Two-Lane Tidbit: Lake Valley, New Mexico

Where does one go to find the perfect combination of ghost town and old service station (we realize it’s an odd and very Jen-specific combo)? The answer – Lake Valley, New Mexico. On our list for quite some time, a holiday trip to Southern NM finally got us to Lake Valley. Established as a mining town, Lake Valley was founded in 1878 after the discovery of silver in the area. In 1882, the Bridal Chamber was found, a mine so valuable it once produced a single piece of silver worth $7,000 (for reference, silver was selling at that time for around $1/ounce). Eventually, a railroad was extended to town, and prosperity reigned until the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893, which devalued silver and was the beginning of the decline of Lake Valley and so many other silver mining towns throughout the West. Then, just two years later, the majority of the town burned to the ground. Though it was never rebuilt, a few residents stayed on, with the final couple living in town until 1994. Now managed by the BLM, you can see the remaining buildings and check out the museum, full of very cool artifacts found throughout town, located in the old schoolhouse. Open Thursday-Monday, you can drive through or take a self-guided walking tour. Or take a few extra minutes to enjoy the history and the quiet and enjoy lunch in very Tin Sheets-style, on the tailgate of the car. If you’re a mining or ghost town buff, this is one to check out!