Las Vegas (New Mexico) - Wikitravel (2024)

Las Vegas [1] is a lovely town in New Mexico in the United States of America. It is an under appreciated gem and a far cry from the Southwestern chic of nearby Santa Fe, with a large collection of historic Victorian homes and other remnants from when Las Vegas was a roaring railroad town. Other attractions include the Montezuma Castle, Storrie Lake, and the New Mexico Highlands University [2].

Talk[edit]

Las Vegas, NM is not to be confused with the far larger and better known major city of the same name in Nevada. Within the confines of the northern New Mexico references to Las Vegas or Vegas are understood to refer to the local community. To avoid being considered rude, refer to the other Las Vegas as Las Vegas, Nevada. As the population is 83% Hispanic, expect to overhear Spanish frequently as many people are bilingual.

Get in[edit]

Las Vegas is about 60 miles east of better-known Santa Fe, along Interstate highway 25. The nearest major commercial airport is in Albuquerque, about 125 miles away. The smaller commercial airport in Santa Fe has flights on American Airlines and United Airlines to Dallas, Phoenix and Denver. There is a public airport in Las Vegas[3] that handles non-commercial aircraft. There is Amtrak [4] rail service via the Southwest Chief [5], the main Amtrak line across the southwestern United States. This stop has no ticket office and no passenger assistance provided by station personnel, though on-board employees will assist passengers between trainside on the platform and the train itself. There is a waiting room open at train time, within which is a Quik-Trak self-serve ticketing kiosk (credit card required to activate kiosk), so tickets may be obtained at the station before boarding the train. The New Mexico Department of Transportation also offers limited public bus service between Las Vegas and Santa Fe on a commuter schedule.[6]

Get around[edit]

Drive, walk, bike, do what comes easily. The town is fairly small.

See[edit]

• Las Vegas was an important waypoint on the Santa Fe Trail, and later on the railroad across the Southwest. There are over 900 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the central area of town, it seems almost every single building you see is significant in some way. Walking tour guides are available. Here are some of the highlights:
  • The Plaza, where Las Vegas was founded in 1835. Today it is a shady park with a gazebo, surrounded by historic structures. On the north side of the plaza is the Plaza Hotel, a railroad-era hotel which remains a fine place to spend the night in Las Vegas. Across the street from the southeast corner of the plaza is the old First National Bank.
  • Railroad District, where the Las Vegas train station is and so much of the city's growth centered around it. The Mission Revival La Castaneda Hotel, an old Harvey House hotel, is definitely worth a look.
  • Lincoln Park, a local park surrounded by lots of beautiful old homes.
  • Douglas/6th Street District, once the central business area of Las Vegas, today there's plenty of interesting buildings here like the Bank of Las Vegas, the Old City Hall, and the Masonic Temple.
  • Carnegie Park, an area of town centered around Carnegie Park, which has a Carnegie Library that was modeled after Thomas Jefferson's home, the Monticello. The surrounding blocks are filled with old Victorian homes.
• City of Las Vegas Museum & Rough Rider Memorial, 727 Grand Avenue, +1 505 426-3205, [7]. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Exhibits on local history, the Santa Fe Trail, and Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders, who held reunions in Las Vegas. Free.
• North of Las Vegas on SR-65 (Hot Springs Blvd) is the town of Montezuma and the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West. On the campus is the gorgeous Montezuma Castle [8], which was built as a railroad hotel and served a number of purposes before becoming part of the United World College campus. It is open for free tours, which start at 1PM on certain Saturdays and are led by students of the college. But even if you don't get inside the building, it's worth the drive up to at least see it.

Do[edit]

• Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge [9] is just south of town and adjoins a larger state wildlife preserve. There are viewing platforms and a few short trails. Best visited in late fall and early spring, when migratory birds are passing through; winter can be bleak and summer hot, and the resident population of wildlife isn't as great as the number of seasonal transients. Entry to the Refuge as well as McAllister Lake are free.
• Lake McAllister, [x]. is a state preserve nestled in the middle of the Las Vegas Wildlife Refuge. Seasonal fishing is available as well as limited dispersed camping during fishing season. Inquire locally for fishing conditions.
• Storrie Lake, [x]. is located four miles north of town on NM 518 (7th Street). This 80 acre park is full-service with showers, RV dump station, marina, and overnight camping. It is well known regionally for its windsurfing and windsurfers are a common sight on the lake during spring, summer, and fall. There is an entry fee to the park as well as a charge for overnight camping.
• Montezuma Hot Springs, [x]. are located five miles north of Las Vegas on NM 65 (Hot Spring Blvd.) Located on the property of the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West, these hot springs are open to the public. Do not enter the college proper but look for the pull offs along NM 65.
• Hermit Peak. A truly gorgeous 8 mile hike that is lightly trafficked, you'll see uninterrupted views of the high plains for miles at the top. The starting point is close to hot springs if you're looking for a relaxing post-hike soak.

Buy[edit]

Experience the quaint and charming shops within the Plaza, Douglas/6th Street, and Railroad Historic Districts. These areas provides many small home-town shops, antiques, book stores, and coffee shops.

Eat[edit]

• Blackjack's, 1133 Grand Avenue, +1 505 425-6791. Acceptable steaks, etc., for dinner 7 nights a week.
• Hillcrest Restaurant, 1106 Grand Avenue, +1 505 425-7211, [10]. A 50's diner with great food.
• Charlie's Spic and Span, 715 Douglas Avenue, +1 505 426-1921. Good breakfast burritos and New Mexican cuisine. Giant pastries.

Drink[edit]

• Byron T's Saloon, 230 Plaza Street, +1 505 425-1455, [11]. Located inside the historic Plaza Hotel is this bar named after the resident ghost.

Sleep[edit]

• Plaza Hotel, 230 Plaza Street, +1 505 425-3591 (fax: +1 505 425-9659), [12]. Of all the historic buildings in town, the Plaza Hotel is the crown jewel of them all. It was lovingly restored in 1982, and has become Las Vegas' premiere place to stay, and is a very popular locale for meetings, parties, conventions and other events. Enjoy the Victorian atmosphere with elegant antiques and exquisite architecture. The amenities offered include the Landmark Grill, an in-house restaurant, the old west Byron T's Saloon, spa massage treatment, guest computer and wireless high-speed internet access, pet friendly rooms, room service, and free parking.
• Rancho de Fe, 205 Co Rd A2, Sapello, NM 87745, United States, [x]. Beautiful property for BnB stays about 30 minutes outside Las Vegas. The ranch has plenty of wide open space and places to hike around it, and is serene and peaceful. Owners Derek and Alicia are incredibly welcoming and helpful and will go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. Views of Hermit Peak from here are unmatched.

Get out[edit]

• Fort Union National Monument [13], about 30 miles east of Las Vegas via I-25, preserves the ruins of a major military installation along the Santa Fe Trail. There are interpretive exhibits and a 1.6-mile trail among the ruins. Day use, 7 days a week (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years); $3 fee, Park Pass applies. There are no services near the monument.

• Santa Fe National Forest [14] popular destinations near Las Vegas include Gallinas Canyon and Pecos Wilderness. The Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District [15] has full details.

• Historic Route 66 (the "original" version) passed just southwest of town. Check its itinerary page for ideas on things to do as you move on from Las Vegas to your next destination east or south.

• Villanueva State Park [16] is located 38 miles southwest of town. Take I-25 to the Villanueva exit and drive south 15 miles. Well-regarded for its picturesque setting, the park has overnight camping for a fee. The drive on SR 3 south from I-25 is especially appealing for those with a taste for rural Spanish settings.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

Wikipedia:Las Vegas, New Mexico