V A
N P A T T E N M O U N T A I N C A M P |
- He who neglects to drink from the spring of experience is likely to die of thirst
in the desert of ignorance --Ling Po
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Van Patten Mountain Camp, Organ
Mountains, New Mexico |
+Roadtrip::Dripping Springs+ |
[Van Patten Camp] [Boyd's
Sanatorium] [La Cueva] |
explored by:
Shady & Angeleyez (photos by Shady)
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above: guests leaving Van
Patten hotel for a trip by horse-drawn wagon into Dona Ana, 1897
When we first hit the trail for the 3 mile hike up into
the mountains, we thought it would be a piece of cake- a nice, marked trail leading to
some preserved ruins in a public wilderness park. Ha. Yeaahh, right. As you can
see from the rather foreboding warning sign above, this is anything but an easy hike. We
walked a good 45 minutes on a rough, rocky inclined path into some very untamed and
desolate wilderness, before we even saw the hint of the first structure. But when we
finally did, we couldn't help but get excited... this was it, the legendary Van
Patten Mountain Camp! |
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Major Eugene Van Patten was an
impressive man who lead a pretty interesting life. A former Confederate soldier who served
under General Stonewall Jackson, Van Patten married a half-Spanish/half-Piro Indian woman
in 1865, and in 1872 they settled in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In the late 1800's Van Patten
began construction of the Van Patten Mountain Camp- a remote resort nestled deep within
the rocky heart of the Organ Mountain range. These simple wooden buildings, above
& below, are the first structures we came upon along the rugged canyon path.
Located 1/4 mile down the canyon from the hotel, they were constructed in the late 1800's
and served as the livery and mercantile for the resort; wagons were kept in a barn (which
collapsed long ago). |
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A stageline from Las Cruces, 17
miles away, would carry the guests by stagecoach along the rocky path up to the hotel
itself. The stagecoach or wagon would then return to the livery until needed. Milk cows,
chickens, and a vegetable garden were maintained in this location as well, to provide the
fresh milk, eggs, and vegetables for the hotel's dining room. In early 1900's, guests
arrived at the hotel by automobile as well as by horse and wagon. We, however, had to
continue on foot, following the same twisting path the hotel guests traveled all those
years ago, until the remains of the resort began to peek into view as we neared the upper
peaks of the mountains 1/4 mile later (above,
right) |
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By the time we reached the Van
Patten ruins, we were winded, exhausted, and very aware that we were utterly isolated.
The site of the resort is tucked into the rocky peaks at an elevation of 6,000 feet (which
is 2000 feet higher than Las Cruces). In it's heyday, the luxurious resort boasted 2
stories and 14 rooms, dining and recreational facilities, and a gazebo that functioned as
a bandstand. The hotel was constructed of native rock and a mud based plaster. Many famous
people, such Pat Garret and Pancho Villa, stayed at the Van Patten Mountain Camp. The
mostly-intact building with the raised wraparound terrace was the dining/entertainment
hall, and the crumbling maze of walls behind it are what's left of the rooms themselves. |
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A number of native Indians lived
and worked at the resort. They tended the livery and path, hand-carried buckets of water
from the spring up to the hotel attached to long poles balanced on their shoulders, and
sometimes they even performed dances for the amusement of the guests. In 1906, a unit of
18 rooms was added onto the hotel. Looking around the back of the main building, above right, you can see just
how closely it was constructed up against the stony side of the mountain peak. |
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Nowadays, the remains of the resort
are reduced to these crumbling ruins among the rock and cacti, home to desert creatures
such as lizards, rattlesnakes, and mountain lions. Inside the main building, you can still
see tattered strips of the luxurious stretched muslin wallpaper which once covered the
walls and ceilings of the place, now hanging like musty shrouds from the sun-baked walls. |
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In 1915, Van Patten came into
financial difficulties. The hotel was closed, and the resort sold to a Dr. Nathan Boyd, a
native of Illinois who had studied medicine in San Francisco and practiced in Australia.
The Van Patten Mountain Camp was not destined for another lifetime as a recreational
resort; Dr. Boyd had other plans for the area. In fact, the crumbling fruits of
his labor still lay hidden just a little further up the path...
CONTINUE ON THE TRAIL TO BOYD'S
SANATORIUM
Do you have any background information or stories to tell about this abandoned
site?
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