Tuesday, May 10

Day Seven of Summer, 2022

Las Cruces, New Mexico

We departed Tucson yesterday and drove to Las Cruces, which was an easy 260 miles on the I-10. We stayed two nights at the Hacienda RV Resort, which was conveniently located just of the Interstate. The RV Park is extremely quiet and well-kept. Small dividing fences separate the lots. We are on very compact gravel and dirt. Our site was completely level and long enough to hold our 37-foot Newmar Dutch Star plus the jeep.

Las Cruces has a rich and wild history. It was settled in the early 1800s and named after an unfortunate group of settlers who were killed by the Apache Indians. The crosses named the town--Las Cruces. It was built on one of the most famous stage lines - The Butterfield Stagecoach Line. Billy the Kid was tried here. His lawyer was killed here.

The old town area, La Mesilla is an interesting afternoon’s worth of old restored adobe buildings that now house shops, restaurants, bars, and art galleries. The town square hosts the church at one end and the original saloon at the other. We strolled and took pictures until it was time for a margarita (delicious) and Mexican food dinner (not very good) at La Posta. La Mesilla is authentic. It’s been restored enough to appreciate but not overdone so much that it’s touristy. The signage and infrastructure just barely cover what’s needed.

On Day Two we opted for a hike near the Dripping Springs Visitor Center. The center offers interpretive displays of the Organ Mountains which are part of the Bureau of Land Management’s National Conservation Lands. These granite peaks ascend straight up to 9,000 feet. There as volcanic flows and caves to explore as well. We opted for the Cave Hike, an easy ¾ mile adventure each direction. The trail was level and well-groomed. Perfect for someone who is still recovering from foot surgery. This was my first hike since the operation, so I wanted to go easy on the foot. You could easily spend a day here. Pack a nice lunch, they have a lovely and expansive picnic area.