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More About The Area! |
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Historic Eagle
Nest
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Before the miners came, the area was called home by the Ute
and Jicarilla Apache Indians who roamed the area in search of game and golden feathers for ceremonial worship. When
Elizabethtown, just 5 and 1/2 miles north, was in its heyday, the Eagle Nest area was utilized mostly for ranching
and farming.
In 1873 Charles and Frank Springer founded the CS Ranch on the banks of the Cimarron River and in
1907 they applied for a permit to build the Eagle Nest Dam. It was almost 10 years before the Springers could hire
the engineering firm of Bartlett and Ranney of San Antonio, Texas to design and build the dam. Finally, in 1916
construction on the dam was begun and was completed in 1918 to store the surplus waters of the Cimarron River for
power plants, mining and irrigation. Most of the labor for building the dam was provided by the Taos Pueblo Indians.
The largest privately constructed dam in the United States, the concrete structure is 400 feet wide, stands 140 feet
above the river bed, and is 9.5 feet thick at its crest and 45.2 feet thick at its base. Supposedly, eagles built
nests on the sides of the new dam and that's how it got its name.
Along with the fishermen, entrepreneurs also arrived, building businesses and transforming the quiet
farming community into a tourist mecca, providing entertainment to the visiting cowboys, fishermen and other tourists.
One of the biggest industries was cutting and selling ice from the lake. T.D. Neal hired men to
drive out upon the lake and cut block ice that was stored in ice houses filled with sawdust. Jobs were scarce in the
area and many families survived the winters by ice cutting and trapping.
In the 1920's illegal gambling was introduced to the area. Eagle Nest became a popular spot along
the road from Santa Fe to Raton where politicians and other travelers attended the horse races. A favorite stop over
for the dignitaries, they were said to have caused quite a ruckus with their gambling, drinking and dancing.
In 1927, Walter Gant, an oilman from Oklahoma hired a business man by the name of William B. Tyer
to oversee the construction of the grandest resort that Eagle Nest had ever seen -- the Eagle Nest Lodge. Bill Tyer
lived in a cabin on the Gant property and oversaw the many details of building the luxurious lodge. When it was
completed, Bill Tyer stayed on to manage the Eagle Nest Lodge, which featured 12 rooms, a lounge, a restaurant,
horseback riding, fishing, and hunting expeditions for the many travelers who stopped to enjoy its magnificent view
of Eagle Nest Lake. Considered the finest lodge for miles, it soon expanded to include a guest annex that featured
five studio units with their own bathrooms and kitchenettes. They also connected the main building to the Casa Loma
via a walkway/lounge they called the Loafer's Lounge.
The local saloons heartedly welcomed the travelers, rolling slot machines out upon the boardwalk
early in the morning to entice the gamblers. Judge Neblett, for whom the Colin Neblett Wildlife Area is named, was
a frequent visitor, as well as several governors. Though gambling was illegal, it was obviously overlooked by the
politicians. In fact, it has been said by several of the locals, that when illegal gambling was first introduced to
Eagle Nest in the 1920s, that the local Sheriff owned many of the slot machines in Eagle Nest, Red River and Colfax
County. However, since this story was first published in the summer of 2003, we have since heard from Jerry Ficklin,
a local historian and writer, who once lived in Eagle Nest and spent many summers there between the years of 1945
and 1960, that this "tidbit" is nothing more than a legend with no documented support.
The El Monte Hotel (now the Laguna Vista), as well as Doughbelly's Cafe (now the building that
houses Julio's,) and the The Gold Pan were said to have offered roulette and gaming tables, as well as slot machines.
Slot machines were also found in many of the stores.
Eagle Nest was in its heyday during the 1930's, with disputes often resulting in shots fired back
and forth across main street. Reportedly one saloon owner, along the road that travels north from Eagle Nest to
Idlewild, was known to provide free wine to those who came through its doors. The free pouring wine would inevitably
lead to fights and discord among the rowdy customers, which the saloon "advertised" as free entertainment.
In the winter, the town was immobilized as the wind gusted across the lake, locking the inhabitants
indoors. In the spring, the area would flood with fisherman anxious to test their rods in the lake. T.D. Neal started
the annual Eagle Nest Fish Fry to promote the lake, which drew two to three thousand winter-weary souls from all over the
region. In 1936, the cars were said have been lined up for miles from the old Eagle Nest Lodge to the Cloverleaf
Motel.
Gambling continued to thrive into the early 1940's. Unregulated, many locals tell stories that the
games were rigged as local shills were called in to sit and play until enough "victims" arrived to fill the table.
Some also say that the roulette tables were rigged, and the cards and dice marked. This too has been disputed by
author/historian Jerry Ficklin, as he personally knew many of the owners and managers of the gaming establishments
during the 1940s. Most likely, this is nothing more than idle gossip that has since become a "legend" over the many
years that have passed. However, one interesting tidbit of information regarding the games of chance is in the case
of a poker game, where the 700 acre Moreno Ranch was lost. In 1944, the ranch was purchased from the winner by the
Deuel family.
It was sometime during this period that the El Monte's name was changed to the Laguna Vista Lodge
and was operated by a couple named Gene and Pearl Wilson. At this time, the Wilsons often had to protect their
gambling profits, when transporting them from the saloon to their living quarters, by arming themselves with guns.
By this time Doughbelly's Cafe was owned by a man named Johnny Fincher, who continued to
operate slot machines, dice tables and roulette in the establishment that he called the Eagle Nest Inn. This
is the same building that now houses Julio's. Down the street was the Eagle Nest Motor Court, with several adobe
cabins and gas pumps sitting out front. While the cabins are still there today, called the Lucky Shoe Motel, the
old fashioned gas pumps (seen above) are long gone.
Finally, the town was busted for illegal gambling in the late 1940's when authorities took axes to
the slot machines, busting them up and leaving them in pieces in the streets. It was said that Dave Mutz's uncle,
Joe Necas, rummaged in the dirt after the destruction of the machines and found enough change to buy himself a new
pair of boots. Reportedly, some of the slot machine owners heard about the bust before it happened and dumped their
slot machines in the lake to avoid prosecution. Many people told us that on a clear day, you can still see signs of
them at the foot of Eagle Nest dam in low water. Even after the bust, gambling continued in the back rooms of some
of the businesses and slot machines were said to have been hidden in the bathrooms of many establishments.
In 1944, during the midst of World War II rationing of tires and gasoline, the Eagle Nest Lodge
had few visitors and closed its doors. Bill Tyman along with his wife Hazel, and new baby girl returned home to
Ardmore, Oklahoma. The magnificent Eagle Nest Lodge was then utilized by the Gant family as a resort for the next
several decades until it was abandoned.
In the early 1950's, Bob and Edith Sullivan purchased the Laguna Vista Lodge from the Wilson's,
leasing the restaurant to Walter Ragsdales, who operated it for several years*. In 1964, the "new" hotel was built
next to the original hotel for additional guests. In 1971, Bert Clemens bought the Laguna Vista Lodge from the
Sullivans and continues to operate it to this day.
In 1977 and 1978 the lake was closed due to low water levels, which caused severe economic
problems for the area residents. Then in 1979 a near-record spring run-off allowed the lake to be reopened
In 1980, the C.S. Cattle Co provided a 20 year lease of the lake to the New Mexico Department of
Game and Fish. During the summer, it became a training ground for rowing crews and continued as a welcome retreat
to the many anglers. In winter, ice-boating and ice fishing were popular as the winter ice thickness often reached
two and one-half to three feet.
However, several years prior to the lease expiration in 2000 the C.S. Cattle Company determined
that they were not interested in renewing the lease and offered to sell the lake and several thousand acres of land
to the State of New Mexico at a price of $20 million.
Finally, on May 24, 2002 the Legislature voted to purchase the lake and the residents breathed
a collective sigh of relief. The state once again resumed the operations of the lake, this time under an interim
lease that ended when the sale of the lake was finalized in October, 2002. The lake is now an official State Park
with plans for improvements including picnic and camping areas.
Future plans for the lake include the addition of campgrounds and picnic areas. Local guides and
fishing gear are abundantly available in the area to help the angler get equipped and dispense plenty of advice on
where the "big ones" are and places to avoid.
Eagle Nest continues to host the annual Fish Fest which T.D. Neal started back in the 1930's.
The Fish Fest, held in the fall, features great prizes and an especially unique event - the world's only Worm-Eating
Contest! The annual Fish Fry, founded by T.D. Neal, returned to the Eagle Nest Fish Fest in 2005.
Today, the Village of Eagle Nest is lined with arts and crafts shops, lodging, restaurants, and
saloons. The village is now known as a laid-back mountain town, unbothered by the traffic and noise of city life.
The village has seen a renaissance in recent years with the addition of sidewalks, old-fashioned streetlights, park
benches and flowerboxes, making the stroll through the village a pleasure. The less than mile long Main street
features numerous specialty shops carrying locally-made crafts and fine arts, sculpture, sterling silver jewelry,
Indian jewelry, antiques, pottery, candies, fudge, clothing, souvenirs, T-shirts, and much more.
The town's July 4th celebration features an old fashioned parade, the annual fireman's barbeque,
and one of New Mexico's largest fireworks displays over the lake. The last weekend in July is the annual High
Country Arts and Crafts Festival featuring the creations of dozens of artisans and crafters. A huge silent auction
is a tradition with a variety of unique foods to round out the festival.
Eagle Nest's newest tourist venture is the building of the Enchanted Circle Gateway Museum that will
reflect the
historical heritage of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A group of Moreno Valley business owners and individuals
are making progress on the museum, which will be on the north side of Highway 64 and Fifth Street. The museum plans
to include historical displays and artifacts, a model train display, antique toys and an interactive learning center.
Other buildings will house The Eagle Nest Chamber of Commerce offices and The Visitor Information Center, a gift shop
and meeting rooms.
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WE NEED YOUR HELP! If you have photos or reasonably true
stories of a historic nature regarding the Eagle Nest area, please
EMAIL US!
We'll add your pictures and stories to this page and give you a credit line for your submission. Also, if you see a photo
on this site and know the picture taker or owner, please have them contact us and we'll gladly give them credit. Thank you for helping us
share the wonderful, rich history of our magnificent village.
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2007 Eagle Nest Chamber of Commerce Questions,
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