first-time customers to write their Manny Olguin. Since the early days, the
it’s not a long one — to get on the outside name and home town on a dollar bill and Buckhorn has been a place where people
of a hot juicy burger, visitors can look at pin it to the wall. At the end of the year, come to listen to live music and enjoy
framed photographs and articles about the bills are taken down and the money is
the men who prepared the ground for the donated to charity. So many visitors honor n See San Antonio, Page 31

30 Communities • Discover Socorro El Defensor Chieftain

San Antonio:
Continued from Page 30

an outstanding burger. Manny’s piano has a place of

honor on the stage, and since his death, people claim
to have heard his ghost playing the piano at odd hours
of the night. The tavern is still in the family, run now
by Manny’s son, Bobby Olguin, a blues musician who
takes to the stage every other Monday night with a band
called Blue Monday.
The succulent Buckhorn Burger has had its share of
accolades. In 2005, GQ magazine named it the seventh
best burger in America and, in 2009, Marlboro.com’s
“Nightlife Flavor Roundup” called it the No. 3 “baddest
burger in the land.”
The Buckhorn Burger gained national attention
again in 2009 when Food Network Chef Bobby Flay
came to town and challenged Bobby Olguin to a Green
Chile Cheeseburger Throwdown. Since then, people
regularly flock to San Antonio from as far away as
Las Cruces and Albuquerque just to eat the burger that
bested Bobby Flay.
Which burger is best? Our suggestion is that you try
them both, and make up your own mind. Either way,
you won’t be disappointed.

El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • communities 31

 magdalena
double truck
 magdalena
double truck
 magdalena ... A real Old West town
N icknamed “Trail’s End,”
Magdalena was once the
destination for those who traveled
the “Hoof Highway.”
The historic Stock
Driveway was a thoroughfare
used by ranchers and cowboys
to drive cattle and sheep from
as far away as Arizona across
the San Agustin Plains to the
stockyard in Magdalena. The
driveway was used annually
from 1885, when a railroad
spur was built connecting
Magdalena to Socorro, through
1971, when trucking supplant-
ed transport by train. The trail
became a designated driveway
by the Grazing Homestead Act
of 1916.
The driveway was 5 to
10 miles wide and extend-
ed about 125 miles west to
Springerville, Ariz. Another
branch of the trail extended
from Reserve and merged with
the main trail at Datil.
Cowboys could drive cattle
about 10 miles a day, while
herders moved their sheep
about 5 miles a day, allow-
ing them to graze along the
way. Wells were drilled every
10 miles to accommodate the
herds.
In 1919, as many as 150,000
sheep and 21,000 cattle used
the trail to reach the stock-
yard. The original stockyards
are still intact.
The village celebrates
34 communities • Discover Socorro
its history as an Old West
town with its annual Old-
Timers Reunion in July.
Acknowledging its past, the
Magdalena Schools adopted
the Steer as its mascot.
But Magdalena also owes
its origins to the mining indus-
try. The operators of Kelly
Mine, located about 3 miles
south of town in the Magdalena
Mountains, were at least partly
responsible for bringing the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
Railroad spur to Magdalena,
so its ore could be brought to
Socorro some 20 miles away
by rail to be smeltered.
When the mining ran its
course and Kelly became a
ghost town, Magdalena
absorbed many of its residents
during the early 1900s.
Serving both the ranch-
ing and mining industries,
Magdalena was once a bus-
tling Old West town. The post
office was established in 1884.
Several saloons and hotels
catered to the cowboys, miners
and frontier families that lived
in the area.
Cattle rustling, shootouts
on Main Street and barroom
brawls are part of the town’s
legendary history.
Even today, the Magdalena
Trail Drivers Association reg-
ularly holds Cowboy Action
Shooting events a few miles
west of town.
The railroad also played a
big part. Much of the town’s
history is preserved at the Box
Car Museum, located next to
the restored railroad depot
that now houses the village’s
administrative offices and
library.
Many of the historic build-
ings are still in use, either as
homes or housing businesses.
Today, Magdalena is a quiet
town of roughly 1,000 resi-
dents. It’s history, galleries and
outdoor recreation opportuni-
ties make it a popular tourist
destination.
Magdalena is also home to
the London Frontier Theatre,
housed in the old WPA build-
ing on Main Street.
There’s plenty to see and
do within easy driving dis-
tance of Magdalena. The
National Radio Astronomy
Observatory’s Expanded Very
Large Array is just 19 miles
west on U.S. 60. The Alamo
Indian Reservation is a half-
hour drive down N.M. 169.
There are also numerous hik-
ing trails and camping facili-
ties in the surrounding Cibola
National Forest. Deer and elk
hunters also are attracted to the
area during hunting season.
For more information on
Magdalena, visit the Web site:
www.magdalena-nm.com.
El Defensor Chieftain
 boxcar museum ... Next stop: Magdalena’s past
T he Village of Magdalena could not have a
more fitting place to house the stories of its
early mining and ranching days than the Boxcar
Museum. The museum is located in a Santa Fe
Rail Road boxcar parked at the former train depot,
which now houses the Village Library.
The railroad spur built in 1885, connecting
Magdalena to Socorro, played a huge role in
the village’s history. Until the 1970s, ranchers
drove cattle from as far away as Arizona to the
Magdalena Stockyards to be shipped by train, and
ore from the Kelly Mine was transported by rail to
smelters until the mine closed in the 1950s.
The Boxcar Museum collection holds photo-
graphs, memorabilia and artifacts donated by resi- DON’T MISS THIS
dents that tell the story of miners, cowboys and
the homesteaders who settled the area. Museum Old-Timers Reunion
volunteers are compiling notebooks of letters and For more than 30 years, the Village of Magdalena has celebrated its history
photographs for more than forty area families. as an Old West mining and cattle-shipping center on the second weekend of
The museum hours are the same as the hours of July. The event includes a rodeo and street dance on Friday; a parade and bar-
the library in the former depot: Tuesday, Thursday becue cookout and more rodeo events on Saturday; a pancake breakfast and the
and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday Kelly Mine walk-run on Sunday; as well as a arts, crafts and music throughout
from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. the weekend. One of the highlights is the crowning of the Old-Timers Queen,
to 2 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday. The key is preceded by the parade down Main Street on Saturday morning.
available from the librarian. July 8-10

El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • communities 35

 alamo navajo ... A ‘State of a Nation’
N early 30 miles from
Magdalena on N.M.
169 is the Alamo Navajo
Indian Reservation, an isolated
division of the Navajo Nation.
Alamo Navajo encom-
passes 63,000 acres in the
northwest corner of Socorro
County, an area that provides
spectacular views of moun-
tains, rolling hills and slanted
mesas. Bordered on the south
by the Gallinas Mountains,
the landscape is dotted with
chamizal and cactus, juniper
and piñon trees.
Sheep can be spotted graz-
ing in secluded sections of the
countryside, even on the north
side of “Unnecessary Ridge”
— so named in a previous era
when it blocked access to a
trading post. Shepherd mark-
ers still stand atop some peaks.
Former homes (called hogans)
and sweat lodges used for puri-
fication rituals remain scattered
on parts of the reservation.
Other evidence of the past
can be found in petroglyphs
painted on rock bordering the
Rio Salada. Fossils millions
of years old are imbedded in
rock and shark teeth have been
found scattered over some of
the land’s flat, rocky floor.
Today, roughly 2,200 resi-
dents live on the reservation
and many of them carry on the
traditions and language passed
down from their ancestors.
How the people came to
live at Alamo remains a bit
of a mystery. It could be the
Anasazi migrated to the area
after abandoning settlements
to the north. Another theory is
that bands of nomadic Indians
wandered from Canada and
the Northwest — perhaps ini-
tially across the Berring Straight
— down the western slope of the
Rocky Mountains. The Navajo
people — known in their native
language as Diné, which means
“the people” — meandered to
36 communities • Discover Socorro
the American Southwest.
The tribe probably sus-
tained themselves as hunt-
ers and gatherers long before
bands turned to shepherding
and formed settlements.
The bloodlines of the peo-
ple living at Alamo are largely
mixed. The territory roamed
by the Apache Indians and set-
tled by the Navajo overlapped
and intermarriage between the
tribes occurred. Some resi-
dents of Alamo claim to be
descendents of the great “war
shaman” Geronimo.
The Alamo people hold a
celebration of their culture
and customs each October.
Alamo Indian Day is typi-
cally held the weekend prior
to Columbus Day.
Although rich in culture,
Alamo is one of the poorest
communities in New Mexico
and it has suffered the affects
of socioeconomic conditions.
Much of its development
has come in recent decades,
with the building of a mod-
ern school, courthouse, health
clinic and wellness center.
The modern development
that has come to the reserva-
tion in the last 10 years is large- and entertainment to those who reside there.
ly due to the Alamo Navajo As a chapter of the Navajo Nation, Alamo is governed much
School Board Inc., which has like a state in the United States. Decisions affecting tribal mem-
been instrumental in bringing bers and Alamo’s infrastructure are made by elected officials at
services to the area. the Chapter House — the center of the reservation.
In 2009, the T’iis Tsoh For more information on Alamo, call the Chapter House at
Mini-mart opened, providing 575-854-2686.
the people with convenient
access to food and gasoline.
Previously, residents had to
travel 29 miles to Magdalena
for such services. DON’T MISS THIS
Housing is another priority
on the reservation, since some
residents still live in a traditional Alamo Indian Days
fashion without indoor plumbing Alamo Indian Day celebrates the heritage and culture of
and electricity. Tribal leadership the people of the Alamo Navajo Indian reservation. The event
is also working to bring a new includes the crowning of Miss Alamo, a parade, dance, song,
senior center to the community. storytelling, cooking and weaving demonstrations, exhibits and
Alamo is served by KABR- contests, most of which takes place at Walter’s Park.
AM radio, which, for the last 25 October 7-8
years, has provided information
El Defensor Chieftain
 other communities ... More places we call home
Abeytas — North of
Bernardo along the west banks
of the Rio Grande, the small
farming and ranching com-
munity of Abeytas has ties to
the Belen Land Grant of 1740.
Alamillo — Alamillo lies
north of Socorro, on the east
side of I-25 across from San
Acacia. In the early 17th centu-
ry, Franciscans established the
Santa Ana de Alamillo mission
at the Piro Indian Pueblo there.
Bernardo — Bernardo is
mainly thought of as the place
where U.S. 60 intersects with
I-25. Navajo and Apache horse
thieves, and later American
ones, hid in the mountains
to the west, known as Los
Ladrones (The Thieves).
Escondida — Escondida,
at the north edge of Socorro,
boasts a recreational lake and
a State Police station, despite
its small size.
El Defensor Chieftain
Farley — Farley was a proj-
ect of the one-time train mas-
ter at San Marcial, J.B. Frailey.
Workers quarried limestone,
loaded it onto wagons or rail
cars, which were hauled to San
Antonio, N.M., and connected
there to AT&SF rail lines.
Las Nutrias — The Las
Nutrias community exists on
N.M. 304 between U.S. 60 and
Veguita. In 1765, 30 families
settled in an area known then
as San Gabriel de Las Nutrias.
La Joya — Spanish for “the
jewel,” the area just across
the Rio Grande from the I-25
Sevilleta Wildlife Refuge off-
ramp. Piro Indians inhabited it
before the Spaniards came.
Lemitar — The small com-
munity of Lemitar lies just
off I-25 several miles north of
Socorro. The town started around
1831, according to David Pike’s
book, “Roadside New Mexico.”
Polvadera — Polvadera
lies just north of Lemitar. The
name is from polvareda, the
Spanish word for dusty. The
book “Roadside History of New
Mexico” mentions a story that
God told the people that the spot
would be a desert if no rain came
by Aug. 10. When it didn’t, they
named the town “Polvadera,”
according to the story.
Sabinal — Heading north
from Abeytas on N.M. 116,
the tiny community of Sabinal
is the last stop before cross-
ing into Bosque and Valencia
County. Don Fernando de la
Concha, governor in the late
1780s and early 1790s, estab-
lished the idea of an Indian res-
ervation long before the United
States introduced the concept.
The farming and ranching
town sits on the west bank of
the Rio Grande.
San Acacia — The town
Discover Socorro • communities 37
of San Acacia lies east of
Alamilla, between I-25 and the
Rio Grande. In the area, a black
basalt butte that was a landmark
on the trading route El Camino
Real carries the same name.
San Marcial — On the east
bank of the Rio Grande between
what is now the Bosque del
Apache Nation Wildlife Refuge
and Fort Craig. The town was
buried in a flood in 1929. Today
there are a few scattered resi-
dents of San Marcial.
San Pedro — About a mile
east of San Antonio, N.M. is
the small town of San Pedro.
Listed as a ghost town, there
are still residents in the area.
Veguita — This small com-
munity is located in a hilly area
east of the Rio Grande in the
northernmost part of Socorro
County. Originally part of the
land grant of Casa Colorado
(sometimes Colorada).
 new mexico tech golf course ...
G olf enthusiasts enjoy
the New Mexico Tech
Golf Course for its challenging
layout, scenic vistas and value.
The 18-hole championship
course is located just west of
the university and boasts “M”
Mountain as a backdrop. The
track takes golfers over roll-
ing hills and dramatic eleva-
tion changes, while provid-
ing dynamic views of the Rio
Grande Valley.
Golfers will use every
club in the bag to get around
the 6,688-yard, par-72 course
(5,887, 73 for women). The
course carries a 71.0 rating and
129 slope for men; 69.7, 125 for
women.
Trees line the well-groomed
course, which features several
devious doglegs and requires
players to dodge water haz-
ards. There are two dozen sand
bunkers to contend with and 11
ponds, which come into play
on 10 holes. The greens are
mostly level but are known to
be small and fast.
The signature hole is No.
10, which runs east of the club-
house parallel to Canyon Road.
Players strike their tee shot
between a tunnel of trees that
line both sides of the fair-
way. Their second shot on the
371-yard par-4 is aimed at a
green completely surrounded
by ponds.
While the course is open
year-round, it blossoms in the
spring. The Bermuda fairway
grass turns green, and when all
the trees are in bloom the fair-
ways become narrower and the
course becomes more scenic.
New Mexico Tech Golf
Course has all the amenities,
including a well-stocked pro
shop, men’s and women’s lock-
er rooms, a driving range, and
putting and chipping greens.
The “M” Mountain Grill
38 sports & recreation • Discover Socorro
18 challenging holes
serves breakfast, lunch, snacks
and beverages.
Typically uncrowded, the
course fills up for various tour-
naments throughout the year.
In 2011, the New Mexico
Tech Golf Course plays host
to the New Mexico Seniors
Match Play Golf Tournament
on Oct. 11-12. The course will
attract the top teenage players
in the state for the Class 5A
state high school tournament
May 7-9. The Sun Country
Junior Championship Golf
Tournament comes to NMTCG
on July 26-27. Dozens of other
tournaments are held through-
out the year that serve as fund-
raisers for local groups and
organizations.
The Socorro Open, held
Sunday through Saturday,
June 6-11, is an official Sun
Country PGA tournament
open to professionals and ama-
teurs. The tournament, known
as the Hilton Open in its early
years, will celebrate its 51st
anniversary in 2011.
A side event to the Socorro
Open is the Elfego Baca Shoot,
one of the most unique — and
challenging — golf competi-
tions in the world. Golfers tee
off from atop “M” Mountain,
at an elevation of 7,423 feet,
and play to a 50-foot wide
“hole” near the base of the
mountain that’s roughly 2,000
feet below and three miles
away.
But most people prefer play-
ing the championship course,
which is challenging enough.
For more information on the
New Mexico Tech Golf Course
and the events it hosts, call
575-835-5335 or visit http://
externalweb.nmt.edu/nmtgolf.
El Defensor Chieftain
 Fire Academy ... A hotspot in Socorro
T he New Mexico
Firefighters Academy
is one of the best kept secrets
in Socorro. Firefighters state-
wide come to train at the acad-
emy that opened its doors in
January 1989. The training
facility is the only state funded
academy in the state.
Although the academy has a
college campus look and feel to
it, what firefighters experience
is so much more.
The hands-on training facil-
ity on the northern end of the
academy provides firefight-
ers the opportunity to train
in commercial and residential
fire fighting, flammable liq-
uid fires, arson investigation,
propane fires, crash and rescue
operations as well as high-rise
operations with the use of a
four-story building used for
rappelling training exercises.
El Defensor Chieftain
Each training station at the
academy is also self-sustaining
and was designed by firefight-
ers in the late 1980s. They took
into account at that time the
importance of recycling, and
nearly 90 percent of the water
used in training is recycled.
On a yearly basis, between
500 and 700 classes are taught,
and for fire departments in the
state, that receive fire funds,
the training is free.
Deputy State Fire Marshall
Reyes Romero said more than
80 courses are available to
choose from with 21 of them
being accredited, meaning they
are recognized and accepted
throughout the U.S., Mexico,
Canada, parts of Europe and
the Middle East.
Firefighters can also receive
college credits with some of
the courses.
Discover Socorro • sports & recreation 39
 rock climbing ... Ascending new heights
W e’re going to let you in on a not-
so-well-kept recreational secret:
Socorro rocks!
Climbers from around the state, coun-
try and even points beyond flock to
Socorro County to experience one of the
state’s greatest outdoor recreational pas-
times — rock climbing.
Box Canyon — a Bureau of Land
Management holding located some six
miles southwest of Socorro on U.S. 60
— boasts a wealth of climbing opportu-
nities for novices, weekend warriors and
seasoned rock jocks, alike.
Whether you’re a sport climber or a boul-
derer, the Box will not leave you wanting.
Dozens of top-roped routes — rang-
ing in difficulty from easy to daunting
— await traditional climbers. For those
who want a more pure climbing experi-
ence, thousands of boulder problems stand
ready to challenge even the most skilled.
The Box comprises 320 acres of pre-
dominately igneous outcroppings. The
porphyritic andesite, which typifies the
popular Waterfall wall, is brutal on tender
skin, but solid for making ascents.
Although getting to the Box is easy,
deciding where to climb once you arrive
provides the biggest challenge.
From the parking lot — where a devel-
oped restroom facility adds to the func-
tionality of the venue — roped routes and
Mountain biking ... Fat tire fun
T he Socorro area offers a plethora of routes for
those who are interested in mountain biking.
Many experienced mountain bikers pre-
fer the roads and trails that circuit their way
through the rough Quebradas hills just east of
Socorro. Others tackle the high altitude trails
that can be found along Magdalena Ridge or
near Mount Withington.
For more casual riders, the ditch banks and roads
around Socorro offer seemingly endless miles of trails
to explore. Bikers can stick to shorter loops near town,
travel north to San Acacia or south to San Antonio,
N.M., in the scenic Bosque.
For up-to-date information on trails and
accessibility it is a good idea to stop by the
Bureau of Land Management Office at 901 S.
Highway 85, or the Magdalena Ranger District
Office in Magdalena.
40 sports & recreation • Discover Socorro
stellar boulders, including Ultimate, are
within a few hundred yards. Traveling
north from the parking lot, Waterfall is
about a half-mile hike.
For those who are looking for additional
challenges, a quick jaunt past the park-
ing lot broadens the bouldering options
exponentially. From the recently estab-
lished Fight Club Wall to the consummate
Unbeatable and the expansive Spook area,
Box is truly a bouldering paradise.
Socorro’s climbing aficionados are
constantly discovering new rocky trea-
sures to ascend so “stale” is a rarely
uttered word when describing this Mecca.
Climbing opportunities, however, are
not limited to the Box alone.
Further west on U.S. 60 lies the town
of Datil, where traditional climbers have
been taking the sport to new heights for
more than two decades. Climbs here range
from easy to “there’s no way a human
being could make it up that” routes.
Continuing on past Datil, Monster
Island — a recently discovered granite
playground — is gaining popularity and
providing further challenges for climb-
ers to tame.
To the east of Socorro lies the Quebradas
Backcountry area, where pockets of lime-
stone afford climbers yet another option.
Regardless of experience and ability,
climbers are reminded that risk is involved
with every route. Climbing with partners
is always recommended as are regular
equipment checks to ensure that gear is
working properly.
DON’T MISS THIS
Tour of Socorro
The Tour of Socorro consists of
the grueling South Baldy Hill Climb,
an 8.3-mile course that climbs
nearly 4,000 feet and the Cerillos
del Coyote, a course that winds
through the arroyos and hills of the
Quebradas, just east of Socorro.
Event information can be found on-
line at www.socorro.com/ssr/tour/.
April 16-17
El Defensor Chieftain
 active interests ... Living a healthy lifestyle
S ocorro offers a many oppor-
tunities for casual outdoor
recreation and there are a number
of groups to link up with depend-
ing on your interests.
Socorro Striders and Riders is
one of the most active groups and
regularly holds small events for
area residents who are into run-
ning and cycling, and some larger
competitions that draw hundreds
of athletes from around the state
and beyond.
Many of the SSR events are
designed to be competitive for par-
ticipants at all levels of fitness. For
current and upcoming activities visit
www.stridersandriders.blogspot.com.
The Socorro Tennis Association
had a wide range of players from
teens to seniors. Players meet daily
and tournaments are held once
a month. Visit www.socorro.com/
sta/ for more information.
The City of Socorro sponsors
El Defensor Chieftain
sports leagues for both adults
and children. During the sum-
mertime, youth baseball, T-ball
and men’s and women’s softball
is played weeknights at Sedillo
Park. During the fall and win-
ter, the city has adult volleyball
and youth basketball leagues that
compete at Finley Gym, the city’s
recreation center.
For young soccer players,
AYSO Region 364 holds spring
and fall seasons that play at
Sedillo Park. For more informa- DON’T MISS THIS
tion visit www.ayso364.org.
Socorro has a junior wrestling Chile Harvest Triathlon
team and several boxing clubs for Socorro Striders and Riders hosts the annual Chile
those who are interested in mar- Harvest Triathlon, which is part of the Southwest
tial competition. Challenge Series. The sprint triathlon starts with a 400-
Magdalena is home to the meter swim followed by a 20K bike route ends with a 5K
Magdalena Traildrivers, a club run on a loop course. It has a seeded, time trial event start
for those who are interested in and follows all USA Triathlon rules.
Cowboy Action Shooting. For For more information on the triathlon and details on
more information visit www. the route visit www.socorro.com/ssr/chile/.
magdalenatraildrivers.com. August 6
Discover Socorro • sports & recreation 41
 camping ... Get back to nature
W ith more than
800,000 acres of
national forest land located
within the immediate vicinity,
camping opportunities abound
in the Socorro area.
The Cibola National Forest
has six campgrounds for peo-
ple to enjoy that are available
during the spring and summer
months. Arguably the most
popular camping spot is Water
Canyon.
• The Water Canyon camp-
ground is a popular camping
venue that was recently reno-
vated, and has about 15 sites
for overnight camping, as well
as picnicking areas and a spot
dedicated to a large-group
gatherings. There is no water
at the campground, but there
are areas for garbage and rest-
room facilities.
42 sports & recreation • Discover Socorro
• The Bear Trap campground
has restrooms, camping and pic-
nicking areas, and trailer parking.
• Springtime campground
offers restrooms, and camping
and picnicking areas.
• Hughes Mill offers rest-
rooms, camping and picnicking
areas, and trailer parking.
All of the established camp-
grounds afford visitors with
countless hiking trails, wild-
life viewing opportunities
and other recreational pur-
suits, including rock climb-
ing, mountain biking trails and
much, much more.
For up-to-date and com-
plete information on trails and
campgrounds visit the National
Forest office located on U.S.
60 in Magdalena, or call 575-
854-2281. The office is open
Monday through Friday, from
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and offers
a variety of National Forest
and Wilderness maps for sale.
Since water is scarce, visi-
tors are strongly encouraged to
bring their own water.
See Directory on next
page for area commercial
campgrounds.
El Defensor Chieftain
campgrounds birding ... Feathered friends
Bosque Bird Watchers
RV Park
Santa Fe Diner
& RV Park
V isitors from all over the
globe come to Socorro for
the opportunity to see sandhill
1481 N.M. 1 I-25 & Highway 107 cranes and other migratory birds
San Antonio, NM 87832 Exit at Mile Marker 115 wintering at the Bosque del Apache
575-835-1366 575-854-2784 National Wildlife Refuge, but bird-
ing on the refuge can be excellent
Casey’s Socorro year-round. A list of 377 species
Tom’s RV Park #4
RV Park sighted throughout the year is avail-
1101 S.Frontage Road 506 U.S. 60 #4 able from the Friends of the Bosque
Socorro desert grassland to montane forest.
Socorro website (www.friendsofthebosque.
575-838-2075 Water Canyon is also considered
575-835-2234 org/seasonalbirding.html.)
an excellent location to see noctural
In the spring, Barn swallows,
Tree swallows and Blue grosbeaks birds such as the Flammulated Owl
Datil Well Campground Water Canyon
are abundant. Cormorants, egrets and the Western Screech Owl.
Datil Campground
575-835-0412 and various waterfowl are common Closer to Socorro, but also on
Cibola National Forest Highway 60, is Box Canyon, where
U.S. 60, Mile Marker in the refuge’s many shallow ponds,
Escondida Lake Park while orioles, juncos and certain birders can see Montezuma quail,
123.5 Grey vireos and many others.
Escondida hummingbirds can be seen in num-
575-854-2281 bers around the Visitor Center. North of Socorro, the La Joya
575-835-2041
At Water Canyon, 16 miles west Waterfowl Area and the Bernardo
Montosa RV Park The Western Bed & of Socorro on Highway 60, birders Waterfowl Area, both part of the
& Campground Breakfast/RV Park can spot Scaled quail, Crissal thrash- Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex,
U.S. 60, Magdalena 404 First St., Magdalena ers and Red-faced warblers among provide winter feed and a secure
575-854-2235 575-854-2417 the many species supported by the habitat for many species of water
varied habitat, which ranges from fowl and the occasional bald eagle.

El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • sports & recreation 43

 Horseback riding ... Saddle up and ride
S ome of the most breath-
taking views in Socorro
County are those that can only
be seen while horseback riding
through the numerous trails
and canyons in the county.
With the Rio Grande River
to the east of Socorro, and
“M” Mountain to the west, rid-
ers can experience a multitude
of terrain right in their own
backyard.
Dacodah Herkenhoff,
owner of San Acacia Riding
Adventures, said there is a tre-
mendous amount land, man-
aged by the Bureau of Land
Management, open for horse-
back riding.
“There are hundreds of
thousands of acres to ride on,”
Herkenhoff said. “Any kind
of terrain you can experience
throughout the country we have
right here in New Mexico.”
So what makes horseback rid-
ing in Socorro County so good?
Herkenhoff said the reason
is that 90 percent of the time
you can walk, trot and gallop
in a safe manner because of
the terrain in the area, where
in other parts of the country
that’s not always the case.
“We have the best terrain
for full-out run rides,” he said.
“As a beginner you can experi-
ence cantering on your first
time out.”
In addition, the many can-
yons, tucked away from fre-
quently traveled roads, allow
for riders to explore the hidden
treasures visitors may other-
wise not see.
“San Lorenzo Canyon is one
of the most beautiful canyons
in the world,” Herkenhoff said.
“It’s absolutely phenomenal.”
And don’t worry if you
don’t own a horse. SARA pro-
vides all kinds of riding oppor-
tunities to those who want to
experience the thrill of riding.
With 22 horses in the stable,
Herkenhoff said their horses
are gentle enough for even the
most inexperienced rider.
For information on San
Acacia Riding Adventures, visit
www.acaciaridingadventures.
com or call Dacodah Herkenhoff
at 575-517-0477.

back country rock

horsemen ...
A n organization that explores the
great outdoors by horseback is the
Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico.
The Socorro chapter received their
charter in 2006, and has been active in
preserving trails and conducting clean-ups
— all the while enjoying the ride.
“We are a service organization,”
Socorro BCHNM president Tom Bryant
emphasized. “We maintain trials and work
to keep trails open.”
While anyone is welcome to join the
BCHNM, as a general rule, you need to have
your own horse to participate in the trail rides,
or know someone who can lend you a horse.
The BCHNM members conduct two
rides per month, one trail ride and one work
project, Bryant said. In addition, they also
conduct horsemanship clinics for those who
are interested in learning more about horses
as well as riding in the back country.
“Our mission and goal and purpose is
to keep the trials open, and we do this by
44 sports & recreation • Discover Socorro
volunteering our time, effort, and by edu-
cating people,” Bryant explained.
Although there is some work involved
in preserving and cleaning up trails during
some of the rides, being out in nature, on
horseback, is the only way to see some of
the beautiful, New Mexico landscape.
“There are great trails here,” BCHNM
board member John Young said. “We get
to see petroglyphs and really neat rock for-
mations. You get to go to a lot of locations
you (normally) couldn’t go to by yourself.”
Bryant added that Socorro County is
one of the best-kept secrets around, where
five minutes out of town you can find
plenty of places to ride horses.
“We live in one of the nicest places in
the world,” Bryant said. “You can ride all
year round.”
For information on Back Country Horsemen
of New Mexico, visit www.bchnm.org or call
Tom Bryant at 575-517-0413. BCHNM meets
the third Tuesday each month.
hounding
Forof rock hounds there are dozens
locations in Socorro County
to find interesting minerals.
A stroll in San Lorenzo Canyon
can yield beautiful agates. Magdalena
Ridge has locations with fluorite.
Limestone outcrops in the Quebradas,
and elsewhere in the county, have fos-
silized shells and other sea creatures
in them.
Many abandoned mine sites have
outcroppings or tailing piles with
unique crystals and minerals — but
be sure to check whether the mine
is on claim status first, and do not
enter mine shafts.
For more information on sites around
Socorro or mineral tips, stop by the
Mineral Museum at New Mexico Tech
first, or visit www.geoinfo.nmt.edu.
El Defensor Chieftain
 Hiking ... Hitting the trail
A n abundance of scenic trails and wildlife viewing oppor-
tunities are available in Socorro to hikers who want to trek
their way to hidden vistas. Hikers have more than 200 miles of
trails through the backcountry to experience.
During the warmer months, a honeycomb of hiking trails
are available in the Cibola National Forest areas. The mountain
heights help to provide cool relief for hikers during the summer
months, but be prepared for rapidly developing rain storms and
strong winds at the higher elevations.
Water is scarce and the New Mexico sun, particularly at high
altitudes, can quickly cause dehydration. Hikers should pack
plenty of water and dress appropriately for the conditions.
A half-dozen wilderness study areas open to hiking are within
15 to 30 minutes driving timee from Socorro for those who are
looking for a more primitive experience.
Explore the narrow canyons and vivid sandstone cliffs on
display in the Quebradas, which means “broken hills.” Each
ridge and canyon offers something different to see as a jumble
of geology creates unique rock formations and the Sonoran and
Chihuahuan deserts meet in the Quebradas for an extremely wide for an unmatched view of central New Mexico.
variety of desert plants. For information on hiking trails, one of the best sources is
Explore hidden routes through the hills and valleys of the the National Forest office, located on U.S. 60 in Magdalena, or
Sierra Ladrones that may have once harbored bands of robbers call 575-854-2281. The office is open Monday through Friday,
that preyed upon travelers of El Camino Real. For a greater chal- 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and offers a variety of National Forest and
lenge, take an extended hike all the way to the top of Ladron Peak Wilderness maps for sale.

El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • sports & recreation 45

 on the fly ... Airports give aviators access

DON’T MISS THIS

Aviation Day
Airplane enthusiasts will enjoy the “M” Mountain Fly-in
on Aviation Day at the Socorro Municipal Airport. The event
attracts dozens of planes, from modern Cessnas to old war
birds. The hundreds of visitors who come for the event can
walk the tarmac and get an up-close look at a variety of flying
machines.
September 24

R ecreational flyers have access to

two public airports in Socorro
County.
Socorro Municipal Airport, located
south of town, has undergone several
upgrades in recent years. The termi-
nal was completely renovated and an
Automated Weather Observation System
went online for the first time in 2009.
Pilots can now set their radio frequency
to 118.325 to hear the weather conditions
at the airport, including temperature, wind
speed and direction, ceiling, visibility,
altimeter, and density altitude. The same
information is available to pilots — or
anyone else for that matter — before take
off by calling 575-838-3993.
At an elevation of 4,875, Socorro
Municipal Airport consists of two asphalt
runways. Runway 1 runs east-west and is
46 sports & recreation • Discover Socorro
60 feet wide and 4,590 feet long. Runway
2, the north-south approach, is 100 feet
wide and 5,841 feet long.
The airport plays host to the “M”
Mountain Fly-in on Saturday, Sept. 24.
Airport Manager David Chavez can be
contacted at 575-835-4477.
Magdalena’s Ambers Guin Field is
located a few miles west of the village
limits at an elevation of 6,727 feet. It has
a natural soil runway that runs 5,650 feet
in length and 50 feet wide. The airport
gets most of its use during the fall and
winter, during deer and elk hunting sea-
sons.
Airport Manager Ambers Guin can be
reached at 575-854-2462.
Model airplane enthusiasts also have a
place to fly their planes.
The Chile Proppers model airplane
club has its own airfield located on
Energetic Materials and Testing Center
property. The club holds an annual fly-
in of its own, this year it’s scheduled for
Saturday, Oct. 1.
For information on the Chile Proppers,
call club president Larry Vanlandingham
at 575-418-0678.
El Defensor Chieftain
 city parks ... Outdoor playgrounds
W hether you’re into relaxing
under a shade tree, reading a
book or engaging in more physical activi-
ties such as jogging, baseball or basket-
ball, the City of Socorro has more than
six parks to choose from when making
vacation plans or, for residents living in
Socorro County, simply looking for a way
to spend a day off.
Residents and visitors alike can take
their pick of one of the many parks scat-
tered throughout the City of Socorro.
With amenities such as jogging tracks,
basketball courts, baseball diamonds, a
swimming pool, outdoor grills and picnic
tables, in addition to every child’s favorite
park attraction — playground equipment
— you may want to take your time and
visit them all.
Sedillo Park, located on Francisco de
Avondo, offers fun for the whole family.
Patrons of the park can choose to utilize
the athletic fields, tennis and basketball
courts, regulation horseshoe pits, two
playgrounds, an Olympic-sized swimming
pool or the baseball diamonds. The park
also has a covered picnic area with out-
door grills that can be reserved for private
parties or celebrations.
Without even knowing it, children and
adults can turn exercise into fun by bringing
El Defensor Chieftain
along their own sports equipment, creating
games and a little competition through
these available outdoor amenities.
Even in winter, the mild temperatures
Discover Socorro • sports & recreation 47
in Socorro make for year-round pleasure
at all the parks.
One event you don’t want to miss is the
Annual Easter Egg Hunt held the Saturday
before Easter at Sedillo Park. It’s guaran-
teed fun for everyone.
A new park addition the city offers
is Clarke Field, located at the corner of
California and Spring streets.
Clarke Field has a jogging track and
skate park, as well as covered picnic tables,
outdoor grills and playground equipment.
Reservations can be made if you’d like to
host an event or party.
Other public playgrounds include B
Street Park, on B Street behind the Circle
K convenience store; Western Hills Park,
on Garden Circle; West Place Park on
West Street; and Lena Jaramillo Park, on
Granada Street off U.S. 60.
Although not as large as Sedillo Park
and Clarke Field, these parks have plen-
ty of playground equipment to entertain
young and old alike, and are wonderful
picnic spots.
For more information on reserving out-
door grills for private parties or events,
call Socorro City Hall at 575-835-0240 or
575-835-8927 for the Parks and Recreation
Department.
 performing arts series ... Center stage
S ocorro may be small,
with a population under
10,000, but it boasts an excep-
tional diversity of arts and
entertainment to rival any
major metropolitan area.
The New Mexico Tech
Performing Arts Series, cur-
rently under the direction of
Ronna Kalish, has been bring-
ing internationally acclaimed
performers to Socorro audi-
ences since the mid-1980s.
The list of artists who
have performed at the NM
Tech Macey Center in recent
years includes Arlo Guthrie
and Family, Leo Kotke,
Tish Hinojosa, and Natalie
MacMasters. Visitors to the
Performing Arts Series have
seen concerts by the New
Mexico Symphony Orchestra,
operettas by the Santa Fe
Opera Apprentices, dance pro-
grams by the National Ballet
Hispanico and performances by
the Golden Dragon Acrobats
from China and the Shidara
Taiko ensemble from Japan.
“One of my biggest priori-
ties,” said Kalish, “is working
with a statewide consortia of
non-profit performing arts pre-
senters throughout the state to
put together tours and make it
worthwhile for artists to come
our smaller venues.”
Another priority for Kalish,
recipient of a 2009 New Mexico
Distinguished Public Service
Award for her contributions to
the community and the state,
is bringing performance art-
ists into the schools to inter-
act with the youngest mem-
bers of the community. The
Performing Arts Series is also
a partner in annual community
events from the Fourth of July
Celebration to Socorro Fest to
the Community Arts Party.
The Performing Arts
Series concert line-up for the
spring season includes The
Lowe Family in February, the
Irish band Slide in March,and
Cirque Montage and Metales
M5 Brass Quintet in April.
For more information about
upcoming shows, call 575-835-
5688 or visit www.nmtpas.org.

MAcey Center ... Top notch entertainment

T he Macey Center is a spacious
and versatile venue, and hosts not
only the Performing Arts Series but a
multitude of other events and conferenc-
es throughout the year. The 615-seat the-
ater is used for dance recitals and school
concerts, spring musicals and winter
feasts, film festivals and workshops.
The large lobby and meeting rooms
accomodate a variety of functions, from
weddings and banquets to the occa-
sional Sci-Fi Convention and the annual
Mineral Symposium every fall. The state
Science Fair and the Science Olympiad
are held there each year in spring.
The Macey Center includes a 3,400
square foot art gallery featuring exhib-
its by local photographers, painters and
fiber artists, open Monday through
Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery
space is large enough to hold catered
luncheons and the annual spring fashion
show, and on some occasions, even local
48 arts & entertainment • Discover Socorro
arts and crafts vendors. For information
about upcoming events or available ser-
vices, call 575-835-5342.
The center is also home to classical
music performance sponsord by NM
Tech President Dr. Dan Lopez. The
Presidential Chamber Music Series holds
concerts four times a year, hosted by
New Mexico Symphony Orchestra vio-
list Willy Sucre. The concerts are free,
and open to the entire community.
Socorro’s thriving local arts and
music scene includes other venues.
Visitors can enjoy many kinds of live
music at restaurants, coffeehouses and
bars, from country to Celtic to the blues.
Events as varied as plays and poetry
slams can be found on weekends.
For information about upcoming
events, check the calendar listings in
the El Defensor Chieftain, or visit www.
socorromusic.com.
El Defensor Chieftain
 garcia oper a house
TheHouseGarcia Opera
was built in
1886, in a decade when
the discovery of lead
and silver in the nearby
Magdalena Mountains
transformed Socorro from
a quiet town of a few hun-
dred people to a thriving cen-
ter of commerce and indus-
try, with a population of
El Defensor Chieftain
more than 4,000.
The opera house
opened on Dec. 1, 1886,
with an event advertised
as a “musical festival com-
posed of 100 musicians,
followed by a grand dance
and supper.” Since that first
spectacular extravaganza,
the Garcia Opera House
has been the setting for
events including masquer-
ade balls, political rallies,
arts and crafts festivals,
school concerts, weddings
and banquets.
For more informa-
tion, contact the Garcia
Opera House Foundation
at 575-835-8211 or visit
w w w.socor roban k ing.
com/garciaoperahouse.
Discover Socorro • arts & entertainment 49
theater
• The Socorro Community Theater has
staged an average of two productions a
year in the historic Garcia Opera House,
from Shakespearian plays to modern
comedies and dramas, every year since
1994. For more information about Socorro
Community Theater, call 575-835-2564 or
visit www.socorro.com/sct/.
• The London Frontier Theatre per-
forms in-house plays and melodramas
at the historic WPA theater at Main &
Fourth street in Magdalena. For more
information, call 575-854-2519 or visit
www.londonfrontiertheatre.com.
• The New Loma Stadium Cinema on
Manzanares Street is the place to go to
see a flick. The movie theater was recent-
ly renovated with stadium-style rocking
seats, new curtains, new stucco on the
building’s exterior, new poster cases and
state-of-the-art digital video and sound
systems. Movies are shown every eve-
ning beginning at 7 p.m. with afternoon
matinees on the weekends. For more
information, visit www.lomacinema.com
 Plenty to do ... Enhancing the quality of life
T he City of Socorro organizes and
supports a variety of activities all
through the year that make Socorro not
just a great place to live, work and raise
a family, but also a fun and exciting place
to visit. Whether you’re a history buff,
a connoisseur of art and culture, an out-
door enthusiast or all three, there’s almost
always something happening to entertain
and amuse you.
Many city – sponsored events take place
on the plaza, the cultural and historic
heart of downtown Socorro. Several times
throughout the year, city workers will erect
a tent for a “Social on the Plaza,” show-
casing local musicians and locally micro-
brewed beers, and welcoming visitors who
are in town for tournaments and sporting
events, conferences and symposiums.
In the summer, the city brings in bands
from around the state for “Hot August
Nights,” free concerts with dancing that
continues long into the night. In October,
local and out-of-town talent come together
on two outdoor stages around the plaza
for the annual SocorroFest, a free two-
day music festival featuring non-stop live
performances, food and arts and crafts
vendors and much more.
Earth Day Celebrations and Community
Yard Sales are two more regular city –
sponsored events that bring the commu-
nity together downtown.
Other plaza – centered city events
include the annual Luminaria and Arts
Stroll, the Lighting of the Christmas Tree,
and the Candy Cane Electric Christmas
Parade, which ends with hot chocolate and
a visit from Santa Claus.
The city also collaborates with other enti-
ties to create fun and entertaining events for
residents and visitors alike. Some of those
events include the annual Community Arts
Party in the nearby Finley Gym Complex,
the Fourth of July Celebrations on the
New Mexico Tech campus, and the annual
Festival of the Cranes Arts and Crafts Fair
at the nearby Garcia Opera House.
Another event that takes place at the
Garcia Opera House is the Victorian Tea
and Fandango, a celebration of Victorian
era styles, manners and music that’s orga-
nized by the Socorro Heritage and Visitor
Center in conjunction with the annual
Civil War Reenactments of the Battle of
Escondida, the Battle of Valverde, and the
Battles for Socorro.
Other city-supported events that draw
visitors from all across the country include
Hamfest for amateur radio enthusiasts,
Aviation Day at the municipal airport
for pilots and fans of flight, the Chile
Proppers Model Aircraft Fly for those
who prefer their planes a bit smaller, and
the week – long Enchanted Skies Star
Party, for astronomers of every stripe.
The city also lends support to events
such as the annual Chile Harvest Triathlon,
the Mother’s Day Pow Wow at Sedillo Park,
and Oktoberfest at the Hammel Museum,
and provides shuttles to the Trinity Site and
the Very Large Array Open Houses, and to
cultural celebrations at the El Camino Real
International Heritage Center.
For information about the many excit-
ing things happening in and around
Socorro, call the Socorro Heritage and
Visitor Center at 575-835-8927, or visit
www.socorronm.gov.

DON’T MISS THIS

Mother’s Day Pow Wow

The annual Mother’s Day Pow Wow is held each
May on Mother’s Day weekend, at Sedillo Park.
The event includes gourd dancing, singers and drum
groups, and a Chicken Dance contest. Food as well as
arts and crafts vendors are also on hand, and it’s tradi-
tional for all mothers in attendance to receive flowers
on Sunday. For information call Donna Monette at
575-881-8847.
May 7-8

50 arts & entertainment • Discover Socorro El Defensor Chieftain


SocorroFest
SocorroFest is a free outdoor
music festival sponsored by the
City of Socorro, and made pos-
sible by the enthusiastic efforts
of volunteers from the com-
munity. The festivities begin
Friday evening with a street
dance on the Historic Plaza.
Beginning at noon on Saturday,
live music is performed non-
stop on two outdoor stages
until 10 p.m. Performances
and workshops are scheduled
throughout the day at various
indoor venues as well.
The festival began seven
years ago, as an opportunity to
showcase the talents of Socorro’s
many local musicians and enter-
tainers for the enjoyment of the
local community. Socorro now
draws visitors from all over New
Mexico and beyond, and fea-
tures regional bands as well as
El Defensor Chieftain
local musicians, playing every
kind of music from folk to latin
to country to rock. There’s truly
something for everyone, includ-
ing a harmonica contest that in
the past has drawn entrants from
as far away as Austin, Texas.
But SocorroFest is more
than just music. The event
DON’T MISS THIS
is held at a time when the
chile harvest is still fresh,
and there’s a wide variety of
food vendors stationed around
the Plaza throughout the day.
Roasted corn, turkey legs and
green chile cheeseburgers are
among the items available for
consumption.
Discover Socorro • arts & entertainment 51
Spirits tents serve alco-
holic beverages to the over-21
crowd, including wine from
New Mexico vineyards and
award-winning micro-brewed
beers from the Socorro Springs
Brewing Company.
There are also activities
scheduled especially for the
kids, who can build sandcas-
tles, play games and partici-
pate in arts and crafts.
A popular feature of
SocorroFest celebrates a 1953
proclamation declaring Socorro
a free and independent state.
Free passports to the Free State
of Socorro are issued at the
“Port of Entry” on the Plaza,
entitling the bearer to special
discounts from local merchants.
Come to SocorroFest and
enjoy Socorro’s Free State of
Mind.
October 7-8
 Distances to cities
outside of New Mexico
Anchorage, Alaska - 3,669.7 miles
Atlanta, Ga. - 1,539.7 miles
Boston, Mass. - 2,310.9 miles
Chicago, Ill. - 1,396.2 miles
Dallas, Texas - 724.9 miles
Denver, Colo. - 522.6 miles
El Paso, Texas - 189.7 miles
Las Vegas, Nev. - 586.8 miles
Los Angeles, Calif. - 748.3 miles
Miami, Fla. - 2,127.4 miles
Distances to cities in
New Mexico from Socorro
192.0 miles
76.2 miles
SOCORRO
73.5 miles
132.5 miles
206.5 miles
157.1 miles 146.5 miles
52 directories • Discover Socorro
Nashville, Tenn. - 1,299.3 miles
New Orleans, La. - ,199.3 miles
New York, N.Y. - 2,075.4 miles
Phoenix, Ariz. - 378.3 miles
Salt Lake City, Utah - 696.0 miles
San Antonio, Texas - 740.0 miles
San Francisco, Calif. 1,109.4 miles
Seattle, Wash. - 1,532.8 miles
St. Louis, Mo. - 1,114.9 miles
Washington, D.C. - 1,959.9 miles
206.8 miles
138.4.5 miles
164.4 miles
106.9 miles
240.3 miles
vital Statistics
People
Population (2009 estimate) 18,092
Persons of Hispanic origin 47.8%
White persons, not Hispanic 36.4%
American Indian 13.4%
Other 2.7%
Land
Land Area 6,626 square-miles
Total Federal Land 2,318,458 acres
BLM Land 949,396 acres
Forest Service Land 627,854 acres
State Land 609,517 acres
Indian Land 56,680 acres
Elevation (Socorro) 4,585 feet
INDUSTRY
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 6.3%
Construction 8.1%
Manufacturing 5.5%
Wholesale trade 0.8%
Retail trade 9.3%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 3.9%
Information 1.4%
Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing 2.7%
Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and
waste management services 9.3%
Educational, health and social services 30.9%
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food
services 8.9%
Other services (except public administration) 4.2%
Public administration 8.6%
Weather
Sunny days 280
Average rainfall 8.6 median inches
Average first freeze Oct. 24
Average last freeze April 13
Average high temperature Jan., 52.3; April, 75.7;
July, 93.7; Oct., 75.5
Average low temperature Jan., 22.2; April, 39.6;
July, 62.0; Oct., 40.8
HOUSE HEATING FUEL
Utility gas 32.0%
Bottled, tank, or LP gas 40.0%
Electricity 10.3%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. 0.4%
Wood 16.9%
Solar energy 0.1%
Other fuel 0.2%
No fuel used 0.1%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geographical Survey, New Mexico
Economic Development Department
El Defensor Chieftain
 For More
information:
Socorro County Chamber Magdalena Chamber
of Commerce of Commerce
101 Plaza, Socorro 105 N. Main St., Magdalena
575-835-0424 866-854-3217 toll-free
www.socorro-nm.com www.magdalena-nm.com
chamber@socorro-nm.com
Magdalena Visitors Center
Socorro Heritage
& Visitors Center (Bear Mountain Coffee
House & Gallery)
201 Fisher, west of the Plaza 902 W. First St.
575-835-2927 575-854-3310

Socorro Public Library Magdalena Public Library

401 Park 108 N. Main St.
575-835-1114 575-854-2361

El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro • directories 53

 Education ... Getting Schooled
Socorro Magdalena New Mexico Tech

Warriors Steers Miners

Public Schools Zimmerly Elementary Magdalena Middle School Socorro Cooperative
Grades 4-5 Grades 6-8 Nursery School
Socorro Consolidated 511 El Camino Real NW 575-854-8011 304 McCutcheon Ave.
Schools 575-835-1436 Socorro, NM 87801
700 Franklin Magdalena High School 575-835-1336
575-838-0300 Sarracino Middle School Grades 9-12
Grades 6-8
1425 El Camino Real NW
575-854-8011 Universities
Midway Elementary 575-835-0283
Grades K-5 Charter Schools New Mexico Institute of
9 Midway, Polvadera Socorro High School Mining and Technology
575-835-1098 Grades 9-12 Cottonwood Valley (New Mexico Tech)
575-835-0700 Charter School 801 Leroy Place
Parkview Elementary 201 Neel Ave., Socorro, NM 87801
Grades K-3 Magdalena Municipal Socorro 575-835-5011
107 Francisco De Avondo Schools 575- 838-2026
575-835-1086 200 Duggins Dr., Magdalena
575-854-2241 New Meico Tech
San Antonio Elementary Pre-Schools Community College
Grades K-5 Magdalena Elementary 801 Leroy Place,
South Highway 380, School Headstart Socorro, NM 87801
San Antonio, N.M. Grades PreK-5 239 Garfield Cramer Hall 201
575-835-1758 575-854-8006 575-835-0008 575-835-6581

church directory ... Where to worship

Socorro Family Christian Center
Assembly of God
Seventh Day Adventist
218 Garfield
The Church of Jesus
Christ Latter-Day Saints
First Baptist Church
of Magdalena
Calvary Chapel U.S. 60 and Fowler 505-440-9587 El Camino Real Kelly Road at Poplar
701 S. Hwy 85 575-835-0185 (leave a message) 575-835-0570,
575-854-2389
575-838-9535 575-835-4806
First Baptist Church Society of Friends
Church of Christ 203 Spring Street (Quakers) Trinity Christian St. Mary Magdalene
1001 El Camino Real 575-835-0041 94 Hope Farm Road Fellowship Third and Elm St.,
575-835-2272 575-835-0013, 1403 El Camino Real Magdalena, NM
First Presbyterian 575-835-0998 575-838-9000 575-835-2891
Cops for Christ Church
Non-Denominational 304 McCutcheon Ave. Socorro Baptist Magdalena-
Christian Fellowship 575-835-0942 Temple
Datil-Pie Town Veguita-Lemitar-
Meets at Socorro
Baptist Temple, Hope Lutheran Church
South Fairgorunds Rd. #2
575-835-3306 Polvadera
S. Fairgrounds Rd. #2 908 Leroy Pl. Church of Jesus Christ
575-835-3306 575-835-9648 Socorro Unitarian of Latter-day Saints
Chihuahua Bible Chapel
Universalists Pie Town
575-773-4623 1 Carlos Maritnez Rd.,
El Buen Pastor Jehovah’s Witnesses 908 Leroy Place, Vegita, NM
Park St. Behind BLM 922 Ake Ave. Parish Hall
Community Church 575-861-0008
575-835-2172 575-838-2049 575-838-7114 in Magdalena
Main St. at Fourth
Epiphany Episcopal San Miguel Mission St. Paul’s United First Assembly of God
575-854-2364
Church 403 El Camino Real Methodist Rt. 1, Box 156, Rd. 6
908 Leroy Pl. 575-835-2891, 1000 Goad St. Datil Baptist Church ABC, Polvadera
575-835-1818 575-835-1620 575-835-1372 575-772-5577 575-835-3817
54 directories • Discover Socorro El Defensor Chieftain
 Welcome to Socorro!
Socorro’s finest shops, stores and merchants
The Chamber recommends these businesses because they exhibit quality, reliability, and excellence.
Socorro County Chamber of Commerce Member Directory
Abstract & Title
JM Abstract & Title Company Inc., 575-835-1997
Security Title and Abstract, 575-838-1440
Superior Title Co., 575-835-4743
Accountants
Beckham & Penner CPA, 575-835-1091
Bookkeeping & Tax Service, 575-835-0963
Caroline R. Hooper, Accountant, 505-761-0138
Adult & Children’s Services
Tresco Inc, 575-835-0204
Advertising
Directory Plus, 575-937-4482
Local Pages, 505-264-7234
PenGwen Productions/Steppin’ Out, 575-835-2127
Sun Vista Outdoor Advertising LLC, 505-239-3125
The Local Pages
Aerospace
Aerojet, 575-835-2070
Agriculture
Kelly Canyon Ranch, 575-838-1328
Apartments
Loma Vista Apartments, 575-835-3393
Socorro Village, 575-835-2330
Vista Montaño Apts, 575-835-0500
Appraisals
Winton Appraisal Company, 575-835-1857
Architect
Gerard R. Brown, Architect, 505-877-2838
Arts
BJ Lesperance, 575 418-1848
Curious Crow Art Studio, 575-835-4487
Fullingim, Isenhour, Leard Galleries, 575-835-4487
Georgette Grey, 575-838-0680
NM Tech Performing Arts Series (PAS), 575-835-5688
Pictographics, 575-835-2406
Socorro Community Theater, Inc., 575-838-0379
Socorro County Arts/Alamo Mercantile, 575-838-6047
Socorro Picture Framing & Art Gallery, 575-835-3348
Wild Horses of the West Art Gallery, 505-417-7005
Arts and Banquet Facilities and Conference
NM Tech Macey Center, 575-835-5342
Attorneys
Deschamps Law Firm, 575-838-0777
Fitch & Tausch LLC, 575-835-0048
Jerry Armijo, PA, 575-835-1400
John Gerbracht, Attorney, 575-835-2520
Visit www.newmexico.org and www.socorro-nm.com
El Defensor Chieftain
Auction Car Wash
Tumbleweed Equipment & Auction Co., 575-835-2321 California Car Wash, 575-835-1872
Auto Repair Catering
All Around Auto, 575-835-2667 Chartwells, 575-835-6710
Leseberg’s Auto, 575-838-4101 Greens Kitchen, 575-418-1291
Quick & Easy Auto Repair and Towing, 575-835-3215
Rudy’s Auto Repair, 575-838-2012 Churches
Socorro Auto Clinic, 575 835-4611 Calvary Chapel Socorro, 575-838-9535
Southwest Auto Body LLC, 575-835-1006 Epiphany Episcopal Church, 575-835-1818
First Baptist Church, 575-835-0041
Auto Sales Hope Lutheran Church, 575-838-0540
Monette Ford, 575-835-1190 San Miguel Church and Missions 575-835-2891
Socorro Baptist Temple, 575-835-3306
Auto Supplies Socorro Unitarian Universalists,
Scott’s Auto Supply, Inc., 575-835-0550
St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 575-835-1372
AGGI Bros. CarQuest, 575-838-4382
Avon Sales Representatives Civic Organizations & Community Service Groups
AVON, 575-835-2842 Animal Protective Association of Socorro 575-835-2948
Disabled American Veterans, Chapter #24,
Awards & Recognition 575-835-0843
All About Trophies & More, 505-881-2504 Fraternal Order of Eagles 4017 Auxiliary, 575-835-9952
Friends of the Bosque, 575-838-2110
Banks Friends of the Socorro Public Library, 575-835-1114
Bank of America, 575-835-1569 Literacy Volunteers of Socorro County, 575-835-4659
New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union, 575-889-2590 Merry-Achi Christmas, 575-838-4696
Wells Fargo Bank, 575-835-2410 NARFE Chapter 1402, 575-835-2040
Basic NM Fiesta Project - La Familia Inc., 575-491-2448
AMEC Earth and Environmental Inc., Save Our Bosque Task Force, 575-835-3516
Socorro Amateur Radio Association,
575-835-3026
Socorro Civitan, 575-838-4716
Beauty & Barber Socorro County Fair & Rodeo Association, 575-835-0360
HeLynn’s Mane Attraction Beauty & Barber Salon, Socorro Lions Club, 575-835-2855
575-838-4247 Socorro Rotary Club, 575-835-1768
The Socorro Storehouse, 575-517-7194
Blinds
Hartwell Custom Blinds, 575-838-1677 Clothing
Brownbilt Shoe & Western Wear, 575-835-0730
Boarding Kennels
Black Dog Boarding Kennel Inc., 575-205-2257 Jessie’s Fine Clothing, 575-835-1772
Body Shops Computer Sales & Service
Goehrings Body Shop, 575-835-4792 Computers By LTJ Services, 575-838-0576
Hicks Body Shop & Towing, 575-835-2973
Conservation
Bookstore LaJencia Creek Conservation Ranch, 505-992-8316
NM State Fire Fighter Association Bookstore, Construction and Contractors
575-835-9151
A-1 Quality Redi Mix Inc., 575-835-2417
Business Promotion Blue Thunder Construction, 575-430-5363
Elephant Butte Chamber of Commerce, 575-744-4708 Christensen Construction, 575-443-3544
Magdalena Chamber of Commerce William H Hall, General Contractor, 575-835-3636
Business Wholesale Copy Shop
J H Enterprises LLC, 888-835-2353 Corner Copy, 575-835-9054
Discover Socorro • directories 55
Business Directory:
Socorro County Chamber of Commerce Member Directory
Cycles Farms/Ranches/Markets Furniture/Appliance Sales JCB Healthy Green Enterprises,
Spoke ‘N’ Word Cycles, 575-835-9673 A & J Family Farms, LLC, 575-838-0802 Plaza Furniture, 575-838-0499 575-517-7613
Rosales Produce, 575-835-3611 Hub Furniture & Carpet Co., 505-864-4536 Light Moves, 575-835-1109
Dance Instruction Aaron’s Sales & Lease, 575-838-2336 Smart Health Now, 505-423-3267
Julie Cottom’s School of Dance, Tame Your Life, 505-350-4116
Feed, Clothing
575-621-9622 Gardening
Western Mercantile, 575-835-1155
Socorro Garden Club, 575-838-2539 Heavy Equipment
Dentists
Dr. C. Bonner Oates, Dentist, Financial Services Golf Caldwell Equipment, 575-838-2020
575-835-1623 Farm Bureau Financial Services, NM Tech Golf Course, 575-835-5335
Dr. Duane Beers, DMD, 575-835-3662 575-835-0555 Sierra del Rio Golf Course, Home Health Care
575-744-5135 Respite/Senior Services
Dog Training Flea Market Good Samaritan Society-Socorro,
ABC Dog Training LLC, 505-410-5810 Socorro Flea Market Government Agencies 575-835-2724
Bosque Del Apache NWR,
Dry Cleaner 575-835-1828 Hospitals
California Plaza Dry Cleaners, Florists & Nurseries and Gift Shops
Alamo Gallery and Gifts, 575-835-2787 Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Socorro General Hospital,
575-835-4406 575-835-0412 575-835-8700
Bambi’s Flowers and Gifts,
Dumpster Sales and Rental 575-835-2683 City of Socorro, 575-835-0240
County of Socorro, 575-835-0589 Housing
Dumpster Express, 505-899-3867 Christmas Store Gifts & Flowers, Socorro County Housing Authority,
575-838-0575 El Camino Real International Heritage Center,
Education 575-854-3600 575-835-0196
Gene’s Flowers & Gifts, 575-835-0552
Alamo Navajo School Board, Inc., Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge,
Favor-It Things LLC, 575-838-0300 HVAC Supplier
575-854-2545 505-864-4021
Hope Farms Nursery, 575-838-4512 Morrison Supply Company,
Coleman Academy of Irish Dance, Socorro County Sheriff’s Department,
Casa De Regalos Gifts, 575-835-0770 505-265-6102
505-720-6979 575-835-0941
Harold’s Southwestern Gifts,
Cottonwood Valley Charter School, Socorro Heritage & Visitor Center, Insurance
575-835-3231
575-838-2026 575-835-8927 Able Agency Insurance, 575-835-3321
New Mexico Tech, 575-835-5011 Sundance Gifts, 575-835-2498
Socorro Municipal Court, 575-835-2558 Michael Olguin, Insurance Agent,
NM Tech Community College, Socorro Soil & Water Conservation 575-835-1331
575-835-6581 Honey District, 575-838-0078
Small Business Development Center, Bee Chama Honey, 575-918-1023 South Central Council of Governments, Internet Service Providers
505-925-8980 575-744-0039 SDC Internet, 575-838-1620
Socorro Consolidated School District, Funeral Services
575-835-0300 Daniels Family Funeral Services, Graphic Design Jewelry
575-835-1530 Creative Graphics, 575-418-7113 Painted Sky Designs, 575-418-7774
Electricians Lucky Signs, 575-854-2264 Raychester of Socorro, Inc.,
Ross Electric Inc., 575-835-1320 Individual Members MsWisWorks Computer & Website, 575-835-2454
Electronics Mary Aguilar 575-418-8190
Bill Basham Land Improvement
Braun Company - Radio Shack Grocers Tierra Grande Improvement Association
Susan Bieber
Equine & Horseback Ridng Carol Caldwell John Brooks Supermart, 575-835-1553 505-864-2345
Acacia Riding Adventures, Shirley Coursey San Antonio General Store,
575-835-4594 Landscaping
575-517-0477 George and Rebecca Funkhouser PM Trees & Landscaping, 505-705-5032
Sawtooth Mountians Adventures, Mary Gillard Smith’s Food & Drug Store,
575-772-5162 Linda Gonzales 575-835-2101 Laundromat
Carol Griswold Wal-Mart Super Center # 5492, California Plaza Laundromat,
Equipment Gin Jue 575-838-1415 575-835-4405
Acosta Equipment, 575-835-3961 Judge Ted Kase Hardware Leather
Exercise Judy Lovelace Gambles True Value Store,
Nancy Meyer Socorro Leather, 575-838-3985
Curves for Women, 575-835-2646 575-835-1230
Donna Monette RAKS Building Supply, 575-835-1270 Libraries
Exterminators Vanetta Perry Randy’s Ace Hardware, 575-835-1872 Socorro Public Library, 575-835-1114
Milton Ulibarri Pest Control, 575-835-2881 Barbara Romero
Denise and Mike Shrum Health and Wellness Liquor
Fabric & Embroidery Gerald Watson Hypnotherapy & EFT Services, Sunset Lounge & Package Store,
Bobbie’s Bobbin, 575-838-0001 Clinton Wellborn 505-259-8332 575-835-2289
Visit www.newmexico.org and www.socorro-nm.com
56 directories • Discover Socorro El Defensor Chieftain
Business Directory:
Socorro County Chamber of Commerce Member Directory
Lodging Propane
Best Western Hotel, 575-838-0556 Action Gas, 575-835-0007
Casa Blanca Bed & Breakfast, 575-835-3027
Publications
Cities of Gold Casino Resort, 866-455-0515
The Ink, 575-541-9770
Comfort Inn/Suites, 575-838-4400
Days Inn, 575-835-0230 Publishing
Econo Lodge Motel, 575-835-1500 Your Host NM – Diamond Publishing, 505-268-1793
Economy Inn Motel, 575-835-2263
Radio Stations
Fite Ranch Bed & Breakfast, 575-838-0958 KUFR Family Radio (KXFR 91.9), 866-359-3147
Holiday Inn Express Hotel, 575-838-4600
Howard Johnson, 575-835-0276 Realtors
Motel 6, 575-835-4300 United Country - New Mexico Property Connection,
Rodeway Inn, 575-835-0211 505-990-6180
Sands Motel, 575-835-1130 Coldwell Banker Legacy, Realtor, 575-835-1422
Highland Springs Ranch, 575-835-9581
Socorro Old Town Bed & Breakfast, 575-838-2619
Home & Country Realty, 575-838-4663
Super 8 Motel, 575-835-4626 ERA Pargin Realty, 575-835-0888
The Prickly Pear Inn, 575-838-2286 Old Westland Realty, 575-854-2240
The Western Motel and RV Park, 575-854-2412 Richardson Development Co., 575-835-2835
Mediation Services Betsy Smith, 575-835-8158
Beverly Junger, 505-507-5553 Socorro Plaza Realty, 505-835-2498
Mobile Home Park Recycling
Midway Mobile Home & RV Park, 575-835-1400 Morning Woodcutters, 575-838-2202
Musical Services Restaurants
Acosta’s Mexican Restaurant, 575-835-1688
E’Studio Piano, 575-418-5867
Barbara’s Dream Kitchen, 575-835-1234
I DJ Too, 505-715-9613 Bear Mountain Coffeehouse & Gallery, 575-854-3310
Gretchen Van Houten, 505-710-2068 Blake’s Lotaburger, 575-835-2473
Buckhorn Tavern, 575-835-4423
Newspapers Denny’s Restaurant, 575-835-2504
El Defensor Chieftain, 575-835-0520 Domino’s Pizza, 575-838-1111
Observatories Don Juan’s Cocina, 575-835-9967
El Camino Restaurant, 575-835-1180
NRAO/VLA, 575-835-7000
El Sombrero Restaurant, 575-835-3945
Optometrists Escondida Grill, 575-838-2423
Dr. Steven Woodard, Optometrist, 575-835-2020 K-Bob’s Socorro, 575-835-2900
Lander’s Enterprises, 575-835-2678
Party Services LJ’s Branding Iron BBQ, 575-835-3663
Classic Sweets, 575-918-1023 Manzanares Street Coffeehouse, 575-838-0809
McDonald’s Restaurant, 575-835-3684
Physicians Old Town Bistro
PMS Socorro Community Health Clinic, Owl Bar Café & Steakhouse, 575-835-9946
575-835-4444 Socorro Springs Restaurant & Brewery, 575-838-0650
Sofia’s Kitchen, 575-835-0022
Plumbing/Heating/Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration Sonic Drive-In, 575-835-2413
Jaramillo’s Plumbing & Heating, 575-835-1679 Subway
Pottery and Gift Shop Road Maintenance
San Miguel Pottery Land, 575-835-1028 Blue Collar Construction LLC, 505-553-0651
Prevention Saloons
SCOPE (SMH), 575-835-2444 Capitol Bar, 575-835-1193
Produce Self-Storage
Socorro Farmers’ Market Association, 575-517-0463 EZ Self-Storage by Tripps, 575-835-2465
Visit www.newmexico.org and www.socorro-nm.com
El Defensor Chieftain
Septic Tanks & Service and Construction
S.M.A. Enterprises, 575-835-2417
Skin Care Sales
JAFRA, 575-854-3783
Sports Organizations
AYSO, 575-838-5135
Surveying
Jaramillo Land Surveying, 575-835-4375
Telecommunication Services
Integrated Technologies 575-835-2743
Television/Cable
Comcast Cable, 575-835-2424
Therapy/Rehabilitation
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, 575-835-4243
Socorro Mental Health Foundation, 575-835-2444
Thrift Store
Second Hand Rose (SMH), 575-835-2090
Tires
T & T Tires, 575-835-1243
Trade for ads/stories
New Mexico Tech- Paydirt
Trash Hauling
Caldwell Disposal, 575-838-2020
Travel Agencies
Paradise Travel, 575-835-2929
Utilities
Socorro Electric Cooperative, 575-835-0560
Sun Zia Southwestern LLC, 602-808-2004
Vacation Rentals & Lodging
Home Away NM Vacation Rentals, 888-771-3010
Rancho Magdalena Bed and Breakfast, 575-854-3091
Vacation Home Rentals, 800-710-2755
Veterinarians
Animal Haven Veterinary Clinic, 575-835-3545
Ark of Socorro Veterinary Clinic, 575-835-9002
Video Rental/Tanning/Cigarettes
Video Shack, 575-835-3913
Water and Ice
The Water & Ice Store, 575-838-9283
Website Resources
Web Witchcraft Publishing, 575-838-0784
Wild Horse Protection
New Mexican Horse Project, 505-417-7005
Discover Socorro • directories 57
 Magdalena

60 Discover Socorro & Surrounding Areas El Defensor Chieftain

 Socorro County
Map

Map by Paul Harden

El Defensor Chieftain Discover Socorro & Surrounding Areas 61

62 Discover Socorro & Surrounding Areas El Defensor Chieftain