New Mexico is known for its long and varied mining history, including coal, copper, gold, silver, and uranium. But mining is a dangerous pastime, and long before numerous safety measures were put into place, and long before OSHA was ever a thing, miners faced a livelihood filled with peril. Mogollon, New Mexico once had a lively history as a thriving mining town, but the unlucky minors who succumbed to the deadly “miner’s consumption” might think otherwise. It’s one of the eeriest ghost towns in New Mexico, and parts of it are still standing to this day. This Mogollon ghost town now stands as a reminder of what life was like in the early 1900s in New Mexico.

Mogollon is located in southwest New Mexico.

mlhradio/Flickr The drive itself through the Mogollon Mounts in Catron County is interesting, with one-lane hairpin curves carved out of the hillside.

Mogollon was once a successful silver mining town.

mlhradio/Flickr Some gold was found there as well, though silver was by far the #1 export.

Mining here began in the 1890s.

mlhradio/Flickr While several mines were started, a notable one went by the name of Little Fannie (also spelled Little Fanny) Mine.

A camp soon sprung up around it, and for a while, life was good.

mlhradio/Flickr At its peak, the town had more than 3,000 residents.

Poor health conditions often caused miners working there to die within three years.

mlhradio/Flickr “Miner’s consumption”, also known as black lung disease, took a huge toll on workers and their families. Even with its reputation as a dusty mine, hopefuls still came in hope for a better life, unaware of the dangers that mining in these times posed.

Mine owners eventually developed a method to reduce the dust to lessen dust inhalation.

mlhradio/Flickr Eventually, the town suffered from multiple fires and floods from Silver Creek, which ran through the middle of town.

During its heyday in the early 1900s, gold and silver bullion was mined and shipped by Silver City by mule team.

mlhradio/Flickr During World War I, trucks took to hauling the ore.

It once earned a reputation as one of the wildest mining towns in the southwest.

mlhradio/Flickr Many unsavory deaths occurred during these days. The town came to a screeching halt, however, not because of the mining-related disease killing workers, but because the market value of the ore decreased to the point where the mines were no longer profitable. This very same thing created many ghost towns in New Mexico.

This 1940 photo shows Mogollon’s main street:

Wikimedia Commons/Russell Lee Bad fortune came to the town often. In addition to disease and death, it faced disastrous floods in 1894, 1896, 1899, and 1914 and tragic fires in 1894, 1904, 1910, and 1942. It’s almost like the town simply was not meant to be - at least not there.

A deadly fire in 1942 practically wiped out the remains of the town.

mlhradio/Flickr And when Little Fannie later closed down, people moved away. A few businesses and some residents remain there today… though not many. Mogollon is now also called Mogollon Historic District.

New Mexico has numerous former mining towns that are now mostly ghost towns but provide for an interesting visit. This Mogollon ghost town is one of many similar towns in New Mexico that are filled with history. For example, another tragic coal mining accident led to the demise of this small town.

mlhradio/Flickr

The drive itself through the Mogollon Mounts in Catron County is interesting, with one-lane hairpin curves carved out of the hillside.

Some gold was found there as well, though silver was by far the #1 export.

While several mines were started, a notable one went by the name of Little Fannie (also spelled Little Fanny) Mine.

At its peak, the town had more than 3,000 residents.

“Miner’s consumption”, also known as black lung disease, took a huge toll on workers and their families. Even with its reputation as a dusty mine, hopefuls still came in hope for a better life, unaware of the dangers that mining in these times posed.

Eventually, the town suffered from multiple fires and floods from Silver Creek, which ran through the middle of town.

During World War I, trucks took to hauling the ore.

Many unsavory deaths occurred during these days. The town came to a screeching halt, however, not because of the mining-related disease killing workers, but because the market value of the ore decreased to the point where the mines were no longer profitable. This very same thing created many ghost towns in New Mexico.

Wikimedia Commons/Russell Lee

Bad fortune came to the town often. In addition to disease and death, it faced disastrous floods in 1894, 1896, 1899, and 1914 and tragic fires in 1894, 1904, 1910, and 1942. It’s almost like the town simply was not meant to be - at least not there.

And when Little Fannie later closed down, people moved away. A few businesses and some residents remain there today… though not many. Mogollon is now also called Mogollon Historic District.

Have you ever visited an NM ghost town? Was it as spooky as you expected? If ghost towns are a bit too creepy for you, how about a visit to the oldest place in New Mexico?

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Address: Mogollon, NM 88039, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Ghost Towns in New Mexico November 16, 2021 Tori Jane What are some interesting abandoned places in New Mexico?   New Mexico is one of those places that’s an abandoned place aficionado’s dream! There are seriously places everywhere, especially if you decide to take a drive on the I-40 or old Route 66. Some of our favorite abandoned places in New Mexico include interesting old ghost towns like Steins, which is an old railroad town, Cuervo, and more. There are also interesting places to check out that aren’t necessarily ghost towns, like the towns of Grenville and Organ; those towns are still living, considering they still have residents – but barely. Both locations have more than their fair share of abandoned buildings, homes, and more. Of course, as with all abandoned places, make sure you have permission from the landowner and/or the owner of whatever property you wish to explore and do it as safely as possible. Wear closed-toed shoes, be cautious of squatters, and most of all, have fun! Let’s go on a road trip filled with these abandoned places in New Mexico, shall we? 

How many ghost towns in New Mexico are there?   It is currently estimated that New Mexico is home to at least 400 ghost towns. That’s pretty impressive, but considering that the state is the fifth-largest in the nation, it’s not surprising. Many of these ghost towns still have buildings standing, and plenty more are still open to the public for exploration. This number does not include the “semi-ghost” towns, where there are still some residents but very few, like Grenville. Some of New Mexico’s ghost towns include places like Mogollon, near the New Mexico/Arizona state line, Montoya, along the I-40 closer to the Texas state line, Loma Parda, nearby Santa Fe, and Dawson, Elizabethtown, and Colfax, all in northern New Mexico near the Colorado state line.  

The OIYS Visitor Center

Ghost Towns in New Mexico

November 16, 2021

Tori Jane

What are some interesting abandoned places in New Mexico?   New Mexico is one of those places that’s an abandoned place aficionado’s dream! There are seriously places everywhere, especially if you decide to take a drive on the I-40 or old Route 66. Some of our favorite abandoned places in New Mexico include interesting old ghost towns like Steins, which is an old railroad town, Cuervo, and more. There are also interesting places to check out that aren’t necessarily ghost towns, like the towns of Grenville and Organ; those towns are still living, considering they still have residents – but barely. Both locations have more than their fair share of abandoned buildings, homes, and more. Of course, as with all abandoned places, make sure you have permission from the landowner and/or the owner of whatever property you wish to explore and do it as safely as possible. Wear closed-toed shoes, be cautious of squatters, and most of all, have fun! Let’s go on a road trip filled with these abandoned places in New Mexico, shall we? 

How many ghost towns in New Mexico are there?   It is currently estimated that New Mexico is home to at least 400 ghost towns. That’s pretty impressive, but considering that the state is the fifth-largest in the nation, it’s not surprising. Many of these ghost towns still have buildings standing, and plenty more are still open to the public for exploration. This number does not include the “semi-ghost” towns, where there are still some residents but very few, like Grenville. Some of New Mexico’s ghost towns include places like Mogollon, near the New Mexico/Arizona state line, Montoya, along the I-40 closer to the Texas state line, Loma Parda, nearby Santa Fe, and Dawson, Elizabethtown, and Colfax, all in northern New Mexico near the Colorado state line.  

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

New Mexico is one of those places that’s an abandoned place aficionado’s dream! There are seriously places everywhere, especially if you decide to take a drive on the I-40 or old Route 66. Some of our favorite abandoned places in New Mexico include interesting old ghost towns like Steins, which is an old railroad town, Cuervo, and more. There are also interesting places to check out that aren’t necessarily ghost towns, like the towns of Grenville and Organ; those towns are still living, considering they still have residents – but barely.

Both locations have more than their fair share of abandoned buildings, homes, and more. Of course, as with all abandoned places, make sure you have permission from the landowner and/or the owner of whatever property you wish to explore and do it as safely as possible. Wear closed-toed shoes, be cautious of squatters, and most of all, have fun! Let’s go on a road trip filled with these abandoned places in New Mexico, shall we? 

How many ghost towns in New Mexico are there?  

It is currently estimated that New Mexico is home to at least 400 ghost towns. That’s pretty impressive, but considering that the state is the fifth-largest in the nation, it’s not surprising. Many of these ghost towns still have buildings standing, and plenty more are still open to the public for exploration. This number does not include the “semi-ghost” towns, where there are still some residents but very few, like Grenville. Some of New Mexico’s ghost towns include places like Mogollon, near the New Mexico/Arizona state line, Montoya, along the I-40 closer to the Texas state line, Loma Parda, nearby Santa Fe, and Dawson, Elizabethtown, and Colfax, all in northern New Mexico near the Colorado state line.