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Enjoy this informative guide to Grants and Cibola County, where the distinct cultures of the Pueblo Nations, the Navajo people, the Hispanics and the Anglo Europeans meet. We invite you to explore the recreational and cultural opportunities that abound in this part of New Mexico.
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2 – GRANTS VISITOR GUIDE
The Grants Visitor Guide is produced by the Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce towelcome and inform prospective visitors to Grants, New Mexico. Published by Zia Publishing Corp.,611 North Hudson, Silver City, NM 88061. Special thanks to all contributing writers and photographers,including Lee Marmon, Rick Best, Susan Olin, Tom Nurenberg, Richard Garcia, Christine Quintana,Renee Post, Joe Lister, Eric O'Connell, Joe Burgess, Cibola Beacon, Cibola National Forest, Dr. LarryCrumpler, Ice Caves, Ira Clark, and Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce staff.
POPULATION:26,000 – Cibola County9,200 – Grants
LAND AREA:4,180 sq. miles
ELEVATIONS:6,400 ft. – City of Grants11,301 ft. – Mt. Taylor
CLIMATE:Average High Temperature – 70 degreesAverage Low Temperature – 42 degreesAverage Annual Precipitation – 9 inchesAverage Annual Snowfall –11 inches
LODGING & DINING:Restaurants – 42Hotel and Motel rooms – 800RV Parks – 4
AREA RECREATION:City Parks – 13Golf Courses – 2Public Swimming Pool – 1Baseball Fields – 9Bowling Alley – 1Movie Theater – 1Winery – 1
AREA CHURCHES: 25+EMERGENCY: Dial 911Cibola General Hospital 505-287-4446
PUEBLOS & TRIBES:AcomaLagunaZuniNavajoAREA ATTRACTIONS:Acoma Pueblo Sky CityBluewater Lake State ParkChaco Culture National Historical ParkCibola National ForestEl Malpais National MonumentEl Morro National MonumentEl Malpais National Conservation AreaIce Caves and Bandera VolcanoMount TaylorSan Jose de la Laguna MissionWild Spirit Wolf SanctuaryLOCATION & DIRECTIONS:Grants is located on Interstate 40between Gallup, New Mexico andAlbuquerque, New Mexico
MORE INFORMATIONGrants/Cibola CountyChamber of Commerce100 North Iron Ave.Grants, NM 870201-800-748-2142505-287-4802www.grants.org
Northwest New MexicoVisitor Center
1900 East Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-876-2783
www.nps.gov/elma/
About the CoverThe wild horses pictured make theirhome on Mt. Taylor just north of Grants,NM. Direct descendants of the SpanishConquistadors’ horses that made theirway through the area in the mid1500’s–1600’s, these hardy Spanishmustangs now thrive and roam wild andfree on Mt. Taylor. Cover photo courtesyof Dan Elkins.
www.grants.org – 3
GRANTS, NEW MEXICOwww.grants.org
ATTRACTIONS:Northwest New Mexico VisitorCenter. Information, exhibits, maps,books, videos, programs. South ofI-40, Exit 85, 1900 E. Santa Fe Ave.505-876-2783.
MUSEUMS & ART GALLERIES:New Mexico Mining Museum.Simulated uranium mine, Indian arti-facts, geology exhibits.100 N. IronAve., 800-748-2142, 505-287-4802.Mon-Sat 9am-4pm. www.grants.orgCibola Arts Council - Double SixGallery. 1001 W. Santa Fe Ave.505-287-7311. Representing over70 different artists.Cibola Art & Artifacts Museum.Tues-Sat 1pm-5pm. 1001 W. SantaFe Ave. 505-287-7311. Museumdedicated to regional, historicalexhibits. New exhibit annually.www.cibolaartscouncil.comMission Gallery. Contemporary andrepresentational work featuring theart of Michael Lewis. 505-285-3785.michaellewisart.com
NATURAL WONDERS:Bandera Crater/Ice Caves.800 ft. volcanic cone, hiking trailalong rim. System of volcanic trench-es, caves, collapses. 25 miles south-west of Grants off scenic N.M. 53.1-888-ICECAVE. [email protected]
OUTDOOR GETAWAYS:Bluewater State Park. Trout fishing,camping, boating, wildlife viewing. Thereservoir is located in a valley carved inshale and limestone. Located 28 mileswest of Grants via I-40 and N.M. 412.505-876-2391. www.nmparks.comCibola National Forest. Mt. TaylorRanger District, 1800 Lobo CanyonRd., Grants. 505-287-8833.www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibolaEl Malpais National Monument &National Conservation Area.Preserves 114,000 acres of volcanicterrain, different-aged lava flows, cindercones, pressure ridges, lava tube sys-tems, other volcanic features. LaVentana Arch on the BLM’s NationalConservation Area is one of the largestnatural sandstone arches in NM.Wilderness camping, hiking, spelunking,mountain biking (bring your own equip-ment). South of Grants via I-40 andeither N.M. 117 or N.M. 53. InformationCenter 505-783-4774, BLM RangerStation 505-280-2918. Call for weath-er conditions. www.nps.gov/elmaEl Morro National Monument. Aprominent sandstone ridge preservesthousands of inscriptions ranging fromancient petroglyphs to text left bySpanish conquistadores, emigrants,military expeditions, railroad survey par-ties, and others. Visitor center, camping,hiking, birdwatching. Located 45 milessouthwest of Grants via N.M. 53.505-783-4226. www.nps.gov/elmo
Cibola Arts Council Member Shows: January, April, July, October
Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon: Saturday of President’s Day weekend
Cibola Arts Council Mt. Taylor Exhibit: March
Easter Egg Hunt: Saturday of Easter weekend
La Fiesta de Colores Hispanic Art Show: First weekend in May
Annual July 4th Parade: July 4th
Grants Rodeo Association Wild West Days: 4th of July
Fire & Ice Bike Rally: Third weekend in July
Bi-County Fair: Labor Day Weekend
Cibola Arts Council Ceramic Show (largest in Western NM): September
Village of Milan Fall Festival: September
Ancient Way Fall Festival: First two weekends in October
Junior Quadrathlon: Second Saturday in October
Holiday Arts Market:Weekend before Thanksgiving
Roberta’s Place Festival of Wreaths: First Friday in December
Holiday Lights Parade: First Saturday in December
Grants Recreation Arts & Crafts Fair: First weekend in December
LOCAL EVENTS & FESTIVALSCALL 800-748-2142 FOR INFORMATION
Fire & Ice Bike Rally
Grants 4th of July Parade
SteppenwolfMt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon
Fire & Ice Bike Rally
La Fiesta de Colores artwork by Ava Peets
WELCOME TO GRANTS AND CIBOLA COUNTY! THEINTRIGUING HISTORY, FASCINATING GEOLOGY, ANDcolorful cultures of our region are a synopsis of what makes NewMexico enchanting.Grants and Cibola County are located in a landscape of moun-
tains, mesas, and malpais that bears witness to the complex geo-logical processes that have shaped the earth itself. Classic south-west scenery dominates the region, with red and tan sandstonecliffs and high desert vegetation giving way to pine forests and
aspen groves on the slopes of Mount Taylor and the Zuni Mountains.The pueblo people have lived in this area “since the beginning of time” in their reckon-
ing. The abundant legacy of their ancestors is evident in the archaeology of the region.Nearby Acoma, sitting on a high mesa southeast of Grants, is perhaps the oldest continu-ously inhabited city in the United States. The new Sky City Cultural Center showcases theheritage of the Acoma people for all to enjoy. The Pueblo of Laguna also welcomes visitorsand is home to the 300-year-old mission church of San Jose de la Laguna.The Spanish influence arrived to stay in the land of Cibola in 1605, when Don Juan de
m
top: Hikers entering Big Skylight Cave in El Malpais National Monument. above left: La Fiesta deColores Aztec Dancer. middle right: The entrance to Four Windows Cave. bottom right: Carved Indiansat Kachina Country USA. opposite: Coyote del Malpais Golf Course in Grants.
4 – GRANTS VISITOR GUIDE
DISCOVERGRANTS And The Land of CibolaPhotography by Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center and Cibola Beacon
www.grants.org – 5
Oñate carved his inscription on the cliff atEl Morro. The establishment of the NewMexico colony brought settlers and ranch-ers to the region. This legacy endures in theinscriptions at El Morro NationalMonument, the various local fiestas, andSpanish colonial settlements like San Rafael,Cebolleta, and Cubero.Established as a railroad camp in the
1880s by three Canadian brothers contract-ed to build the railroad through the area,Grants has a compelling past. From railroadcamp to lumber town, Grants rode theglory days of steam railroading and logging,serving as a coaling station and sectionpoint for the Atlantic and Pacific and as theterminus for short lines like the ZuniMountain Railroad.After logging ended in the 1940s, Grants
turned to agriculture, once boasting of itselfas the “carrot capital of the world.” Its loca-tion on Route 66 brought travelers and theroadside enterprises that served them. Thediscovery of uranium by Navajo sheep-herder Paddy Martinez sparked a miningboom that lasted for over three decades.Today Grants and Cibola County are the
multicultural epitome of the southwest,where the distinct cultures of the PuebloNations, the Navajo people, the Hispanics,and the Anglo-Europeans strive to create acommunity that works for all.
VISITOR CENTERTheNorthwestNewMexicoVisitor Centerprovides a gateway to exploring therecreational and cultural opportunitieswhich abound in this part of the state.This multi-agency center provides areainformation, exhibits, maps, books, videos,and programs. Open Daily 8-5 MST 9-6 MDT
505.876.27831900 East Santa Fe AvenueGrants, New Mexico 87020
The best 7,000 yards you can playin the Land of Enchantment.
The Coyote in Grants!www.coyotedelmalpaisgolfcourse.com
2001 George Hanosh Blvd., Grants, New Mexico 87020 (505) 285-5544
ROUTE 66: THE NAME ITSELF CAPTURES THE MAGIC OF ROAD-TRIPAMERICA. ITWASTHE NATION’S FIRST MAJOR ALL-WEATHER HIGHWAYconnecting the Midwest with California, the golden state. Traveling west from theshores of the Great Lakes through the rolling hills and high plains of the Midwest,Route 66 lured travelers onward with promises of the mythic American West.Once the highway crossed into New Mexico, it began delivering on those promis-es as it rolled through dramatic badlands, high desert country, past mountains andmesas, and through the Pueblo Nations of the Southwest.Here in Cibola County, a long segment of the “mother road” still winds along
through classic western scenery. The road can be followed easily in any car, althoughthe journey is perhaps more enjoyable in a tail-finned Cadillac or Bel Air, or on theseat of a V-twin Harley. Travelers can still “get their kicks” on old Route 66.Santa Fe Avenue is Route 66 through Grants and Milan. Several vintage diners,
a theater, and some classic motels stillswitch on the neon in the evening. Checkout the Grants Café, the Sands Motel, theWest Theater, the Southwest MotorLodge, the Uranium Café and others.Old trading posts like Kachina CountryUSA still do business in the arts and craftstrade as well.Beyond Grants to the west, Route 66
parallels the railroad tracks as NewMexico State Highway 122, passingBluewater Village and traveling up to theContinental Divide. From this section ofroad, good views of the Mount Sedgwickarea of the Zuni Mountains can beenjoyed. Travelers will also see the westslopes of Mount Taylor, the shield vol-cano known as El Tintero, and HaystackMountain, site of the uranium strike thatstarted the mining boom of the 1950s.For those traveling east, Route 66
leaves Grants by turning left at the rail-road overpass at the east side of town, and
6 – GRANTS VISITOR GUIDE
opposite, top right: Neon marquee of the West Theater. middle left: Marty Bielecki cruises Route 66 in his 57 Bel-Air. bottom left: Waxing up abeautiful classic car. bottom middle: Road sign in Budville. above, top: Restored neon sign in Grants. above: Bud Rice and his tow truck.
tTRAVELING NEW MEXICO’S HISTORICROUTE 66Written by Rick Best Photography by Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center, Cibola Beacon and Lee Marmon
www.grants.org – 7
AuthenticNew
MexicoCuisine
Monday - Friday 7 am to 9 pm
Saturday 7 am to 8 pm
285-6229 • 820 E. Santa Fe Ave.
The La Ventana Steakhouse in Grants New Mexico serves updelicious and unique dishes at prices you can afford.
Call today for your reservation or just stop by and see all thegreat food, and desserts that are available.
Along with your meal, enjoy our wide selection ofbeer and wine in our full bar.
For Reservations/Questions please call505.287.9393
www.thelaventana.com110 1⁄2 GEIS STREET • GRANTS, NEW MEXICO 87020
1300 Motel Dr. • PO Box 2388 • Milan, NM 87021Exit 79 Across from Petro • Open: Tuesday – Sunday 6 AM to Midnight
heading east along with the railroad. NearExit 89, the road turns left and runs alongI-40 for a short distance before duckingunder it and reemerging on the south sideof the interstate. Now numbered as NewMexico State Highway 124, it follows themesas and cliffs of Acoma lands, crossesthe Interstate again at Exit 96, and runsthrough the communities of San Fidel,Villa de Cubero, and Budville on the wayto Old Laguna Village. Abandoned motelsand other relics of past glory can be seen,including the Whiting Brothers gas stationand motel ruins near McCartys. BeyondLaguna, the road drops down along thecliffs through Dead Man’s Curve to thepueblo village of Mesita, where travelerscan rejoin the interstate at Exit 117. Arough section continues to Exit 126.
8 – GRANTS VISITOR GUIDE
Northwest New Mexico Visitor CenterThe Northwest New Mexico Visitor Centeris a stunning Pueblo Revival structure thatfaces a wide expanse of rugged lava flowrimmed with mesas. The center serves asthe gateway to the region’s public lands.Learn about area national parks, nationalforests and Bureau of Land Managementareas. Open daily 8am–5pm MST, or9am–6 pm DST.
Double Six Gallery andCibola Art & Artifacts Museum.Explore the many stories of CibolaCounty’s past at this new facility. Locatedon historic Route 66, the museum servesas a repository for artifacts and relics ofthe past. The Cibola Arts Council alsoexhibits locally created works of art. OpenTues.-Sat., 1pm–5pm.
New Mexico Mining MuseumExplore the uranium boom in the south-west at the New Mexico Mining Museumin Grants. Access a complete mine tunnelcomplex by riding down in an elevator.Learn about the minerals and resourcesfound in the rocks of the region. OpenMon.-Sat., 9am-4pm.
Zuni Mountain Auto TourReminisce about the glory days of steam railroading in theZuni Mountains by following the Zuni Mountain HistoricAuto Tour. This route uses existing Forest Service dirt roadsto trace the history of logging and railroading in the CibolaNational Forest. Old railroad grades, trestle remnants, townsites, and other reminders of the past can be seen. Pick upan auto tour guide and get more information at the MiningMuseum or the Visitor Center.
cTHE HERITAGE OFCIBOLA COUNTYPhotography by Lee Marmon, Joe Lister, Cibola National Forest, Grants Cibola Chamber of Commerce and Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center
FROM ANCIENT PUEBLOS TOTHE ATOMIC AGE, CIBOLACounty has been a part of the storyof the greater southwest. This her-itage forms the basis of ongoing tra-ditions. Ceremonies still occur atAcoma and Laguna, marking thechanging seasons in ways that haveendured for centuries. Fiestas andfestivals evoke the days of theSpanish Empire, and the centuriesthat the region spent under Spanishand Mexican rule. The recent pastis recalled by the ghost railroads ofthe Zuni Mountains, the relics ofRoute 66, and the remnants of theuranium boom. Explore this her-itage at the following sites.
Altar Screen, St. Joseph Mission at Laguna
www.grants.org – 99
Welcome to the wonderfulCity of Grants located in
Cibola County, New Mexico.Cibola County has a popula-
tion of over 26,000 and islocated on the I-40 Corridor, 70miles northwest of Albu-querque where the nearestcommerical airport is located.Interstate 40 is one of the mostcommercially traveled inter-states in the nation, and there-fore excellently maintained andaccessible year round.Additionally, Cibola has a rail-way system and an airport,which accommodates small tomedium aircraft, with a runwaythat has been expanded toincrease commercial aircraftuse for shipping and delivery.We are home to the Grants
campus of New Mexico StateUniversity where two and fouryear programs are offered.Grants has a full service hospi-tal, a public school systemwhich offers school-to-workprograms plus a range ofhousing, including sale andrental, as well as available land.
top: Guadalupe Vineyards wine awards.right: Sunset at Mt. Taylor Mine inSan Mateo.
Cibola Arts CouncilDouble Six Gallery
1001 W. Santa Fe AvenueGrants, NM 87020505-287-7311
www.cibolaartscouncil.com
Our Specialty – New Mexico’s Past
Guns, Pottery, Jewelry, Cowboy andWestern Artifacts, Minerals, Turquoise.
505-287-3872215 North 1st Street • Grants, NM
Office – IT –Industrial – ManufacturingConstruction Trades – Drivers – Janitorial
Temp & Temp-to-Hire Placements
Serving Cibola and McKinley Counties
Flexible Employment Solutions
505-287-89111003 N. First Street • Grants, NM
www.ccstemps.com
ACEPAWN AN TIQUES�
MININGCOMPANY
505.287.4456Fax 505.287.9289P.O. Box 98
Highway 605 • Grants, NM 87020
10 – GRANTS VISITOR GUIDE
STATE HIGHWAY 53 TAKES TRAVELERS ON A WANDERING JOURNEYTHROUGH CLASSIC SOUTHWESTERN LANDSCAPES. ALSO KNOWN ASas the “ancient way” due to its paralleling the ancient trade route between Acomaand Zuni pueblos, this drive begins at exit 81 on I-40.Immediately south of Grants, a marked turnoff to the west is the beginning of
the Zuni Canyon Road, Forest Road 49. It provides access to the Zuni Mountainsregion of the Cibola National Forest. Highway 53 then passes San Rafael. A detourfrom the main highway takes one into an old colonial village, centered around thechurch and plaza, where houses crowd in close to the narrow main street.Sixteen miles south of I-40, the road reaches the west trailhead of the Zuni-Acoma
trail, a centuries old route connecting Acoma Pueblo and Zuni Pueblo. About 5miles beyond the Zuni—Acoma trailhead, a short gravel road leads south to the ElCalderon trailhead. Here, a 3-mile loop trail takes hikers past the Junction Cave lavatube and out to El Calderon Volcano, active 100 to 200 thousand years ago.The nearby El Malpais Information Center features a bookstore and exhibits,
and on-duty staff can help visitors and backcountry enthusiasts with questionsabout the area. Day hikers can also access sections of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail from the center.After crossing the continental divide, County Road 42, the Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway provides access to the
Big Tubes Area of El Malpais National Monument, where rugged hiking leads to fantastic and huge lava tube caves. Itpasses the Chain of Craters, a series of ancient cinder cones formed from centuries of volcanic eruptions, and connectswith Highway 117 near Point of the Malpais. Highway 53 continues on to the village of Ramah and the pueblo of Zuni.
top: The yawning crater of Bandera Volcano is easily accessed by a short hike. middle right: Mountain biking in the Zuni Mountains regionof the Cibola National Forest. bottom right: Ramah Lake is just north of Ramah. opposite top: Howling wolf at Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuaryin Candy Kitchen. opposite bottom: Light snow at El Morro National Monument.
dTHE ANCIENT WAYSCENIC ROUTE 53Written by Rick Best Photography by Dr. Larry Crumpler, Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center, Joe Burgess and Ice Caves
El MorroNational Monument
The reliable water at the base of the cliffhas drawn people for centuries, from theancient Indians to the colonists and emi-grants. All left their inscriptions as theypaused.
El MalpaisNational Monument
Over 100,000 acres of twisted lavaflows, yawning lava tube caves, sand-stone cliffs and numerous volcanic cin-der cones await the adventurous explor-er in this rugged park.
Bandera Volcanoand Ice Cave
The geology of the Ice Cave allows apermanent layer of ice to grace the bot-tom of the cave. The sharply definedBandera Volcano provides a dramaticexample of volcanism.
www.grants.org – 11
12 – GRANTS VISITOR GUIDE
THE HUMAN STORY OF CIBOLA COUNTY EXTENDS DEEP INTO ANTIQUITY. THE REGION’S PAST PEOPLESLEFT BEHIND A COMPLEX TAPESTRY OF ARCHAEOLOGY, EVIDENCED BY THE NUMEROUS PETROGLYPHS,pictographs, potsherds and wall remnants that repose in the backcountry.The long tenure of the Pueblo People of the southwest can be explored at the two pueblos in Cibola County. Acoma
Pueblo is possibly the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. Perched on its 375-foot-high mesa, Acomahas been witness to many centuries. Tours are available from the new cultural center at the base of the mesa, where the her-itage of the Acoma people is exhibited for all to enjoy. Nearby Laguna Pueblo occupies a hilltop location near Route 66.The church of San Jose is over 300 years old.The Hispanic experience in the southwest dates back to the Coronado expedition of 1540 and the colonial period begin-
ning in 1598. Don Juan de Oñate, the leader of the expedition to colonize the region, left his inscription on the cliff wallat El Morro in 1605. Established as a national monument in 1906, El Morro chronicles many of the Spanish expeditionsand groups that passed through the region.Many of the smaller villages in the region have ties to the colonial period. The village of Cubero was mentioned in jour-
nals in the late 1600s, while San Mateo and Cebolleta resulted from land grants in the 1800s. San Rafael served as the siteof the original Fort Wingate, used in the Navajo War of 1864. In these villages, ancient adobe houses and small missionchurches preserve the memory of the time when New Mexico was part of the vast Spanish Empire.
top left: Enchanted Mesa near Acoma. top right: San Esteban Mission at Acoma. center: Zuni Olla Maidens. bottom left: Saint JosephMission at Laguna. bottom right: Houses of Acoma Pueblo.
gLAND OF CIBOLANATIONS & CULTURESPhotography by Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center and Joe Burgess
www.grants.org – 13
Chaco Culture preserves some ofthe most dramatic and impressiveremnants of ancient pueblo culture inthe southwest. Massive “great hous-es” with wall remnants up to four sto-ries tall rise out of a dry desert wash.The complexity of such structureslocated in such a desolate and inhos-pitable location still perplexes andamazes visitors today.The builders of Chaco were people
possessed of a great body of knowl-edge. Numerous astronomical align-ments have been determined fromexamining the various villages, while thewalls themselves reveal advancedknowledge of masonry constructiontechniques and physics. The maze ofChaco roads shows the extent of theworld occupied by these ancient pueblopeople. A loop drive takes visitors tosights and trailheads for in-depth explo-ration of the Chaco phenomenon.
top: Massive walls still stand at Pueblo Pintado.middlet: Kin Kletso as viewed from the PuebloAlto trail.
1-40 exit 79 • [email protected] • (505) 287-28581500 Willow dr ive m ilan , nm 87021
Chaco CultureWorld Heritage Site
14 – GRANTS VISITOR GUIDE
FROM THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN THE REGION TO A SOARING SANDSTONE ARCH, CIBOLA COUNTYOFFERS MANY NATURAL WONDERS FOR THE TRAVELER SEEKING THE GREAT OUTDOORS. THE USDAForest Service Mount Taylor Ranger District covers thousands of acres of rugged country on Mount Taylor and the ZuniMountains, while the Bureau of Land Management’s El Malpais National Conservation Area features two designatedwilderness areas.The 11,301-foot peak just north of Grants dominates the landscape for miles around. Visible from as far away as
Albuquerque, the Continental Divide, and Chaco Culture, Mount Taylor is many things to many people. For many NativeAmericans, Mount Taylor is an ancient sacred site, known to some as Turquoise Mountain. Its slopes support piñon pine,the source of the protein-rich pine nuts collected by local people past and present. Deer, elk, black bear, and mountain lionsattest to the mountain’s wildness. Gravel and dirt roads provide vehicle access. In the summer, Continental Divide Trail hik-ers explore its varied terrain on their way from Mexico to Canada; day-hikers on the Gooseberry Springs Trail enjoy hugeviews from the summit. Brilliant stands of golden cottonwoods draw visitors in the fall, just as the snowy peak attracts win-tertime backcountry skiers and snowshoers. The summit is the high point of the Mount Taylor Quadrathlon, the annualbike-run-ski-snowshoe race up-and-back from town. At every time of year, Mount Taylor’s presence defines the region.La Ventana Natural Arch is another of Cibola County’s distinctive landmarks. “La Ventana” means “the window” in
top: Mt. Taylor. middle left: The Spud Patch spires on the north slope of Mount Taylor in the Cibola National Forest. middle right: Wild iris onMt. Taylor. opposite: La Ventana Arch in El Malpais National Conservation Area. opposite, top: Cane Cholla in bloom.
fSACRED MOUNTAINS &NATURAL WONDERSWritten by Susan Olin Photography by Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center and Joe Burgess
Spanish, and this magnificent 165-foot-wide natural arch is a window on the sky, ahighlight of the classic southwestern sceneryto be enjoyed on the El Malpais NationalConservation Area (NCA). The NCAincludes about 262,000 acres of lava flows,craters, sandstone cliffs, and grasslands,which can be explored from Highway 117on the east and the Chain of CratersBackcountry Byway (County Road 42) onthe west.The BLM Ranger Station serves as a gate-
way to the Sandstone Bluffs and open coun-try down 117. Historic homesteads, petro-glyphs, and archaeological sites provideintriguing destinations. Hiking trails—somelong, some short—provide access to remoteareas far off the beaten path. Four-wheel-drive and high clearance will open up dirtand gravel roads down the Chain of Cratersand along the Continental Divide. The cin-der cones that make up the Chain of Cratersare the origin of the lava fields south ofGrants. Now tree-covered, gentle hills, thetops of many of the cinder cones are an easyscramble, with the reward of great 360-degree views. The Continental Divide Trailwanders among them as it passes throughNew Mexico on its way from Canada to thesouthern border of the United States.
16 – GRANTS VISITOR GUIDE
CASINOS &TRAVEL CENTERSAcoma Sky City Casinoand Travel CenterI-40, Exit 102Acoma, NM888-SKY-CITYChaco CanyonTravel CenterI-40, Exit 79Milan, NM505-287-3335Dancing Eagle Casinoand Travel CenterI-40, Exit 108Casa Blanca, NM505-552-7777877-440-9969Love's Travel StopI-40, Exit 79Milan, NM505-287-2981Petro Stopping CenterI-40, Exit 79Milan, NM505-285-6619
DININGAncient Way CaféEl Morro, NM505-783-4612Asian Super Buffet1508 E, Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-285-5505Best WesternNew Mexico Steak House1501 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-7901Best WesternRookies Sport Bar1501 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-7901Bibo Bar & GrilleN.M. 279Seboyeta, NM505-552-9428Blake’s Lotaburger1021 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-8438Blake’s Lotaburger101 E. Lincoln Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-2584Blake’s Lotaburger629 W. US Hwy 66Milan, NM 87021505-287-4023Cafe 108 Grill &Music Lounge atDancing Eagle CasinoI-40 exit 108Casa Blanca, NM505-552-7777Café Coyote at Coyote delMalpais Golf Course2001 George Hanosh Blvd.Grants, NM 87020505-285-5544Canton Café1212 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-8314
Casa Caliente314 W. Hwy. 66Milan, NM 87021505-287-3409Dairy Queen Brazier1305 W. Hwy 66Milan, NM 87021505-287-2070Dancing EagleCasino RestaurantI-40, Exit 108Casa Blanca, NM505-552-7711Denny’s1700 Sidney Dr.Grants, NM 87020505-285-4610Domino’s Pizza615 W. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-876-2323El Cafécito820 E. Santa Fe Ave.505-285-6229El Ranchero Café619 W. US Hwy. 66Milan, NM 87021505-876-1032First Street Café1600 W. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-7111Grants Café932 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-285-6474Huwaka RestaurantSky City Casino HotelI-40 Exit 102Acoma, NM505-552-7852Iron Skillet Restaurantat Petro Stopping CenterI-40 at Horizon Blvd.Milan, NM 87021505-285-6621Johnny’s Kitchen711 First St.Grants, NM 87020505-285-3509Kentucky Fried Chicken1800 W. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-8223Kiva Café1500 Willow Dr.Milan, NM 87021505-287-5040La Ventana Steak House1101⁄2 Geis St.
Grants, NM 87020505-287-9393McDonald’s1700 W. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-3584
Nana’s Cafe519 W. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-285-3446
Pizza Hut108 W. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-4442
Rocky's on Route 66Catering505-287-3941Sonic Drive-In915 N. 1st St.Grants, NM 87020505-287-8738Subway of Grants1497 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-9498Subway at SkywayTravel CenterI-40 @ exit 89Grants, NM 87020505-285-4335Surf Shack318 E. Stephens Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-8876Taco Bell1518 E. Santa Fe Ave.,Grants, NM 87020505-285-3501Taco Village700 E. Roosevelt Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-285-6811Tasty Kitchen907 N. First St.Grants, NM 87020505-287-9012Uranium CaféSee Nana’s CaféWOW Diner1300 Motel Dr.Milan, NM 87021505-287-3801Yaak’a CaféAcoma Sky CityCultural CenterI-40 Exit 102Acoma, NM505-552-7871
LODGINGBest Western Inn& Suites1501 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-7901Cimarron Rosea Zuni MountainBed & BreakfastHwy. 53, 689 Oso Ridge Rt.Grants, NM 87020505-783-4770800-856-5776Comfort Inn1551 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-8700Crossroads Motel1601 W. Hwy. 66Milan, NM 87021505-287-9264Days Inn1504 E. Santa FeGrants, NM 87020505-287-8883Historic Route 66 Motel1150 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-2843
Holiday Inn ExpressHotel & Suites1512 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-9252Inn at HalonaZuni ReservationBed & Breakfast23 Pia Mesa Rd.Zuni, NM 87327505-782-4547Leisure Lodge1204 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-2991Motel 61505 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-285-4607Quality Inn1496 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-285-4676Sands Motel112 McArthur St.Grants, NM 87020505-287-2996714-584-4454Sky City Hotel &Conference CenterI-40 at Exit 102Acoma, NM 87034505-552-6017Southwest Motel1000 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-2935Super 8 Motel1604 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-8811Travelodge1608 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-7800
MUSEUMSA:shiwi A:wan Museumand Heritage Center02E Ojo Caliente RoadZuni, NM 87327505-782-4403Cibola Art &Artifacts Musuem1001 W. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-7311NewMexicoMining Museum100 N. Iron Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-4802Sky City Cultural CenterHaak'u MuseumI-40 exit 102Acoma, NM 87034800-747-0181
RV PARKS &CAMPGROUNDSBar S RV ParkI-40, Exit 79Milan, NM 87021505-876-6002
Blue Spruce RV ParkI-40, Exit 81Grants, NM 87020505-287-2560Cibola Sands KOA RV ParkI-40, Exit 81Grants, NM 87020505-287-4376El Morro Café,Cabins & RV ParkHwy 53El Morro, NM505-783-4612Lavaland RV ParkI-40, Exit 85Grants, NM505-287-8665
SHOPS &ART GALLERIESAce Pawn & Antiques215 N. First St.Grants, NM 87020505-287-3872Double 6 Gallery/Cibola Arts Council1001 W. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-7311Chaco Canyon TradingI-40, Exit 79Milan, NM 87021505-287-2858Kachina Country/Traveling Traders (by appt.)707 Old Route 66Milan, NM 87021505-285-4473Loeffler's Guns, Etc.825 W. Santa FeGrants, NM 87020505-287-4003866-722-1589Mission Gallery422 W. Santa FeGrants, NM 87020505-285-3785Old School GalleryEl Morro, NM505-783-4710Something DifferentCoffee Bar & Gifts741 E. Roosevelt Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-7555
VISITOR CENTERSGrants/Cibola CountyChamber of Commerce100 N. Iron Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-287-4802www.grants.orgNorthwest New MexicoVisitor Center1900 E. Santa Fe Ave.Grants, NM 87020505-876-2783Zuni Arts & Tourist Center1239 State Hwy. 53Zuni, NM 87327505-782-7238
WINERYGuadalupe Vineyards188 San Jose LoopSan Fidel, NM 87049505-552-0082
e GRANTSBUSINESSES, LODGING, DINING & RECREATION
![gastateparks.org · Average operating cost per visitor (FY 2010) $1.69 Average earned revenue per visitor (FY 2010) $0.61 Average cost recovery[1] (FY 2008 – 2010) 30% Target cost](https://img.pdfslide.us/doc/110x75/5f0afe3c7e708231d42e54dd/average-operating-cost-per-visitor-fy-2010-169-average-earned-revenue-per-visitor.jpg)
