Yeso New Mexico - The Ghost Town With A Post Office

When you’re on the road, every once in a while, you”ll pass through a place that grabs you. Something about it pulls you in and takes over your thoughts, and you become fascinated. Out in the middle of nowhere on the fringes of no man’s land, we entered the town limits of just such a place. Its name was Yeso.

Old hand painted sign on the side of a dilapidated adobe brick building reading water with a phone number at the beginning of Yeso Ghost Town

Leaving Fort Sumner, we travelled along the 60 westbound to our next destination. On this desolate stretch of highway, there isn’t much to see or anyone else around on the road. So it can get a little monotonous.

Some buildings began to take shape along the flat expanse of terra firma in the distance. Upon reaching the first structure we realised, it was abandoned. So was the next one, and the next. Our interest was really peaked at this point. We passed more empty buildings and had to find somewhere to pull over and take a look around.

We stopped in the shadow of the old two-story hotel, according to the ghost sign on its peeling exterior. Even the eerie silence was holding its breath when we left the vehicle. The only sound was the muffled crunch of gravel underfoot and the click of the camera.

Large two story square building with 3 windows along one side and four along the front with a large tree on the corner that has fallen over due to lack of maintenance in Yeso Ghost Town

Yeso History

The pages of history this town has been written on are blowing away like dust in the wind. There are a few facts we know. Yeso arose from the Earth next to a creek by the same name in 1906. It became a railroad stop for steam locomotives. A postoffice was established in 1909 and still operates although in a different building. And pretty much everyone left. Why?

With the decline of steam-powered locomotives, they didn’t need to stop to fill up with water. The water in that lovely little Yeso creek, is no good to drink (Yeso translates to “gypsum” in Spanish). The land couldn’t be farmed so the bigger towns around seemed like the better option.

In the 1960s the school was finally closed for good.

Exploring The Remains

With the door wide open and the absence of any no trespassing signs, we decided to take a few steps inside the old hotel and see what was left. Obviously, passers-by believe this spot to be the perfect place to discard their trash.

The bones of the building and a few retro surprises were worth the stop in. The smell of history lines the peeling walls in a state of decay that is wildly attractive.

Some unique retro furniture and appliances still reside in the walls of this abandoned hotel in Yeso Ghost Town

A shabby staircase leads to a second floor in the centre of the room but looks too weak to support any weight. The top floor will have to remain a mystery.

Staircase without railings that have seen better days in the middle of the building in Yeso Ghost Town

There is much more to see out in the lonely windswept fields. The remains of a small family home, one which appears to have been the church, a stone-built house and several massive water tanks.

Small family home that part of the roof has caved in and no windows left with the remains of a tree out front next to a dirt road

Inside of a building that looked like it served as a church that is in major disrepair and braced up with 2 x 4s with a painting of a female face on the wall

Stone house with large tree growing out back with no windows and broken down doors wide open at Yeso Ghost Town

All parts of a town that has been disregarded and driven past without a second thought.

Large cylindrical water tank with metal ladder attached to the side and worn out letters that used to say WATER along the top

Our Takeaway

Yeso may have a short name and past, but it is still clinging onto life. Its extremely photogenic, likeable, and memorable, and all the qualities we look for. We really enjoyed our stroll along the long dusty roads to the decaying dwellings.

This place may be really far out of the way, but we like that about it. Those tend to be our favourite types of locations to visit. If you find yourself in this corner of New Mexico and love to explore abandoned places, then Yeso is a great place to stop.

In A Nutshell

Off the side of the highway
Be mindful and respectful of all no trespassing signs
Some people do still live here, be careful not to walk into their home
Take photos and enjoy. Do not destroy
Yeso is technically NOT a ghost town as it still has an operating post office