In 1876, Lake Valley was a bustling mining town with almost 4000 people looking for riches from the earth. One vein called the "Bridal Chamber" yielded almost 2.5 million troy ounces of silver on its own. By 1883, the silver was gone, angry Apache were causing trouble and the honeymoon was over.
Slowly but surely, the people left, and when the last one wondered off in 1994, Lake Valley officially became a ghost town. The Bureau of Land Management has restored the schoolhouse and chapel to offer a glimpse of life in the early 20th century. People are free to roam around the Lake Valley Historic Townsite on a self-guided tour and imagine a life full of hope. Hiking is always fun, and you might spot some wildlife.
Lake Valley, Las Cruces, NM, Phone: 575-525-4300
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Step 4: Estimate your driving time using Google Maps (click the blue 'Directions' arrow in the search box).
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