Datil resides comfortably in the foothills of the Datil Mountains in Catron county in southwestern New Mexico at an elevation of 7341 ft. It is about a two hour and fifteen minute trip from Albuquerque if you don't make any stops. Personally I can't help myself from enthusiastically bouncing from one interesting diversion to another along the way, much in the manner of a pinball with A.D.D. Datil is a small town listed as having a mere 490 souls, however, to look at the town, you might approximate the population at a number closer to 49. The town is at a crossroads and an important stop for gas and provisions for the many people who come this way to hunt, fish, hike, etc., as well as local ranchers. And my absolute favorite part of Datil is the Eagle Guest Ranch. It is a rustic place with many game trophies (including a Javelina), two huge stone fireplaces, farm implements - a place that makes you want to grunt and swagger about - a place where men are men and so are some of the women. But all joking aside, I had a bacon-wrapped ribeye that was a religious experience to eat. I had to fight the primal urge to throw down my silverware and grab the steak in my fists and devour it like a wild animal, throwing my head back to howl when I was done. No kidding, it was that good. I love this place. You should go. Really. Right now. Go. (Closed Sundays)
Eagle Guest Ranch
Highway 60 between Socorro and Datil offers a variety of sights and scenic wonders - especially if you are an incurable shutterbug, such as myself. Just west of Socorro is Box Canyon, a popular spot for hiking and rock climbing. A little further west on your left, past the Water Canyon road, you'll find forest road 505 which you can follow to an early 20th century homestead that consists of a house, a barn, some outbuildings, a windmill, and a verdant crop of cow pies. It's a wonderful spot with incredible views and one finds oneself wanting to establish their own homestead there - I sure did. This homestead provides an excellent photo op for amateur and professional photographers alike. Forest road 505 starts out smooth but becomes rather rocky with a few small gullies to cross so I wouldn't recommend this for most sedans, but trucks and SUVs should have no problem. Further up Highway 60 is the town of Magdalena. Magdalena is chock full of old buildings, several of which have been beautifully restored. The past is not far out of reach, with the old storefronts and houses, all of which seem to ache to tell their story. You can find information on the town and surrounding areas at the visitor's center at the Route 60 Trading post and also at the Market Place around the corner from Evett's. Magdalena has a growing art community and various works are for sale at the previously mentioned stores. After some browsing and shopping, stop in at Evett's for a coffee infusion or chocolate malt and a basket of crispy french fries. Evett's has been in business, I believe, since the earth cooled. Its high tin ceilings and ancient soda fountain, along with historic photos and bits of town memorabilia, instantly endeared the place to me. Magdalena booms once a year for the Magdalena Old Timers Reunion. This festival occurs every July with a parade, rodeos, a mini cattle drive, food, dancing and more. For more information on the Old Timers Reunion and Magdalena, please visit www.magdalena-nm.com/index.html. Before leaving Magdalena, you may want to visit the stockyards that were the destination of the historic Magdalena Trail. Also of interest is the nearby ghost town of Kelly. Kelly is on private property and you must purchase a pass to see the mine. Passes can be obtained at the Western motel for $10. Now before you moan and groan about the price, please consider that this is on private property and the owner is under no obligation to let anyone see it - and there have been incidents of vandalism and theft. If you see someone vandalizing the property, please feel free to shoot them, or at least kick them in the groin. Ok, so maybe you shouldn't do either of those things, but if you do see any unlawful activity, please contact the local authorities. I mention this only because it would be a shame to lose the opportunity to visit a valuable part of our heritage.
If you are looking for accomodations in the Magdalena area, the Rancho Magdalena B&B is a relaxing getaway run by some of the most pleasant folks you'll ever meet.
Another must-see on Highway 60 is the Very Large Array. Located on the Plains of San Augustin between Magdalena and Datil, the VLA is a very large (duh!) radio telescope made up of 27 satellite dishes - and when I say satellite dishes, I'm not talking about that little thing bolted to your house that lets you watch cooking shows and movies with Don Knotts and Annette Funicello - I'm talking huge, massive things. Each dish is 82 feet in diameter and weighs in around 230 tons (roughly four Rosie O'Donnells). The array can have a diameter of up to 22 miles and hear into deep space. With this incredible tool we may be able to finally one day answer the age old question, "If a tree falls in the forest on Rigel 7 and the Rigellians are off invading Earth, does it make a sound?" The visitor's center is open year round and features an informative video. For more information on the VLA visit http://www.vla.nrao.edu/.
View From Rancho Magdalena