BREEZING THROUGH LAS VEGAS. Today is our second short stop in the little historic town of Las Vegas, New Mexico. We were here briefly in October of 2014, when we were in the area to explore Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands National Park and all the UFO sites in Roswell, New Mexico. This time we’ll just be here for a night and tomorrow we’ll head to a CoE Park near Santa Fe. It’s dry and brisk tonight. The temperature is about 45 and it’ll get down to the low thirties before morning. We’re at an almost deserted KOA park and it’s as dark as India ink outside. The only light is our little porch light and the stars shine brightly. The weather continues to guide us, as neither one of us relishes travel in snowstorms or on icy roads but so far we’re comfortable. And with the furnace in our motorhome, we’re cozy and warm as toast.
The town of Las Vegas, New Mexico was born of a Mexican land grant in 1833. Before that the area played host to Indian hunters, Spanish explorers and travelers of the Santa Fe Trail who took advantage of its hot springs and clear rivers.
The historic Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
INTERESTING TRIVIA ABOUT LAS VEGAS.
- Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate lived in Las Vegas for a while in the 1870’s. They got into so much trouble they had to move to Tombstone, Arizona!
- Jessee James came came to town in 1870 to enjoy the Hot Springs. He was looking for a place to live anonymously. But he got into a horse race with Billy the Kid and three years later he was shot in the back by Charlie Ford.
- Colonel “Teddy” Roosevelt’s Rough Riders (623 strong) held their first reunion, one year after the battle of San Juan Hill, in Las Vegas in June of 1899. Amid the celebration and wild west show, Roosevelt announced his candidacy for president of the United States.
- Some of the West’s most infamous outlaws and troublemakers passed through Las Vegas. Among them: Scar-Face Charlie, Mysterious Dave, The Durango Kid, Cockeyed Frank, Webfingered Billy, Rattlesnake Sam, Cold Deck George, Flapjack Bill, Stuttering Tom, Little Jack the Cutter, Tommy the Poet, Flyspeck Sam and Handsome Harry the Dance-hall Rustler.
NEXT STOP. Our next stop will be at Cochita Lake near Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s the “end of the line” on the Old Santa Fe Trail which we’ve been driving for the last week or so. We hope you’ll join us again there. I’m sure there will be lots to see and do!
Cochita Lake, New Mexico is just about 20 miles from Santa Fe. From the pictures we’ve seen, it looks as if it will be a good place to stay for a while, weather permitting.
We’ll find lots to see in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
I’ll continue my story next time.
Enjoying this journey ! miss you guys!
We miss you too! MOLLY keeps asking if we can return. “Some day, MOLLY. Some day.”