Nature Is Reclaiming This One Abandoned New Mexico Spot And It's Actually Amazing
By Monica Spencer|Published November 02, 2020
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Rugged mountains and striking landscapes aren’t the only impressive things you’ll encounter when trekking through New Mexico. The state is teeming with abandoned places rich in history, though weathered by both time and the elements. One location still standing despite the odds is the Van Patten Mountain Camp, a former resort found in the Dripping Springs Natural Area near Las Cruces.
Tucked away in the foothills of the Organ Mountains in southern New Mexico, Dripping Springs Natural Area is a humble oasis that has been a welcome retreat from the otherwise parched landscape.
The retreat was built and operated by Eugene Van Patten, a former Confederate soldier and stage line driver who also happened to be a recent transplant to the area.
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In its heyday, the resort boasted more than a couple dozen rooms, a lavish dining room, and a garden for outdoor entertainment.
It apparently was a popular getaway destination for local college students, socialites, and even some famous historical figures like Pancho Villa and notable sheriff, Pat Garrett.
By 1917, Van Patten hit hard times following several lawsuits, which included a land rental dispute. Dr. Nathan Boyd refused to pay rent to Van Patten for using some of the land to operate his nearby tuberculosis sanatorium. Van Patten eventually ended up selling the resort to Boyd for a mere $1. In the years following, Boyd also encountered financial difficulties and sold the properties, which eventually fell into ruin.
Today, the original Van Patten buildings are merely a shell of the former illustrious establishment.
The buildings have crumbled in the decades of abandonment and faced vandalism before the Bureau of Land Management took over the area. Since then, the agency has spent time stabilizing and restoring parts of the buildings so they can continue to stand for future generations.
Today, you can see the remains of the old resort by hiking along the Dripping Springs Trail.
This three-mile trail is a well-maintained path through the foothills of the Organ Mountains, past the abandoned buildings, and to a seasonal waterfall.
Van Patten's Mountain Camp is located along the main trail at the Dripping Springs Natural Area in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Looking for another abandoned spot to explore? New Mexico is teeming with ghost towns that were once booming mining hubs but many have been almost entirely lost to time. Kingston is one town that refuses to disappear and you can explore what remains on an easy day trip here. Read more in The Derelict Ghost Town Of Kingston, New Mexico Is The Definition Of A Hidden Gem.
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