Best Urban Legend in New Mexico: The Scariest Local Myth To Explore if You Dare

What is your favorite urban legend in New Mexico? Is it La Llorona, the ghostly mother weeping for her lost children? Or could it be the popular Roswell UFO crash? One thing I have learned is that many folklores are based on real events. Of course, over time (similar to a game of telephone), these tales evolve to become what they are today. 

Some of my favorite urban myths in New Mexico include lore with historical significance and those that document stories from the past. And if I can actually visit the site where the incident happened, that’s the icing on the cake. This brings me to Dripping Springs in Las Cruces. With an abandoned sanatorium and reports of paranormal activities, Dripping Springs could arguably be the best urban legend in New Mexico. Do you dare to discover more about it? 

Dripping Springs Natural Area is one of the most underrated destinations in New Mexico, and if you have never been, let me give you a reason to visit. Sure, its location in the Organ Mountains with miles of hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and picnic areas, is enough reason to explore. But for me, my curiosity led me to this historic and possibly haunted destination in New Mexico. 

Along the three-mile Dripping Springs Trail are several abandoned structures that date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Here, nature, tragedy, and history combine to tell creepy tales that we can’t resist. 

Formerly known as Van Patten Mountain Camp, Dr. Nathan Boyd purchased the property for $1 after a lengthy dispute with the previous owner. Boyds’ Health Resort and Sanatorium became a facility that treated folks suffering from tuberculosis. Initially, Boyd wanted to save his wife, who was dying from the deadly disease. Unfortunately, he failed, and she eventually passed away. Other patients came to the hospital believing they could be cured, but instead they suffered the same fate.  

Legend has it that there were brutal experiments performed on thousands of patients. Some were left to die inside the facility under harsh conditions, while others wandered through the mountains, where they eventually perished as well. Of course, these legends have developed over the years, but not all are rooted in complete facts.    

Naturally, with so many restless spirits who suffered awful deaths, it’s easy to see why these frightening tales live on. Hikers report eerie feelings, weird whispers, and shadowy apparitions in the area. Some folks who camped nearby mentioned having nightmares of the terrible experiments that were performed on the deathly ill patients. I believe that energy always exists, and it’s very possible that these restless spirits of patients still haunt the mountain and sanatorium today. 

Even if you don’t believe the urban legends, the site is an interesting place to visit. Aside from the resort and sanatorium, there are other abandoned buildings in an area known as the Livery. Expect to see what’s left of a general store, a stagecoach station, a barn, a dining hall, and more. Of course, nature is reclaiming the weathered structures, but they’re still a living museum of a fascinating piece of New Mexico’s history. 

History buffs, photographers, and adventurers who love exploring creepy abandoned places will find this historic site fascinating. Plus, there are interpretive signs with information about the buildings in this former bustling hideaway and medical facility. Keep in mind, you cannot enter the sanatorium, but you can look inside it and snap some cool pics of the haunted building.  

Outside of the ruins, the mountains are spectacular, and the trails have plenty of wildlife roaming the region. Dripping Springs, the spring where the area got its name, is along the trail as well. Pack a lunch, have a picnic, and enjoy the peaceful desert landscape, and hopefully, none of the restless souls will show up while you’re here. Well, unless you want them to.  

Have you been to Dripping Springs Natural Area? Did you experience any paranormal activity on your visit? Share it with us on our nomination page. And while you’re there, tell us your pick for the best urban legend in New Mexico. 

After your frightening adventure, be sure to carve out time to explore the town of Las Cruces or use our Only In Your State itinerary planner to personalize your own day trip.