| New Mexico's
Gila region in the southern Rocky Mountains is a spectacular contrast of
diverse cultures and rich with historical legends and facts.
Some early
residents here were ancient Indians such as the Mogollons who made the
magnificent 40 room Gila Cliff Dwellings their home, followed by the Mimbrenos,
(Willow People) who's highly sought after black and white pottery can still
be found marking burial sites throughout the Gila. These towering cliffs
are also the birthplace of the fierce Apache warrior, Geronimo.
Mangos Colorados
(Red Sleeves) and his son in law, Cochise, roamed these wild mountains
and forests as well. The U.S. Cavalry built the old wagon trail, now NM
Hwy. 15, to hunt all these elusive Apaches. Having lived in the Gila most
of their lives, however, they managed to outwit and outmaneuver them for
years.
Outlaws, such
as Billy the Kid, who lived in Silver City, and the Hole in the Wall Gang
were also known to the Trail of the Mountain Spirits. In between “forays,”
the outlaws hired on as cowboys for local ranches and worked the mines
on occasion.
In Pinos Altos,
at the south end of The Trail of the Mountain Spirits on route 15, you
can still see ruins of old mines and appreciate a quaint museum dedicated
to the original miners of the 1800's. While you meander around this historical
town, take the time to have a tasty meal and entertainment at The Buckhorn
Saloon and Opera House across the road.
After leaving
Pinos Altos, be sure to continue along Hwy. 15 to the Cliff Dwellings,
where civilization ends...and the Gila Wilderness begins. (No motorized
traffic allowed beyond this point.) Just before you reach this destination,
however, stop at the Gila Hotsprings. A visit there is well worth the time!
As you backtrack
on 15, look for the Junction of Hwy’s 15 and 35. Turn left on 35. A short
picturesque stretch along the Sapillo Creek will bring you to our Lake
Robers Store & Cabins... just this side of the lake itself.
The cabins
are on the old Brannin homestead. The Brannins were early settlers of what
was then called the Upper Sweet Grass. According to some folks, women shaped
the settlements west of Melville and Grannie Brannin's hospitality and
cooking are still legendary.
Less than a
mile further along the route 35 loop of The Trail of the Mountain Spirits,
you will suddenly come upon Lake Roberts, understandably called the “Emerald
of the Gila, against a backdrop of open sky and multi-hued mountains.
At the Upper
End of the lake, and if it happens to be Saturday, you can enjoy German
food at the Spirit Canyon Lodge and Cafe. If you’re in the mood for a worthwhile
hike while pausing there, view the petroglyphs at Pictograph Canyon right
across the street.
Continuing
from there on Hwy. 35, little more a stone's throw away is the GOS, one
of the oldest ranches in New Mexico. As you drive through its vast mountain
meadows and pass through shaded areas of Ponderosa pines, imagine countless
herds of cattle passing through this very spot, under the watchful eyes
of cowpunchers “riding for the brand.” Roundups were common all along 35,
even just a few years ago.
From there
you are not far from the Upper Mimbres Valley, where you can stop and eat
at the Cattle Guard Restaurant, or try some Mexican food at the Mimbres
Cafe a few miles on.
Speaking of
good eating...at Lake Roberts Store and Cabins, we will be offering an
outside barbeque in the summer months. And as always...you can count on
on traditional good cooking and old-fashioned western hospitality!
Whether you
are here for the Old West history, to horseback or hike a trail, hunt,
fish, or just to relax among the pines and wildlife, your visit to The
Gila will not be forgotten.
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