Ruidoso, NM Attractions
Ruidoso, New Mexico Attractions
Ruidoso has long been
billed as the “year-around playground of the Southwest” for many
reasons. Ruidoso Downs and Ski Apache continue to shine as the two
premier local attractions.
Ruidoso Downs has been in operation since 1947. From Memorial Day
weekend at the end of May through Labor Day weekend in early
September, this race track features quarter horse and thorough bred
racing Thursday through Sunday. The All American Futurity caps the
season with a 2 million dollar purse where the winner walks off with
a cool million dollars.
Ski Apache is the southernmost major ski area in the country. High
elevations provide abundant snowfall, yet the southerly latitude
allows for relatively mild winter temperatures. The winter season
runs from Thanksgiving Day to the end of March. Great skiing and
snowboarding can be found on the 55 trails that cover 750 acres
served by 11 lifts, including the state’s only 4 passenger gondola.
During the summer months the mountain provides the perfect location
for picnics and hiking. In July and August the resort also offers
gondola rides to 11,400 feet, frisbee golf, paint ball, a gift shop
and a restaurant.
There is much more to this area than horse racing in the summer and
skiing in the winter.
The Spencer Theater offers top quality theater productions at a
spectacular venue. At a cost of over $22 million the Spencer opened
in 1997. Located in grassy meadows about 12 miles northeast of
Ruidoso, this elegant facility provides over 500 seats for
performances in music, dance and drama throughout the year. Also
don’t miss the fireworks display if you are in town over the 4th of
July.
During the summer months the Flying J Ranch will give you an
authentic taste of the old west. On the north side of Ruidoso they
provide evening entertainment for the whole family with pony rides
for the kids, gold panning and gun smoke fills the air in a shoot
out. A delicious home cooked chuck wagon dinner is served. To cap
off the night foot stomping live music will entertain and delight
you.
Are you feeling lucky? Gaming enthusiasts will find three different
casino locations in the Ruidoso area to take a chance. You will find
everything from penny slot machines to high stakes poker. At Ruidoso
Downs find the Billy the Kid Casino with over 300 slot machines and
off track horse race wagering on a spacious gaming floor. Casino
Apache Travel Center is located just a couple of miles west on
Highway 70 with a full array of table games, slots and video poker.
The newly rebuilt Inn of the Mountain Gods is just a five minute
drive from downtown Ruidoso. Their casino is equipped with over
1,000 slot machines calling for a wager from a penny to $100. Table
gamers will enjoy baccarat, blackjack, Spanish 21, craps, roulette,
let it ride, war, pai gow poker, 5 & 7 card stud games and Texas
hold’em.
Perhaps the greatest attraction to the Ruidoso area is a natural
one. With over one million acres of terrain ranging from desert to
high alpine peaks the Lincoln National Forest holds beauty and
adventure for all visitors. The northern end contains the Capitan
Mountains that are full of wildlife and known best as the birthplace
of the world-famous Smokey Bear. To the south are the Sacramento
Mountains with majestic Sierra Blanca Peak, the last high rise of
the Rockies before tapering off into Mexico. Vegetation ranges from
rare cacti in the lower elevations to englemann spruce and thick
groves of aspens in the higher.
Spring can be a windy time of year. Fire danger can get very high,
so caution must be used with any source of heat. Camp fires may be
restricted, but gas grills are always OK The rainy season usually
begins in early July and continues through September. The first
snows fall in late October or early November. Ski Apache averages
over 15 feet of snowfall each winter. Summers aren’t too hot and
winters aren’t too cold. Tornados start to the east and hurricanes
peter out to the south. In fact, the climate is just about perfect.
Opportunities for recreation are abundant. The forest may be enjoyed
in many ways. Some of the most popular include camping, hiking,
birding, fishing, hunting, skiing and caving. Most importantly, The
Lincoln National Forest provides a huge natural environment that
surrounds the Ruidoso area creating a setting of peace and beauty.
For more information:
Lincoln
National Forest (505) 257-4095
Ruidoso Downs Race Track (505) 378-4431
Ski Apache (505) 464-3600
Spencer Theater (505)336-4800
Billy the Kid Casino (505)378-4431
Casino Apache – located at the Inn of the Mountain Gods (505)
464-4100
Casino Apache Travel Center – 25845 US Hwy. 70 (505) 464-6960 |
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