Chloride & Winston

(Chloride NM)
A former silver mining town, Chloride once had about 3,000 residents. But today, there are only 11 living there. Most of the town has been bought up by one family. They’ve done a nice job restoring many of the original buildings; and now, much of the town is like a museum.

Chloride – Pioneer Store Museum

The Pioneer Store was closed in 1923, then re-opened as a museum 75 years later with the same goods inside. Of course, the large variety of items on display have been cleaned up. In one corner, sets a post office just as it was back then. Being in the store was like stepping back in time.

Interior of store with original wares

Post Office in corner of store

An adobe building next door was the Monte Cristo Saloon and Dance Hall. Through the years, it also served as a mining company headquarters and a schoolhouse. It is now a gift shop and gallery. Both the store and the saloon are on the State Register of Historic Buildings.

Monte Cristo Saloon & Dance Hall now Gift Shop and Gallery

Gallery inside the saloon

Around the store and saloon were some original log cabins that now serve as vacation rentals. There were also some RV sites with hook-ups. The only remaining cabin in Grafton, a no longer existing nearby town, was moved to a site next to the store.

Original log cabin

Interior of Grafton cabin

Across the street, the former Choride Bank has been converted to a café. A block or so away was the Doodle Dum workshop; one of the few rock buildings in town. There were many other buildings I did not get to see, because I was out of time.

Chloride Bank / Café

Doodle Dum Workshop

On the way out of town, the Hanging Tree sat in the middle of the street to remind one to behave. Chloride was very interesting, and I didn’t see near enough. A return visit for more exploring will be needed.

Hanging Tree in the middle of Wall Street

(Winston NM)
Winston was also a mining town; but, little remains from the past. The folks now living there prefer the solitude of being 45 miles away from others. Most seem to have horses and RVs. Setting at the base of the Black Range mountains and next to the Gila National Forest it certainly is a place to get away from it all.

Winston General Store

Entry to General Store

The Winston General Store had just about anything you might want. Food, drinks, ice, hats, clothes, blankets, hunting and fishing gear, gas, propane, etc. I stopped for lunch and had a delicious homemade (serve yourself) bar-b-que sandwich.

Items inside the General Store

I should have spent more time at Chloride and Winston; but, I had a meet-up with a friend scheduled. So, I had to leave in order to be on time.

Camp: Elephant Butte Lake SP-Ridge Rd drycamp
Scene: Ghosttowns, old buildings, museum, gallery