Cuervo Ghost Town, New Mexico – Route 66

Just off of the I-40, exit 291 in New Mexico, you will find the Ghost Town of Cuervo, which is Spanish for crow and pronounced Curh-voh. If you are a fan of ghost towns, but often find yourself disappointed with what qualifies for a ghost town today, then let me tell you there is one out there that we thoroughly enjoyed visiting.  There are still 57 residents apparently, who call this place home. Where they are is a mystery.  We didn’t see a single person, besides Ben the Fed Ex driver who was taking his mandatory break on this frontage road of Route 66.

history of cuervo Ghost Town

Cuervo was a trade town from the 1500s. In 1902 it became a stop for the railroad to replenish water until 1910 when the trains ceased.  That was ok though because good ‘ole Route 66 came into town in 1926 and made this place boom again.

The town boasted two of everything. Schools, doctors, churches, hotels, etc. until the I-40 was built literally right through the middle splitting the place in two. Thus causing its immediate demise. 

now just a ghost town

Here there are still structures in excellent condition and obviously some which have seen better days. Surprisingly, there is virtually no graffiti or tagging to speak of even though it is so close to the freeway. No homeless are in residence and the structures aren’t trashed. This alone is absolutely fantastic!

slide show of cuervo ghost town

Take the Catholic Church for example. It is in perfect condition as though it greeted the congregation today and locked for the night to resume tomorrow. This is the case for several of the buildings we encountered.

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This is a wonderful example of how things should be when they become abandoned.  As a rule of thumb we always abide by these rules: 

rules of thumb

If there are “No Trespassing” “Posted” or “Private Property” signs, then we don’t venture in.  We don’t go inside if the roof or floors are weakened and in disarray.  And we always leave everything as we find it. We carry a torch and check for snakes and other bities. Plus keep a lookout for rusty old nails or things which may cause harm. Priority Number One is STAY SAFE.

slide show

We happened to go in the wintertime so we weren’t going to encounter snakes or other poisonous things now, but what I did happen to tread on was a prickly cactus thorn that penetrated my shoe and into my foot causing an uncomfortable pain.  Should have worn those boots!

It’s something really special when you can just walk along a dirt road in complete silence.  Stop, zoom in with your viewfinder and let your mind interject ruminations about late summer evenings in a bygone era.  The soft squeaking of a swing set in the mild desert breeze. A rhythmic creaking of a rocking chair against weathered floorboards on the porch.  The squeal from hinges on the screen door as it slams back against the door frame. What follows is the clinging of ice cubes against a tall glass of fresh lemonade being placed upon a table.  While the tantalizing aroma of a home-cooked meal dance past your nostrils.

Really this place tells a better story through the pictures it grants us, rather than us rambling on.  It’s a wonderful place to visit, just be mindful and be sure to stay safe out there.  If you happen to see Ben taking his break, tell him Andrea and Steven say Hi!

in a nutshell

• Free
• Never ever go anywhere like this alone.  You just don’t know who or what could be around the next corner 
• Watch for snakes and scorpions
• Mind the cactus
• Take only photos, leave only footprints to keep these places preserved the best we can. (If we all just show some respect for what used to be someone else home, then a lot more explorers and photographers can enjoy it)
• Be sensible and stay safe

location map