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ExperiencesSights & Landmarks

This Eccentric, Roadside Gift Shop Located Inside A Cave Is The Definition Of A Hidden Gem

Updated Nov 21, 2022

Written by 

Monica Spencer

The drive down Billy the Kid Trail in southern New Mexico is a scenic one filled with beautiful mountain vistas, historic sites, and even one literal hole in the wall. Sitting just off the side of the highway is Fox Cave in New Mexico, the aforementioned hole in the wall that doubles as an eccentric gift shop.

Fox Cave is one outlandish roadside attraction.

Exterior of Fox Cave building with stone walls, red signage, and a parked white car in front.
Byron Petty/Google

Decades before the building portion was constructed, the cave-like hollow is rumored to have served as a hiding spot for Billy the Kid.

Since then, a building was erected around the cave in the 1950s to serve as a tourist attraction.

A cave interior with stone walls, wooden shelves displaying items, and soft lighting creating a cozy atmosphere.
Mathieu Lapalme/Google

It was abandoned for a while before opening up again in 2012 as the oddball gift shop we know today.

Walk inside and you'll be met with a fascinating sight.

A cave-like shop filled with various crafts, sculptures, and decorations, illuminated by rustic chandeliers.
Julian Docherty/Google

Most of the shop is composed of the cave walls, giving an earthy feel to the store.

You'll find a wide variety of items for sale: gemstones you can pan for, trinkets, jewelry, and more.

A collection of colorful gemstones and crystals scattered on a mesh screen inside a wooden box.
Juan Matta/Google

Fox Cave wouldn't be a genuine roadside attraction without a smattering of eccentric finds.

Display of various skull replicas in a glass case, showcasing different colors and features, set against a stone wall.
Carla Irene Hicks/Google

In addition to being hosted inside a cave, the gift shop contains some oddball displays with faux skulls, mannequins dressed as historical figures, and aliens scattered around the store.

Outside, you'll spot a mock cemetery, Old West displays, dinosaurs, and bizarre sculptures.

A wooden fenced area labeled "Fox Cemetery" with overgrown grass and a few markers inside.
Julian Docherty/Google

What do you hope to find at this eccentric attraction?

Two large, sculpted hands reaching up from the ground, set against a rocky landscape and a building in the background.
Michael Hufstedler/Google

Fox Cave is located right along Billy the Kid Trail, about 10 miles east of Ruidoso Downs.

Map showing the location of Fox Cave near Ruidoso, New Mexico, within the Lincoln National Forest.
Google Maps

It is a one-hour drive from both Alamogordo and Roswell. The gift shop is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can find details about Fox Cave in New Mexico by visiting its Facebook page.

Facebook: Fox Cave, New Mexico

Address: 26897 US Highway 70, Ruidoso Downs, NM, 88346

Phone: 575-378-9954

Hungry while driving down Billy the Kid Trail? You'll want to stop by Tinnie Silver Dollar, a steakhouse located inside a former general store that dates to 1873. Read more in This Delicious Restaurant In New Mexico On A Rural Country Road Is A Hidden Culinary Gem.

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