Lake Valley Historic Townsite: A New Mexico Ghost Town for RV Travelers

When silver was discovered here in 1878, Lake Valley grew almost overnight into a major settlement of around 4,000 people. Like so many mining camps of the era, its fortune was tied to a single resource — and when the silver played out, the people moved on and the town emptied. What sets Lake Valley apart today is how much survives, and the fact that it belongs to the public.

The Bureau of Land Management manages the Lake Valley Historic Townsite through its Las Cruces Field Office, with on-site hosts who maintain the grounds and keep the buildings standing. The BLM has restored the old schoolhouse and chapel; about half of the schoolhouse now serves as a small museum, with a school bell, glassware, tools, and other artifacts that document daily life in the early 20th century.

Visiting is simple and free. A self-guided interpretive walking tour — roughly 45 minutes on foot — winds through the surviving structures, where you'll notice the quiet scatter of everyday life: broken glass, rusted metal, ceramic shards, and weathered wood. It is an easy, low-key stop for RV travelers exploring the high desert between Las Cruces and Caballo Lake, with wide-open country and dark skies all around.