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Cloudcroft is a village in southern New Mexico. It’s a popular tourist destination within the Lincoln National Forest, not too far from Alamogordo.
Introduction to Cloudcroft
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 disembarked 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 ran 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 interesting buildings are the Hotel Cloudcroft, dating back to 1935, and the First Baptist Church (Summit Christian Fellowship), established in 1901.
Where to Shop in Cloudcroft
During our short stop in Cloudcroft, we popped into a few different places that we enjoyed visiting.
Noisy Water Winery
Noisy Water Winery has 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.
Burro Street Trading Post
Another place we visited is the Burro Street Trading Post. They specialize in jewelry, charms, beads, and rocks.
