Rugged mountains and striking landscapes aren’t the only impressive things you’ll encounter when trekking through New Mexico. The state is teeming with abandoned places rich in history, though weathered by both time and the elements. One location still standing despite the odds is the Van Patten Mountain Camp, a former resort found in the Dripping Springs Natural Area near Las Cruces.
Tucked away in the foothills of the Organ Mountains in southern New Mexico, Dripping Springs Natural Area is a humble oasis that has been a welcome retreat from the otherwise parched landscape.
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr In the late 1800s, a former Confederate soldier decided to capitalize on that idea by constructing a resort not far from this picturesque area.
Set against the jagged, imposing mountains, the Van Patten Mountain Camp was established as a cozy yet luxurious resort.
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr The retreat was built and operated by Eugene Van Patten, a former Confederate soldier and stage line driver who also happened to be a recent transplant to the area.
In its heyday, the resort boasted more than a couple dozen rooms, a lavish dining room, and a garden for outdoor entertainment.
Hannah Hagan/AllTrails It apparently was a popular getaway destination for local college students, socialites, and even some famous historical figures like Pancho Villa and notable sheriff, Pat Garrett.
The good times didn’t last, unfortunately.
Michael Norris/Flickr By 1917, Van Patten hit hard times following several lawsuits, which included a land rental dispute. Dr. Nathan Boyd refused to pay rent to Van Patten for using some of the land to operate his nearby tuberculosis sanatorium. Van Patten eventually ended up selling the resort to Boyd for a mere $1. In the years following, Boyd also encountered financial difficulties and sold the properties, which eventually fell into ruin.
Today, the original Van Patten buildings are merely a shell of the former illustrious establishment.
Mario Ivan Garcia/AllTrails The buildings have crumbled in the decades of abandonment and faced vandalism before the Bureau of Land Management took over the area. Since then, the agency has spent time stabilizing and restoring parts of the buildings so they can continue to stand for future generations.
Today, you can see the remains of the old resort by hiking along the Dripping Springs Trail.
BLM New Mexico/Flickr This three-mile trail is a well-maintained path through the foothills of the Organ Mountains, past the abandoned buildings, and to a seasonal waterfall.
Van Patten’s Mountain Camp is located along the main trail at the Dripping Springs Natural Area in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Google Maps
For details about the trail and the area, visit the Bureau of Land Management website or AllTrails.
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
In the late 1800s, a former Confederate soldier decided to capitalize on that idea by constructing a resort not far from this picturesque area.
The retreat was built and operated by Eugene Van Patten, a former Confederate soldier and stage line driver who also happened to be a recent transplant to the area.
Hannah Hagan/AllTrails
It apparently was a popular getaway destination for local college students, socialites, and even some famous historical figures like Pancho Villa and notable sheriff, Pat Garrett.
Michael Norris/Flickr
By 1917, Van Patten hit hard times following several lawsuits, which included a land rental dispute. Dr. Nathan Boyd refused to pay rent to Van Patten for using some of the land to operate his nearby tuberculosis sanatorium. Van Patten eventually ended up selling the resort to Boyd for a mere $1. In the years following, Boyd also encountered financial difficulties and sold the properties, which eventually fell into ruin.
Mario Ivan Garcia/AllTrails
The buildings have crumbled in the decades of abandonment and faced vandalism before the Bureau of Land Management took over the area. Since then, the agency has spent time stabilizing and restoring parts of the buildings so they can continue to stand for future generations.
BLM New Mexico/Flickr
This three-mile trail is a well-maintained path through the foothills of the Organ Mountains, past the abandoned buildings, and to a seasonal waterfall.
Google Maps
Website: Bureau of Land Management Trail details: AllTrails Location: Google Maps Phone: 575-522-1219
Looking for another abandoned spot to explore? New Mexico is teeming with ghost towns that were once booming mining hubs but many have been almost entirely lost to time. Kingston is one town that refuses to disappear and you can explore what remains on an easy day trip here. Read more in The Derelict Ghost Town Of Kingston, New Mexico Is The Definition Of A Hidden Gem.
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Address: Dripping Springs Natural Area, 15000 Dripping Springs Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88011, USA
