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Ruidoso Downs is a small city in southern New Mexico. It’s located in the Lincoln National Forest and is a suburb of nearby Ruidoso.
Introduction to Ruidoso Downs
Ruidoso Downs was originally settled by Hispanos in the 1840s. They called the area San Juanito and introduced horse racing and rodeo. It was mostly a settlement of scattered farms and ranches until the Dowlin Mill opened in 1868. A further influx of families occurred as they fled the Lincoln County War starting in 1878.
In 1907, the road between Alamogordo and Roswell was built through Ruidoso Downs. That road became US 70 and was paved in 1945. It became four lanes in 1981. In 1946, an airport opened and the Ruidoso News was founded. Electricity arrived the following year, and the radio in 1948.
Today, Ruidoso Downs is a resort town with attractions such as the Ruidoso Downs Race Track, Billy the Kid Casino, Hubbard Museum of the American West, and the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway Visitors Center. The Hubbard Museum, however, has been closed for several years. Apparently, it’s being renovated and will remain closed until further notice (as of August 2025).
Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway Visitor Center
While passing through the area, we only stopped at the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway Visitor Center. It gives visitors an orientation to the Billy the Kid Trail, which runs through the area. It’s 84 miles long and takes about two hours to drive without stops.
Exhibits in the visitor center explore some of the attractions that can be found along the byway and in the region. They include not only attractions related to notorious outlaw Billy the Kid (1859-1881), but also places like Roswell and the Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan.
There are also some fun photo opportunities, including cutouts of Smokey Bear. I was also surprised to see a bear at a urinal in the men’s bathroom.
