Cimarron, NM

 

Outside of Cimarron is a boy scout camp on 127,000 acres.  A man named Phillips was one of the wealthiest men in the world around the turn of last century.  He bought over 300,000 acres outside of Cimarron for his family to ranch.  It had been a boyhood dream of his.  He called it Philmont Ranch, Phil for his name and mont for mountain.

This is the house he lived in

Part of the scout camp.  There are many permanent buildings, also.

There is a museum at he camp

                                      

In front of the museum is this replica of a rock found on the grounds.

Turns out not to be a rock, but a petrified mold of a dinosaur footprint.  More interesting, yet, is that it is the only footprint of a Tyrannosaurus Rex ever found.

 

From the camp we went to the St. James Hotel in Cimarron.

Evidentially there are ghosts here, too.  We didn’t see any, but we found these rules for Ghost hunters.

We were allowed to view the downstairs rooms.  Current guests stay upstairs.

 Since Cimarron was on the stage coach route between Denver (and other cities) and Santa Fe, many noteworthy people stayed at this hotel.

Many shootings took place at this hotel.  One happened in room 6.

 

 

There are many bullet holes in the ceiling of the bar.

For better looks at the photos, just double click on them.

Did I mention we have been following the Santa Fe Trail?  No….well we have and here is proof.