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Rodeo
Hildalgo County
(At
the Arizona border in the "boot-heel" of NM,
see Map)
Rodeo,
NM, is a sanctuary
for the horse person year-round, especially for horse
folks in winter. It is a sanctuary of open space and
trails, away from everything that the western
culture holds high in esteem. There are no supermarkets,
shopping centers, clothing stores, theaters, nightclubs,
golf courses, coffee shops, or car dealers. Closest shopping is found in Lordsburg,
NM or Douglas, AZ, about 45
minutes away.
With a
post office, a luxury RV Park, an equestrian center, area guest ranches,
abundant wildlife, and a few small stores,
an art gallery,
and eating places, it is Perfect Place for solitude,
extensive horseback riding, birding, star-gazing,
and comes with private
runways,
aerotrekking,
farming
and ranching. This small southwestern New Mexico at the
Arizona border town enjoys four moderate seasons
and unlimited opportunities
for exploring desert and mountain trails. Also, very close visit
south of the border into Mexico visit. Truly,
the best kept secret for "snowbirds,"
especially the horsey kind. Its almost adjacent sister
city in Arizona, is Portal, the entrance to the
Chiricahua Mountains. See below.
Check out Weather Summary
here
Rodeo
overlooks the
Chiricahua Mountains on the
Arizona side of its border, which cover over
325,000 acres including the
Coronado National Forest,
Wilderness, and the Chiricahua National Monument. Here you will
find beautiful
mountains, canyons, and desert grasslands to ride your horses, enjoy open
space, star-gazing, beauty,
solitude, and, for bird-watchers, enjoy over 300 variety of birds. (which is
1/3 of the
bird species in the U.S., I am told.)
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Here in the San Simon Valley area there are three little desert towns
of Rodeo and Animas, New Mexico and Portal, Arizona. The area
features large pastures of desert grasslands with panoramic views of
the Chiricahuas (once home of the Chiricahua
Apache Indians) and the
Peloncillo Mountains.
Bring your horses and enjoy endless trails,
staying next door to a full
Equestrian Center
almost adjacent the
Rusty's "luxury" RV Ranch
with wireless
internet and 1/4
acre pull- through sites and enjoy privacy and panoramic views. This
is an area where there is no significant human
population within 45 miles and its very, very dark and
clear skies invites star-gaziers of all kinds. Check
weather here:
four moderate seasons |
Above Photo
courtesy of Caballos de Las Estrellas |
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Established in 1902, Rodeo (see
Map) is one of the few towns
located along the El Paso and SW Railroad route that is
still populated today. It is located in the San Simon
Valley, a wide desert valley with the Chiricahua
Mountains to the west and the Peloncillo Mountains to
the east. Rodeo was built by the railroad to serve as
a water stop and station. This town's survival depended
on the railroads operation, bringing travelers in on
passenger trains and local ranchers bringing cattle for
shipment. When the railroad ceased operation in 1952,
Rodeo nearly became a ghost town, but still survives
today. The Rodeo Post Office has been in operation since
1903 and is reviving. |
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If clean air, wide
open spaces, guest ranches, and breath-taking mountain views are your
thing....
You may have found a home!
The Los Caballos Equestrian Center, walking distance
from Rusty's RV Camp where horse snow birds like to
visit in the winter, has all the horse amenities you
would need. Pictured to right is the Large (200 by
250-ft.
arena) and large turnout paddocks. There is also a
round pen, a barn, covered paddocks and also large
turn-out paddocks. The developer of the center is into
single-footed gaited horses. There are 10 acres parcels
for sale here where you can board your horse at the
center. Outside borders welcomed.
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To be sure, this area around Rodeo-Portal is currently
experiencing a new era of revival, as the likes of John
McAfee, from the anti-virus software era, has purchased
large parcels of land and currently spends a lot a time
in the area. Pictured left is one of the Sky Gypsy
pilots above the
Sky Gypsy Airport.
For more airport
services, Also see
Chamberlain Aviation. |
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A REAL Rodeo
Coming Soon:
A developer has purchased about 1,000
acres for a "very large" rodeo fairground near
RODEO; equestrian development is a part of it. Could be up and running early 2010.
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Places to Visit, Stay, & Know very close to
Rodeo, NM
The Wolfsong Ranch A nonprofit
organization to study wolfs and wolf-dogs. The Ranch was
relocated near Rodeo in 2000. Wolfsong Ranch currently
sits on over 440 acres of high desert. The current
animal population at Wolfsong is just over 300. All
daytime tours are scheduled between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM
Monday through Saturday. Contact us to schedule your
visit while in Rodeo! Phone 505-557-2354.
Rodeo Airport
http://www.rodeonewmexico.com/airport.html
http://www.chamberlainaviation.com/Rodeo%20Airport.htm
July Fourth Celebration, Rodeo
http://www.rodeonewmexico.com/4thjuly.html
Rodeo Chili Festival
http://www.rodeonewmexico.com/chile.html
Chirachua Art Gallery, Downtown Rodeo
Site complements of TheGoergeWakerHouse
Local Artists
http://www.rodeonewmexico.com/art.html
Portal Peak Lodge (520) 558-2223
Mountain Shadows Getaway
(520)
558-5858
Mountain Valley Lodge
(575) 557-2267
http://www.mountainvalleylodgesite.com/
Quailway Cottage
- 520-558-0019
http://www.quailwaycottage.com/
520) 558-0019
Price Canyon Ranch - (800) 727-0065
http://www.pricecanyon.com/
Cave Creek Ranch
(520) 558-2334
Portal, NM
Birding
in Area
Local Website with Eating Places, etc.
http://www.rodeonewmexico.com/
http://www.malpaiborderlandsgroup.org/
A nonprofit organization to bring ranchers,
scientists, and key agencies together, and today the
Malpai Borderlands Group now carries out a series of
conservation programs and activities, including land
restoration; endangered species habitat protection
Chenowth's
Cienega
Ranch, a
beautiful spread of 27,000 acres, right out of the Old
West.
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Courtesy of Wolfsong Ranch
Elegant Trogan |
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