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Ruidoso is a small resort town in southern New Mexico. It’s encompassed by the Lincoln National Forest in the Sierra Blanca mountain range. The suburb of Ruidoso Downs is a few minutes down the road.
Introduction to Ruidoso
Modern settlement in Ruidoso began in 1868, when Captain Paul Dowlin built Dowlin Mill. It was located where the Carrizo Creek and Rio Ruidoso merge. The town takes its name from the river, which means “noisy river” in Spanish. By 1885, there was a general store, blacksmith, post office, and cabins along the river.
Tourism grew in the area when cabins were built at Upper Canyon in 1914. A ski area opened at Cedar Creek in 1935, followed by a race track at Hollywood Park in 1947 as well as a golf course in the Gateway area. In 1963, the Mescalero Apache tribe purchased the ski area now known as Ski Apache.
Sudderth Drive
We passed through the town on our way to Fort Stanton Historic Site and Lincoln Historic Site. Our experience in town was limited to about a half hour walk in the charming downtown along Sudderth Drive. The street is lined with all kinds of shops, restaurants, cafés, and more.
Noisy Water Winery
One place that stood out to us was the Noisy Water Winery. We had just visited their branch in Cloudcroft a short time earlier. They offer several types of wines including chile wines as well as gourmet cheeses. It’s a good place to stop and check out if you’re passing through town.
