Every state has its share of haunted stories and ghost lore, and New Mexico is no different. Here are nine of the most terrifying places in the state which are guaranteed to horrify.
- Ghost Ranch, Abiquiú
Larry Lamsa/Flickr The gorgeous scenery of Ghost Ranch and Box Canyon—scenery that inspired renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe—holds a deep, dark, and disturbing past. From cattle rustlers to unexplained disappearances to ghost stories, this is one eerie place.
- Double Eagle Restaurant, Mesilla
Jasperdo/Flickr A story about forbidden love and murder haunts the Double Eagle Restaurant where visitors have heard strange whispers and witnessed furniture moving on its own and glasses shattering for no reason.
- Deming
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr This tiny town in the southern part of the state is chock full of insane paranormal activity due to its long history of death and destruction. From a sanitorium with reported satanic worship to haunted restaurants and schools to UFO sightings (a lot of them), Deming is a truly creepy, terrifying town.
- Philmont Scout Ranch/Urraca Mesa, Cimarron
Mack Lundy/Flickr This large area near Cimarron has been the subject of much reported creepy goings-on. From flickering lights in the sky to apparitions to unexplained noises and creepy cat totems guarding the area, Urraca Mesa is truly a sinister place.
- New Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe
killbox/Flickr In 1980 inmates took over the “old main” prison here for 36 hours. It became one of the worst prison riots in American history. During the carnage, 33 inmates died and many others, including guards, were injured. Rumors say the prison is quite haunted, with visitors reporting considerable paranormal activity at this terrifying place.
- St. James Hotel, Cimarron
St. James Hotel/Yelp This hotel’s claim to fame is that at least 26 people have died here—many of them violently. It’s no wonder, then, that the St. James Hotel is rumored to be haunted. In fact, one of the rooms is so haunted that it is padlocked shut and closed to guests.
- Cuervo Ghost Town
las-initially, Flickr This small, barely inhabited “living” ghost town with 58 residents is, indeed, creepy. Severed in half by the creation of Interstate 40, Cuervo’s abandoned buildings and eerie winds are sinister.
- Dulce
Christopher Nicol/Wikimedia Commons Located on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, the town of Dulce is rumored to house a secret underground military base that puts Nevada’s Area 51 to shame regarding classified experiments on aliens. Creepy, huh?
- Lake Valley
Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr Haunted or not, the small ghost town of Lake Valley just looks the part. It could easily be a set from a truly creepy, post-apocalyptic movie.
Like many other southwestern states, New Mexico’s mining history has contributed to its storied, oftentimes horrific, past. From ghost towns to haunted hotels and restaurants to alien lore, the Land of Enchantment is not always so enchanting.
Larry Lamsa/Flickr
The gorgeous scenery of Ghost Ranch and Box Canyon—scenery that inspired renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe—holds a deep, dark, and disturbing past. From cattle rustlers to unexplained disappearances to ghost stories, this is one eerie place.
Jasperdo/Flickr
A story about forbidden love and murder haunts the Double Eagle Restaurant where visitors have heard strange whispers and witnessed furniture moving on its own and glasses shattering for no reason.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
This tiny town in the southern part of the state is chock full of insane paranormal activity due to its long history of death and destruction. From a sanitorium with reported satanic worship to haunted restaurants and schools to UFO sightings (a lot of them), Deming is a truly creepy, terrifying town.
Mack Lundy/Flickr
This large area near Cimarron has been the subject of much reported creepy goings-on. From flickering lights in the sky to apparitions to unexplained noises and creepy cat totems guarding the area, Urraca Mesa is truly a sinister place.
killbox/Flickr
In 1980 inmates took over the “old main” prison here for 36 hours. It became one of the worst prison riots in American history. During the carnage, 33 inmates died and many others, including guards, were injured. Rumors say the prison is quite haunted, with visitors reporting considerable paranormal activity at this terrifying place.
St. James Hotel/Yelp
This hotel’s claim to fame is that at least 26 people have died here—many of them violently. It’s no wonder, then, that the St. James Hotel is rumored to be haunted. In fact, one of the rooms is so haunted that it is padlocked shut and closed to guests.
las-initially, Flickr
This small, barely inhabited “living” ghost town with 58 residents is, indeed, creepy. Severed in half by the creation of Interstate 40, Cuervo’s abandoned buildings and eerie winds are sinister.
Christopher Nicol/Wikimedia Commons
Located on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, the town of Dulce is rumored to house a secret underground military base that puts Nevada’s Area 51 to shame regarding classified experiments on aliens. Creepy, huh?
Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr
Haunted or not, the small ghost town of Lake Valley just looks the part. It could easily be a set from a truly creepy, post-apocalyptic movie.
Have you visited any of these most terrifying places? Did I leave your favorite off this list? Please comment below.
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