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SOUTHWEST INSPIRATION | The Old West
This itinerary delivers an experience of the Wild West! While traveling through the Four Corners states one comes across fragments of epic history, sometimes tragic, sometimes heroic, that opened the American frontier to the world. A shack, a mining town, ruts created by wagon trains over years of maneuvering the historic trails, sites of notorious shootouts or of momentous battles, trading posts, ruins of mission churches and military forts and lots and lots of legends! Cultures came together and influenced each other as well as missionaries and outlaws, explorers, pioneers and cowboys, mountain men and trappers, from all continents, had to learn how to live, and survive, together. In the vast western region of the United States one can travel for months to only discover a small portion of the whole saga. Some names have become part of the lore, others are in text books, and everybody has a tale to tell as part of the Wild West's history.
Ideas of Places to Visit
All itineraries are designed to respond to the travelers' desires and interests. The one that follows gives an interesting outlook on the Wild West era following an unusual itinerary that offers many different experiences.
Shootouts, Ghost Towns and Ranches - 10-12 days
Travelers can chose among many trails to discover the romantic and adventurous history of the West. Every state has many places to discover, each tells a story. This is one itinerary that crisscrosses Arizona and New Mexico. (*)
Phoenix and Tucson.
After landing in Phoenix the visitor travels south and spends a night in Tucson. Today Tucson is a vibrant and fast growing city, which retains its cultural heritage: originally an Indian village after being settled by Spanish colonists it was an outpost of Mexico. The town then became part of the United States in 1854. The Coronado expedition passed through here in 1540; John Dillinger, alias Jackrabbit, the fabled bank robber, slept at the historic Congress Hotel and was arrested nearby; and The Southern Pacific Railroad came through the area around 1880.
Tombstone and Bisbee.
Tombstone, the next stop on this trail, is among the most famous Hollywood western movie settings and when you visit this town you almost feel you are part of a cast. What made Tombstone famous is the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, a true story which has been featured in many Hollywood westerns. Saloons, the Courthouse, the Grave Yard, historic buildings and the sites of many a gunfight along with the music of the era takes the visitor back to the romance and excitement of the Wild West. One can spend the night at the Bordello B&B and listen to the many stories that gave Tombstone its nickname: "The town too tough to die."
Another interesting Arizona town, with a mining heritage, is Bisbee. Gold, silver and copper were unearthed here in abundance. This Old West mining camp, once known as “the Queen of the Copper Camps,” proved to be one of the richest mineral sites in the world. By the early 1900s, the Bisbee community was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. Today Bisbee has evolved into an attractive artist colony, while maintaining its Old World charm.
Cochise Country and the Gila Wilderness.
Moving on through the Mules Mountains and Cochise Country the traveler wants to take a detour to discover a well kept secret, Chiricahua National Monument, with rock spires creating the “Wonderland of Rocks,” to then cross into New Mexico and arrives at one of the best preserved ghost towns in the area. Located in what today is a ranching area, back in the 1800’s this was once a mining and railroad town, named after a US Army captain who fought in the Apache Wars. It contains a very intriguing collection of ruins and restored buildings filled with relics. This is also the entrance to the wonderful Gila Wilderness with its ghost towns and Indian cliff dwellings dating back over 800 years. The wilderness is amazing and remote with very few people. One can listen to cowboy music, dine in an old Opera House, enjoy nature and experience the real life of the West.
The more adventurous might consider spending a couple of nights in a working ranch. This would provide a visitor with the chance to experience the dream of a lifetime. Horseback riding, moving cattle, racing with cowboys, helping with the ranch chores. This has been a very different way of life for several hundred years, without much change as to how a ranch is run today!
Heroes and Villans of the Wild West.
By way of two other worthwhile ghost towns the traveler can quickly transverse the state where they will arrive in the land of one of the most notorious outlaws of the Old West, Billy the Kid. The now idyllic village of Lincoln was the backdrop for many of his crimes and fights.
A five hour drive to Northern New Mexico, with a stop at Fort Union, brings the traveler to the town of Raton, which has a beautiful historic district, was once surrounded by mining towns. Many colorful individuals lived here including another notorious outlaw, John Black Jack Ketchum. At one time the biggest and most prosperous mining town in this region was Dawson where two fatal accidents occurred, killing over 300 miners, most of them from Italy and other foreign countries. Today one can visit the cemetery, the only witness to this past event. It is now listed on the National Historic Register. Nearby is the small town of Folsom, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and the Capulin volcano. Here evidence was found (a spearhead stuck in a mammoth’s bone) that human life existed in this area dating back 10,000 years.
Next, visitors descend to the town of Cimarron with its rich heritage. Nestled in a wonderful countryside, near the Valle Vidal, home to some 2000 elks and many historic buildings, including the St. James Hotel, visitors are taken back to a simpler time. This area was once the home of the Jicarilla Apache and Ute Indian, and was located on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Cimarron became the hub of the mining and ranching empire of Lucien Maxwell, a close friend of the famous Mountain Man, army scout and Indian fighter, Kit Carson. Other famous and infamous people came here for different reasons, including Wyatt Earp (of the OK Corral shootout), Buffalo Bill Cody, Frank and Jessie James. Continuing on to Taos the traveler can visit the house of Kit Carson, shop and enjoy the beautiful scenery and rich culture of the Taos Indians, Hispanic settlers and famous artists. From Northern New Mexico the route takes vacationers into southern Colorado through the lovely San Luis Valley at the center of which stands the oldest town in Colorado, San Luis. The journey ends in Denver where the travelers catch their flights back home.
* In order to fully understand the area, to access the places otherwise not easily discovered and reached, and to meet the most interesting people one must go beyond reading the tourist brochures by calling upon the expertise of Seven Directions.
