Elizabethtown
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Blink and you’ll miss it: 4.8 miles past Eagle Nest, a small sign on the right side of the road points to the left-hand (west) turn for the former gold-rush site of Elizabethtown, the first incorporated village in New Mexico.
Once home to more than 7,000 people, it’s now a ghost town overshadowed by the stone ruins of the Mutz Hotel, the former center of social activity. The only signs of life are, ironically, in the cemetery, which is still used by residents of Colfax County and contains graves dating as far back as 1880.
The Elizabethtown Museum (575/377-3420, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily June–Aug., $2 donation) details Elizabethtown’s brief but lively history, from the discovery of gold in 1866 through assorted gunfights to the town’s slow fade after a dredge-mining project failed in 1903.
© Zora O'Neill from Moon Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque, 2nd edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.