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Cloudcroft is a village in southern New Mexico. It sits in the Lincoln National Forest not too far from Alamogordo and is a popular tourist destination.
History
Cloudcroft was founded in 1898, after brothers Charles Bishop Eddy and John Arthur Eddy arrived in the area looking for timber to supply the railroad outside Alamogordo. They found a beautiful forested area kissed by the clouds that could not only provide plenty of timber, but also attract visitors. Two resorts, The Pavilion and The Lodge, opened in 1899.
A rail line arrived in Cloudcroft in early 1900, and several passengers arrived daily. Famous guests including Pancho Villa (1878-1923), Judy Garland (1922-1969), Clark Gable (1901-1960), and others stayed at The Lodge. In fact, it was managed by Conrad Hilton (1887-1979) in the 1930s
The train was the only way to reach the village until the 1940s when a highway was built. Passenger service was discontinued shortly after, and the last freight train rain in 1947. Tourism has continued to grow and support the town, extending to historic Burro Street.
Burro Street
Burro Street is full of western-themed buildings. Many of them contain restaurants, cafés, gift shops, or service-based businesses.
Among the notable historic buildings are the Cloudcroft Hotel, dating back to 1935, and the First Baptist Church, established in 1901.
Noisy Water Winery
During our short stop in Cloudcroft, we popped into the Noisy Water Winery. They have a unique selection of chile wines as well as chardonnays, merlots, pinot noirs, and others. I was also impressed by their gourmet cheeses, including the ghost pepper jack, green chile cheddar, and others.
Burro Street Bakery
In the same building as the winery is Burro Street Bakery. They have an amazing selection of delicious pies. It’s definitely worth stopping in to see what they have available.
Cloudcroft Trading Post
Another place we visited was the Cloudcroft Trading Post. They specialize in jewelry, charms, beads, and rocks.
Conclusion
Overall, Cloudcroft was a pleasant surprise. We really loved Noisy Water Winery and wish we had more time to spend hanging out on Burro Street. I’d like to return one day to enjoy more of the village and the surrounding area, and perhaps stay at one of the resorts.
