One New Mexico Town Is The Nation's Oldest Continuously Used Movie Location
Juliet White
Author
When New Mexicans mention Las Vegas, we’re rarely talking about the gambling mecca in Nevada. Instead, we’re referring to Las Vegas, New Mexico, a small city located 65 miles east of Santa Fe. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting then you know that Las Vegas has a fascinating (not to mention lawless) past and that its architecture is a big draw, but you might not know there are quite a few movies filmed in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Those working in the film industry were quick to recognize Las Vegas’ potential as a movie location. A wide range of building styles and landscapes were clustered in one place, which made filming here both convenient and cost-effective.
You’d never guess that these houses are all in the same city.
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Movies shot in Las Vegas include: “No Country For Old Men,” “Easy Rider,” “Red Dawn,” “The Astronaut Farmer,” and many more.
Blue Canyon Productions put together this film to show why Las Vegas is the nation’s oldest continuously used movie location. (Please note that historic photos of hangings are included to illustrate the city’s violent past.)
To this day, New Mexico remains popular with the film industry. Did you know about all of the movies filmed in Las Vegas, New Mexico? Here are some other movies you might not realize were shot in our state. Although there are many historic towns in the Land of Enchantment, Las Vegas is the most architecturally intriguing one of all.
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More to Explore
Movies Filmed In Las Vegas, New Mexico
What is the most unique town in New Mexico?
Las Vegas isn't the only unique small town in New Mexico. There are quite a few other spots that have their own special characteristics. For example, Hatch, NM, is known as the Chile Capital of the World. The best chiles come from Hatch, and you can try them yourself at one of the many restaurants that serve just about chile everything. Get chile on a burger, chile lemonade, or just buy chile in bulk to bring back home. There's no other place in the world that can say they have authentic Hatch chiles, giving this town a unique title unlike any other.
What is New Mexico known for?
After you've learned about how many films used movie sets in New Mexico, you might be wondering what else the state is known for. The wild west aesthetic is definitely one thing. Many towns in the Land of Enchantment claim famous outlaws like Billy the Kid passed through. Of course, some other iconic aspects of the state include its Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, the amazing cuisine, rich culture, and beautiful cities. Some quirkier things that people think of when thinking about NM is the supposed UFO crash site Roswell, the historic Route 66, and more. There's no other state quite like it - and many love it for that reason!
What are the best little known facts about New Mexico?
Besides the fact that it is a popular filming location, other fun facts about New Mexico include the fact that its home to the world's largest chile pepper, located in Las Cruces. It is also the location of the oldest church in the United States, the San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe. New Mexico has the lowest water-to-land ratio of any state, with very few natural lakes or rivers. The capital city is the highest in elevation of any other state's, at over 7,000 feet. There are more UNESCO World Heritage Sites in New Mexico than there are in any other state. You could say that it has quite an amazing history!