Ghost Towns of New Mexico
New Mexico’s ghost towns trace the silver rushes, stagecoach roads, and railroad routes of the Territorial Southwest — desert camps that boomed on rich ore, drew outlaws and swindlers to their lawless streets, and emptied out once the mines failed or the tracks passed them by.
Explore the Map
Interactive map of New Mexico’s mapped ghost-town sites. Click a marker for details.
A Short History of New Mexico’s Ghost Towns
New Mexico’s ghost towns are scattered across a landscape layered with Spanish, Mexican, and American mining history, from silver and gold camps to copper and coal towns. Shakespeare, near Lordsburg in the state’s southwestern desert, gathers several of these threads into one small, well-preserved townsite. It first boomed as Ralston City on the strength of a silver strike, then suffered a spectacular setback when an 1870s diamond hoax — salted gemstones meant to lure investors — collapsed and drove speculators away. The settlement was later revived and renamed Shakespeare during a second mining push, only to fade again as the ore gave out. Bought and preserved by a ranching family, it endures today as one of the region’s most authentic ghost towns.
Getting There & Access
Shakespeare lies just south of Lordsburg, an easy drive off Interstate 10 on graded road, which makes it far more accessible than many desert ghost towns. Because the site is privately owned and preserved, it is not open at all hours: access is by scheduled tours held on selected dates, so plan your visit around the posted schedule rather than simply showing up. The surrounding country is high desert with intense summer heat and few services once you leave the highway, so carry water and check tour dates in advance. Cooler months make for a far more comfortable walk among the adobe and stone buildings.
Public Land & Responsible Visiting
Unlike many Western sites on public land, Shakespeare is private property maintained by its owners, so the most important courtesy is simple: visit only during authorized tours and follow your guide’s directions. Do not enter buildings uninvited, climb on structures, or remove anything — the preservation of this town depends entirely on visitors respecting it as a working ranch and historic site. Elsewhere in New Mexico, many ghost towns sit on Bureau of Land Management or state land where collecting artifacts is illegal and old mine workings are hazardous. Wherever you go, pack out your trash, stay on established roads, watch for rattlesnakes in warm weather, and leave each site as intact as you found it.