We left Pietown and headed to Alamogordo, NM to see Lorraine’s Dad. We stayed at the Boot Hill RV Resort (http://www.boothillrv.com/) for $28 a night which was a back in. The sites are large but the area is all dirt so it can become dusty. Overall the resort was good.
During our visit, we went to Cloudcroft, NM where Lorraine’s Dad and older sister, Debbie and her husband, Marc live. Cloudcroft is a village is within the Lincoln National Forest. The population was 674 at the 2010 census. Despite being located in an otherwise arid region, its extremely high elevation (8,600 feet (2,600 m); one of the highest in the U.S.) allows for a relatively mild summer that makes it a popular tourist attraction in West Texas and New Mexico. It was named by Fodor’s in 2002 as the Number 3 “Most Overlooked and Underrated Destination Spot.”[ Tourism remains the primary economic driver of the village.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloudcroft,_New_Mexico
The drive up the mountain includes a view of the Mexican Canyon Railroad Trestle which is part of the Alamogordo and Sacramento Mountain Railway. “The Alamogordo and Sacramento Mountain Railway was built as a branch line for the El Paso and Northeastern Railway (EP&NE). Construction began from the EP&NE connection at Alamogordo, New Mexico, in 1898 to reach the Sacramento Mountain fir and spruce forests to the east. Sawmills were built in Alamogordo to mill lumber for extension of the EP&NE to reach the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. The railroad reached Cloudcroft, New Mexico, in 1900, where a lodge was built for summer tourists to enjoy the cool mountain air. Cloudcroft was laid out in several villages so tourists might avoid associating too closely with loggers and railway workers.[ The railway was extended from Cloudcroft to the small community of Russia, New Mexico, in 1903; and several branches were built to reach timber for the Alamogordo Lumber Company. For the first half of Cloudcroft’s existence, the train was the only means of travel to the village (except possibly by pack mule). In the mid-1940s, the first highway to the village was opened — taking away much of the train’s logging and excursion business. The train discontinued service to the village in 1948.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamogordo_and_Sacramento_Mountain_Railway
Driving further up is the Cloudcroft Village which has been kept in the original formation.
While we were in Alamogordo, we also had to visit McGinn’s Pistachio farm. The McGinn family started their 90 acre pistachio orchard in 1980. Today, the orchard contains over 12,500 trees. 14 acres of grapes are also grown at Pistachio Tree Ranch and 18 different varieties of wine are made at McGinn’s Arena Blanca Winery on site. McGinn’s has the largest Pistachio which is a big tourist picture event.
Of course, we bought lots of pistachios and sent some to our family. It was a quick visit to see Lorraine’s family but a nice stay.
