Just a few miles west of the sleepy little town of Hope, New Mexico along Highway 82 lies the Singer Lake Ranch. A division of a historic grand old ranch from years ago, this compact efficient grazing operation located on the north side of the highway provides easy access and enough livestock carrying capacity to be in the agricultural business. The water features on the ranch, like all of the desert southwest, are seasonal and most times many seasons in between. We are in one of those in between years where not much rain has fallen at the right times to allow for maximum production. However, the durability of the ranch is shown by what feed there is in the driest of times. Two livestock wells provide the core water system to efficiently disburse the most important resource on the ranch. Excellent set of working pens with the southern boundary fronting the Highway that can provide easy access to the markets in Roswell and Artesia, New Mexico. You won’t want to miss this affordable ranch priced in the market at $ 1,300,000. US.
MOUNTAIN HIGH
RUIDOSO, NM
To the west, the town of Ruidoso offers many fun activities along with cultural, artistic, and educational opportunities.
At an elevation of 7,000 feet, Ruidoso is a winter mecca for skiers and snowboarders. Summer brings golf, horse racing, hiking and biking—all within reach of this bustling town filled with art galleries and local artisan shops.
THE INN OF THE MOUNTAIN GODS RESORT: This renovated 5-star hotel offers a championship golf course, and a popular Casino with blackjack, craps, roulette, video terminals and slots.
SKI APACHE: A full-service ski & snowboard resort with year-round activities including rentals, lessons, gondola rides and an 8,900 foot-long, 3-span zip line.
THE LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST: Headquartered in Ruidoso, this million-acre forest invites exploration at every level. Backcountry adventures, hiking, fishing, camping and RVing are all popular pursuits.
THE HUBBARD MUSEUM OF AMERICAN WEST: A Smithsonian affiliated museum featuring artifacts such as stagecoaches and art venerating the Old West lifestyle. Located in Ruidoso Downs, 6 miles east of Ruidoso.
OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD ROSWELL, NM
The hub of Southeastern NM, best known as the crash site of an alleged UFO in 1947. While it’s become a tourist destination for alien adventures, including a UFO Museum and Research Center, and a dedicated downtown “Alien Strip” area, Roswell has so much more to offer.
You’ll find ancient archaeological and historical sites, excellent museums and galleries, a downtown historic section, a small but modern zoo, outdoor parks and activities, great eateries and a winery, and the list goes on. More than a destination, it’s a lively community, too.
LINCOLN HERITAGE SITE: Step back in time in Lincoln, New Mexico, one of the best-preserved towns in the US. Visit the 19th century historic site and learn all about the local Wild West history including the infamous Billy the Kid.
CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK: This stunning natural wonder protects 119 known limestone-worn caves hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert. View awe-inspiring formations along self-guided trails, ranger-guided tours, or try spelunking.
WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT: Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin are great, wave-like dunes that engulfed 275 square miles of desert. Follow the 8-mile Dunes Drive into the park for day hikes, primitive camping, and sand-sledding.
BOTTOMLESS LAKES STATE PARK: Aptly named for the nine small, deep lakes situated within the park known as cenotes, the park offers a variety of activities such as hiking, climbing, swimming (only allowed in one of the lakes), and fishing.
NANCY LOPEZ GOLF COURSE: A top-notch municipal course set in the unmatched beauty of Roswell, NM. It’s well-kept, challenging and fun, never too crowded, with unbeatable fees. A must for every level of golfer.
SPIRITED BEGINNINGS
The first written records of the region
were by the Spanish Conquistadors, who encountered the Native American Pueblos when they explored the area in the 16th century. Since that time, the Spanish Empire, Mexico, and the United States (since 1848) claimed control of the area.
A LONG CATTLE RANCHING HISTORY
The Spaniard explorers saw the potential for cattle raising, and the first herd arrived at the close of the 16th century. These “seed cattle” became the foundation for New Mexico’s livestock industry. Soon large ranches, or estancias, developed in the region. The industry went through many changes since then, but remained in a primitive state until New Mexico was annexed to the US. The rapid growth of the cattle industry came after the Civil War with the development of the railroad.
BILLY THE KID COUNTRY
Situated in the heart of historic outlaw country, the stomping grounds of the legendary Billy the Kid, and the notorious Lincoln County Wars, the region is steeped in Wild West history and lore.
With Lincoln, NM located so close to the ranch, it’s possible that Billy the Kid and his gang traveled on horseback across the rugged terrain over one hundred years ago. As the tale goes…
It all began when a newcomer business interest began competing with the monopolistic establishment for economic supremacy in the tiny Lincoln community, first through the legal system, then with bullets.
Billy the Kid, along with The Regulators, would team up with the newcomers, and tit-for-tat murders ensued over the next year. The climax was a 5-day shoot-out in the Battle of Lincoln. Men on both sides of the dispute were killed, and Billy the Kid was captured. Already regarded as a local hero, he went on to make a legendary jailbreak, reportedly sticking around afterward to give a speech and shake hands with the locals. While most of the men were pardoned, he would become an outlaw for the murder of a sheriff. The official record states that 76 days after his escape, Billy the Kid, was shot through the heart in a darkened room by lawman Pat Garrett, bringing what many believed was an unjust end to a war with many losses on both sides.
TODAY, SOUTHEASTERN NM OFFERS AN ATMOSPHERE STEEPED IN CULTURAL HERITAGE.
The area now strives to celebrate its tradition of rich heritage and has transformed into a region proud of its diversity, along with its unique blend of tradition and contemporary life. Whether a time-ravaged horseshoe, a piece of Indian pottery, or an imposing mission ruin or crumbling cavalry fort, mementos of the past are plentiful. Museums, historic sites, monuments and parks have done an impressive job of preserving the past. Tangible reminders of the area’s history are ever-present, helping to keep the region’s great spirit alive.
The enjoyable climate invites year-round exploration. It’s blue-sky country, characterized by mild winters and hot, dry summers with average highs in the low-90’s, and refreshingly cool evenings. Spring and Fall seasons have moderate temperatures accompanied by the occasional windy day. Precipitation, usually less than 19 inches per year, is concentrated from April to September. Snowfall is minimal and short-lived.
Roswell International Airport (ROW) keeps the world within reach. A small, regional hub for several major airline carriers, plus rental car services, ROW is located just 7 miles south of Roswell. Other area airports include: El Paso International Airport, Albuquerque International Sunport, or Cavern City Air Terminal, Carlsbad, NM.