Lake Valley Historic Townsite

Oct. 29, 2026 update: Due to the recent hailstorm, a number of buildings were damaged.  Although entrance to them is still accessible, be advised of the broken windowpanes, glass debris and splintered wood. The Las Cruces District Office recreation staff is repairing  the damaged areas including surrounding vegetation and trees. 

The mining town of Lake Valley was founded in 1878 after silver was discovered. Almost overnight, the small frontier town blossomed into a major settlement with a population of 4,000 people. Today, silver mining has played out and all that remains is a ghost town. BLM has restored the schoolhouse and chapel. The restored schoolhouse provides a glimpse of what schooling in a rural area was like in the early 20th century. Other buildings in the town site have been stabilized to slow further deterioration. There also is a self-guided, interpretive walking tour.