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Empty, Dying Towns In Old Wild West New Mexico - Plus, the Grave Of Billy the Kid

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Rating: 4.5; Vote: 2

Empty, Dying Towns In Old Wild West New Mexico - Plus, the Grave Of Billy the Kid. Fort Suner, New Mexico - A Place To Visit I'm about 30 miles south of Fort, suner, new Mexico. I've been driving about an hour now, and I have not seen a single car, you know, you think of rural Wyoming and Nevada as being very desolate, and they are, man. New Mexico is right there with it. Let you enjoy the silence. This is the very definition of a lonely road H, so peaceful, though. Anyway, I'm just filming this, because I want you guys to know that there are places like this in the US, those of you who live in the cities, and it is amazing. It's just amazing. All right. Well, let's get Back out on the road. Fort Suner coming up. All right, everyone? I am entering the old wild west town of Fort, suner, new Mexico. This place looks like the old wild west. For sure. Fort Sumer has a really interesting footnote in history. It was in 1881 that the Sheriff, pat Garrett gun down, william Bonnie, aka Billy the kid right here in this town. Billy the kids grave site is here in this town as well. And you better believe we're going to go, see that. But before we do, we're going to explore a little bit. St. Anthony's Cemetery - A History Of The City There's a graveyard there, or cemetery there, but that's not the one that Billy the kid is buried in. That's very colorful, isn't it? St. Anthony's cemetery? It says, all right, I'm going to head into the downtown, just right up here, give you a little bit of the sights as we head in. The peak population of this town was in 1950. There were almost 2,000 people here today. There are a little, over 800. So it has lost some people. 58% of this town is male, 42% female, so that's a good thing if you're a lady, not so good. If you're a guy, 74% of this town is Hispanic, 24% white, 2% mixed race. I can already tell this is going to be an interesting little town to explore. You can see in your mind, people on horseback, pulling covered wagons, can't you? All right. This is the main street into town. So we go check the town out downtown area. It's pretty quiet. It's about 10:00 a.m. On a Saturday morning January, 20th. Not a lot of folks out right now. I'll tell you the median household income here. It is 35,600. That's $685 a week. That old gas station, that's pretty low income, but you know what poverty is, not bad. Only 9% for folks 65 and older, though. Not as good. It's 30%. Well, Let's See. I think there's a main street here. This is it right here. I'm going to pull into this. That looks like an old gas station. Let's get a look at this. It's got some artwork here. Blacksmith, huh? That's kind of nice. Well, I'm trying to get my signals to stop. There we go. Yeah, it's pretty nice. I was looking at the cost of living for this town. It's 24% lower than the US. The main reason is for housing, which 69% lower according to the chart. But the median home value here is 113,000. So that doesn't really add up. But then I looked at the average rent and the average rent in this town is $399. I don't have to tell you, that. Station. Well, I guess I'll head right into some residential here. Let's see what else we can find. It's hard to imagine anyone living there. Isn't it? Look at all the cars in front of this little house looks like a whole bunch of people live there. Little house tucked in the trees. There's a county courthouse here. I'm going to try to find it might be it over there. Anyway, yeah, that house looks like it's long abandoned. All here.'s the post office for the town, fort Suar, new Mexico. Yeah, I think county courthouse is right here. Let's go take a look. So, fort Suar is the county seat for Debaca county, and this is the county courthouse. This is the second least populated county in the state. There are only 1,700 people in this entire county. This county courthouse was built in 1930. It's colonial architecture, american colonial. But. Look at that terra cotta roof. It's definitely got some southwest influences, doesn't it? Well, there you go. I saw cat hiding over there He is. Hey, fella. That is a big cat too. Hey, buddy. Look at the camera. Yeah, he's just busy. He is a big boy. Yeah. There he is looking at us. Almost looks like a little lion, doesn't he? Wow. It's a beautiful animal. The median age of this town is 27 by the way. I don't think I relayed that to you guys yet, which surprises me. That is really young. Usually these towns that are, I mean, let's not kid ourselves. This town. It's dying. I mean, this is what you see everywhere. Towns like this are usually much older. It's apparently had an influx of young folk at some point. And I don't think you can say anything else about this town except that it is dying. Two cats, though. What's up, fella. You're the second one I've seen. So they do have cats here, seen two cats, zero humans. This is everywhere here. Not sure if it's abandoned or not, I think. So, that yard is pretty uned. Right next door here. This is just everywhere. Wow. Stucco houses. That is a very small house. Oh, do you hear that Rooster? Nice. Yeah, that house, that's a gun or two. Flight and abandonment. It's everywhere here. Yeah, it's really quiet. Depicting the old West. And I am back on the main street. Let's see. I didn't give you crime yet, did I? It's low. 1.7 incidents per 100 people. That compares to 2.3 for the US. Billy the kids grave is not far from here, so I'm thinking, let's head there right now. Well, here we are. Billy the kids grave in Old Fort cemetery. I've got a marker here. Let's see what it says. William, billy the kid, bonnie grave, 1859, 1881. Henry Mccardy is better known by his alias, william, billy. The kid. Bonnie. His family moved to New Mexico Territory in 1873. Bonnie was charged with numerous thefts and involved in nine murders during his brief life at age 19. He was sentenced to death for the murder of sheriff William Brady, on April 21,1881. Bonnie escaped from the Lincoln county jail, killing two deputies. He fled to Fort Suner, the home of many of his friends. Bonnie was shot and killed by sheriff Pat Garrett in Peter Maxwell's house on July 14,1881. His grave in the Fort-Suar cemetery was originally marked by a wooden cross. Well, it appears that it is this way Post-cemetery for Suar looks like it's back there. I'm going to have to, you know what? I'll just go underneath like this. There we go. All right, and. It's right here. Let's go check it out. Billy the kids elusive tombstone. Wow, got all kinds of stuff here, huh? This tombstone was stolen in 1951. This location was a mystery for 26 years till 1976. When it was recovered in Granberry, texas. Stolen again in 1981, recovered in Huntington Beach, california. Wow. So that's why it's locked up. That makes sense. That would be some tombstone to have, though, in your collection, so to speak, wouldn't it is there two of them, billy the kid born November 23,1860, killed July 14,1881. The boy bandit king died as he lived. H. And then there's another one here, I guess these are the grave s sites, huh? There's three people buried here. Looks like Tom Oer, charlie Bodry, william H. Bonnie, alias Billy the kid. So right next to the grave site, there's some brief bios of the two guys buried with him. Charlie Bowry, unlucky, friend to Billy the kid, fought alongside Billy the kid in the Lincoln county war. To losing the war. Both he and the kid retreated to fort suar, new Mexico, where about, worked as a cowboy and was a suspect in Billy's outlaw endeavors. And right next to it, there's the grave site. Here's the other guy buried here. Tom Oard was the best friend of outlaw William. Bonnie. Billy the kid, both were members of the regulators. They're in the Lincoln County war. How about that? He was shot in the chest by sheriff Pat Garrett at Fort Suar, dying approximately 45 minutes later. How about that? Now, that is too cool. There it is. Grave side of Billy the kid and his buddies. Wow, check out this one, joe Grant, shot January 10,1880 by William money. You think that's the actual headstone. Wow, that looks so old. Here's a little information. Joe, texas Red Grant died January 10,1880. It is said that while drunk one night, grant had the misfortune of getting on the wrong side of Billy the kid at Beavers Smith, saloon in Fort Suar, new Mexico. After a heated discussion, grant bet Billy, $25 that he would kill a man. First, billy feigned, false admiration for Grant's gun and asked to examine it while doing. So. Billy rotated the cylinder to an empty chamber, anticipating trouble, billy and Grant eventually got into an argument, and as Billy turned to walk away, grant tried to shoot Billy in the back, but all he heard was a click. Billy turned and drew firing three shots, killing Grant instantly. What a story? Yeah, it's definitely worth coming out here. When I was a kid, I dived old wild-West. Books about People like Billy the kid. Really exciting to be here. Everyone. I am in the town of Tabin, I think it's pronounced. It is an essence of a ghost town. The census doesn't count it as a town anymore, so I couldn't really get any numbers. I believe there's about 50 people here. The destination is on your right T. Thank you, australian Siri I forgot to turn her off. Yeah, but you see for yourself. There's not much happening here, but check it out. It has a Post office. T in New Mexico. Like a store here. I don't think it's in operation. Antiques, T trading post. I mean, this is a major highway. Like, there's no cars here. Nothing, A bit of a fire department though. Man. Rural New Mexico. There's a church here, though. That's the main reason it came here. Let's see if I can find it. Oh, I think that's it over there. Yeah, it's built in 1908. That's it. Now, this is something, isn't it? Yeah, I'm going to get out and take a look at this man. This is stark and lonely. Yeah, like I said, built in 1908. Let's go see the inside. Don't think we're going to see much though, except some graffiti, obviously guess it's safe to walk. Wow. We you look at this. This is something we all die. That is true. You wonder what this looked like back in the day, the desolation of New Mexico. It's fantastic, isn't it? And there's some cars. Amazing. Well, all right, little gas station long gone, let get on to the next town. All right everyone? I am in the town of Melrose, new Mexico. Let's see. Peak population of this town was in 1950. There were 936 people here today. There are 470. Median age is 49. So, it is an older town, US. It's 39,74% of this town is white, 21% Hispanic. Last 5% is mixed race median household income is $34,000 a year. So, that's about 650 a week. Approximately poverty is pretty high. 24% children, 17 and under-it is 25%, folks, 65 and older, though it is only 3%. So that's, it's really low for them. Cost of living is 23% lower compared to the rest of the US Median home value is 58,000. So you get a house pretty cheap here, this downtown. Don't think anything has been going on here for a long time, though. US who are older and watched cartoons as kids was born here, william Hannah of Hannah Barbara Fame. He was born here. Yeah, of course, you know, hannah Barbara, cartoons, tom and Jerry Flintstones, jetson, scooby doo. Maybe the most prolific cartoonists in history. He was born in this little tiny town. Let's see Crime. It's pretty high here. Latest numberers, 5.1 incidents per 100 people. That compares to 2.3 for the US about twice higher. You know, you're in the country in the old wild west. When you see someone riding a horse instead of riding in a, or driving a car, how about that Might be the first person I've seen in any of these towns. I think it's out for a morning ride. That's pretty nice, isn't it? That was a good site. I like that. Well, the town's lost half its population since 1950. So, expect to see some of this for sure. Well, they have less than 500 people, but they got a fire department. I did see a gas station coming into town. You a little convenience store, I don't think there's a grocery store here. I don't even see a dollar general anywhere. They've got a little medical facility here. I mean, it's small, but it's something M. Rose medical clinic. Well, guys, I spoke too soon about the dollar general. There it is. I think that's a brand new one. That's just getting ready to open. How about that? And they have a second gas station right here with a restaurant. So, there's that. Well, everyone. I've arrived at the town of, I want to say, ela. The town is got its name from the founder who had two daughters, one named Ella, the other named Ida. And they just combined the names to come up with the town's name. So AA, I'm thinking I'm approaching downtown here in 19,60. There were 534 people here today. There's a little over 160. So like the towns before that I've shown you today, it's lost. A significant amount of population. Just seems like it's barely surviving. Well, see, to start with the median age. It's 53 so it's an older town. For sure. There's downtown. We'll head up that way 70% of the town is white, 30% Hispanic. That's it. Pretty good money though. $48,000 a year. That's the median household income. I'm not going to lie. I'm not seeing that yet. That's pretty good money. A week. For a little town out here, kind of in the middle of nowhere. Poverty is pretty low, too. 13%. Overall, children, 17 and under, it's 133% as well, folks, 65 and older, it is 22%. I tell you what this downtown. There hasn't been anything happening here for a long time. You can definitely tell it was bigger or more populated. There's quite a few buildings here, but there's nothing happening in terms of there being any kind of commerce. I mean, it's got a square. That's what I'm driving around. Basically a park in the middle. See what this says here. A lot of memories looks abandoned, doesn't it? I guess that was a duplex. Here's the Post office, right there. A light of New Mexico H. Well, I was looking at the cost of living. It's 23% lower. Used to be a gas station. I guess that gas pump there. Wow, check out this cat. See him. On the other side of the pence there. Hey, cat. Yeah, that's right, I'm talking to you, buddy. At all this cactus. Jeez. That just does not seem livable. I guess someone lives there. You expect to see a lot of empty homes here and I'm seeing it. Oh, no, that might not be empty. It's got a light on. I'm going to go out on a lamb and say this one is, though, with the kind of population loss they've had. There's going to be a lot of empty abandoned houses here. There's one another one, that's another empty house. Stop signs. Upside down. I was looking at the crime numbers for this town and they're a little bit high. Latest numbers is 5.5 per 100 people compares to 2.3 for the US. So, crime here is almost twice higher. There is definitely a post-apocalyptic vibe here. That over there, another one here, a lot of town just up and left. That's what it looks like. You imagine a zombie coming running out of there. Okay, guys, that's the end of this video. Up next, we are heading to Roswell, the city that aliens from outer space have visited. Oh, yeah, that's coming up next H. We will see you there
Date: 2024-01-28

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Comments and reviews: 35

stanleybest8833
Henry Mc Carty laid next to young Tom O'Falliard and Bill Bowdre, with no tombstones. The graves were rock piles with placques. This was the resting place 20 years ago. A sincere but not so perfect account of the Billy Bonney last months is in Robert Utley's Billy the Kid A short and violent life. It is a solid stepping stone in framing the McCarty/ Antrim life and death. Tom O'Falliard's neck was broken by Pat Garrett and Pat Garrett shot Billy the Kid and broke his neck here, in Fort Sumner. You could not scratch your belly button without it being documented into pre and post Lincoln County War lore. Authentic stories continue to pour out 140 year after the last trappings of Billy Antrim/ McCarty. Sheriff William Brady was a Dolan side crook and got everything he deserved.
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LesMorrisracing
Good Eye Cats Found! Was kind of choppy at first had to turn it down to 1080. When I was 15 my dad wanted to check out Deming NM. Was strange we stopped for gas and the gas station a crossed the way the Spanish guys where yelling for us to come there. This was back in the 70's. Anyways my Dad want to take a nap so he let me drive. First time I drove 80mph. well until he woke up and yelled at me. Wasn't anyone around. like in your video. Thank you for the video and say HI to Nicky for me.
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user-sx2yv1sb3q
Thank you, very enjoyable! My yrs of traveling doing OTR Expedite, I would route myself to the back roads for the empty moves, and it was so much more relaxing! My bad habit was to stop at restaurants like that one, if only for a cup of coffee and maybe talk to a local or two! Always enjoy your videos, and the soothing voice with so much information on the locations your in! Thank you! Happy travels!
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cecoya
That highway at the beginning of this video make sure you have a full tank of gas and 4 extra spare tires, that is a touch scary to me. These little towns are amazing that they still function at all. Lack of people, groceries, conveniences even broken down housing, hasn't stopped them. There is still some spirit left in them to keep on trying. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day and safe travels.
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alohathaxted
I drove on that same road on the way from Midland Texas to Taos after work on a friday afternoon and evening. It was a cloudy dark night and I did! t see another cat for hours. Just the headlights on the pavement in front of me. Nearly had an accident when the radio came back on suddenly when I neared Santa Fe. I hadn’t turned it off after I lost the signal hours before.
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juliancate7089
Bleak. Depressing. It's never a single cause for rural areas to die, but the de-industrialization of America that began in the 1960s and accelerated for the next 20 years played a big part. Communities live and die on jobs and wages. Export the jobs to whatever Third World dump has the cheapest labor this week, and this is what you're left with.
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carolmchargue7746
I was born and raised in New Mexico. I hope people seeing this particular area won't think all of our beautiful state looks like this. There's mountains, lakes, white sands, Sands, many beautiful parts to this magical place. Isn't called the land of enchantment for nothing. Thanks for seeing the beauty even in these desolate areas.
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Jody-kt9ev
I visited Fort Sumner and Billy's grave many years ago. At the time, I was told that due to a flood, Billy and his buddies may no longer be where the tombstones are. Kind of like Warren Earp. Warren is somewhere in the Wilcox, Arizona cemetery, but no one knows exactly where;
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thomascrowley9663
Hey Joe, thanks for another great video. I was surprised you didn't hit the Billy The Kid Museum it was only about 2 miles away. Also are you going to 4 corners it's on the way to Roswell. I also hope you make it to Monument valley and do some filming there.
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usa-by-car
Great video! I love these desolate towns! The person riding the horse was awesome! Yes, it seems cats and roosters rule the towns until graffiti reminds you otherwise. Appreciate the trip to Bill the Kid’s grave. I would never tire of the roads in your opening.
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damonteufel
Just moved out to NM from NOLA and Lincoln, NM, where Billy got famous, is one of our favorite places we used to visit as vacationers. It's like an outdoor/indoor museum. Those lonely roads out there are great too. Always prefer the backroads to interstate.
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JustMeNoOther
Watching the video, was impossible not to hear the song The Ghost by Willie Nelson (guitar solo version) in my head. Only ghosts live in those towns, no more memories, and even ghosts do not want to live there. So sad. The sun must set soon.
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gregpies1649
Great video Joe I love seeing these old towns off the beaten track and the history of them. The grave of Billy the Kid was fascinating but erie and I noted people had thrown coins in that cage and I can't figure out why. Thanks once again.
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NativeNYer
Idk how u drive and narrate etc, very impressive! Very sad towns. Its amazing it functioned one time and then turns into what it is. A shame. Lots of cat sitings. And the guy with one horse power riding thru town! Ty Joe an Nic b safe.
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Christina-ge3xr
In 1864 the Dine. Navajos. were forced to relocate from their home in western NM to Ft Sumner. They called it The Long Walk. It was a horrible instance of ethnic cleansing since most died along the way.
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usa-by-car
When in Arizona have you made it through Oatman or hit the road kill Cafe off I40 north of Kingman Route 66 from Kingman north is very drivable and has a lot of small towns winds up though the Res.
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zoidmo3388
As usual, an awesome vid. Thank you Joe. Plenty of cat sightings, the rooster crowing and even a rider on a horse. OH Man! That was totally appropriate for my vivid imagination for Old West. lol.
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usmcmos3174
Great video Joe these are the places I love to see and the quite out of the way landscape. Good job and some great sites you showed to. Safe travels my friend. Keep filming I’ll keep watching
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user-bg2oi4bz3p
You have made another excellent document with some facts and figures and history.
I did not see much for gas stations and grocery stores. Looks like a food and fuel desert out there.
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jonathanlee5185
Wow! Thanks, Joe. The only other human in 30 mins was a denim-clad native-American on a dark non-descript horse: that folk cameo couldn't have been more powerful if scripted!
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user-nv8nt6gm2d
I don’t understand the mystique of Billy the Kid. To me, he was just another young punk who did crimes and paid for it. I don’t get the fascination with him.
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usa-by-car
Huge gigantic areas of here in Western Australia look like the start of this video. Once you go north and north east of Perth thousands of kilometers look like that.
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BoomBustProfits
37: 00 LOL Definitely a Post-Apocalyptic Vibe Here. BUT Where were all the Dogs Did not see any - one would think you would see dogs running around those parts.
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tomcripps7229
I passed that way a long time ago. Stopped at a cafe in Yeso and had a plate of some of the best enchiladas I've ever had in my life. Thank you for sharing.
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pltanner2981
ive been through Ft Summner, also landed at the airport. multiple times in 50 years. never saw bills grave.
eastern New Mexico is sparsely populated.
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cordhartmann8607
What happened to all the people who lived there Did they die there Or did they move away What kind of economy once existed Cowboys and ranches
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edwardvargas6911
Crime rate is low because everybody is poor. Nobody has anything of value. Everybody knows each other. You can't steal nothing from nothing.
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chrispriest7167
I'm surprised you skipped Tolar. Its in between Melrose and Taiban. It was the location of a huge railway explosion during the 40s
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usa-by-car
How do you know that there abandoned just cause you don’t see people doesn’t mean it’s not lived in. Maybe they are just messy.
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sandrahansen83
Parts of Australia are like this too. Two-thirds of Australia is desert either sandy, scrubby or stony. Melbourne Australia
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jimthornton-fc8kq
Am really enjoying our trip to New Mexico. Thanks for taking me along. Can't wait to see Roswell. Sincerely, Jim Thornton
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lillypad9960
This has been fascinating. I'm a car rider. I could do this all day, every day. Thanks for sharing. Blessings from Michigan.
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user-ie1vi9hj6g
I was at Billy, s grave in the 90s. Was the museum still in town The grave looks the same. I lived in Granbury Tx.
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kenj. 8897
I'm glad you got out of Sumner with wheels on your vehicle. I'm guessing 36k is what welfare is paying these days. Sad
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floydlooney6837
Small town grocery stores are an interesting subject. How small can a town be and still support a grocery store
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