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Shakespeare Ghost Town
The West's Most Authentic Ghost Town
Janaloo and Manny Hough, the owners and managers of Shakespeare Ghost Town have been making headway into getting Shakespeare made into a New Mexico State Park.
Shakespeare Ghost Town is the remains of a pioneer, southwestern town once located on the stage and emigrant trail to California. In 1870 a silver strike and a diamond swindle brought new growth to the small community and it grew to considerable size. Originally the 3000 residents in the community called their town Ralston City, though often referred to as Burrow Mines. You can still see the remains of the mining district along the sides of the small mountain range in the distance.
In 1879 mine promoters changed the name of the town to Shakespeare and it prospered until the 1893 depression. Always a mysterious, secretive sort of town, Shakespeare had no church, no newspaper and no local law. There were occasional free-for-all fights and when these were serious enough, some of the losers might be hanged. Shakespeare is older than any neighboring town and with its highly publicized mining booms, it attracted many people who contributed greatly to the settlement of this part of the country.
Shakespeare is open during regularly scheduled tours, or by appointment. Please call in advance at (505) 542-9034 if you wish to schedule special tours when Shakespeare is not open. Brochures on Shakespeare are available at the Welcome Center located on the southwest corner of Interstate 10 at exit 20 near Trail Town Service Center.
The two-hour tours take visitors on a walk in the atmosphere of the past. Streets once trod by Billy the Kid, John Ringo, Curley Bill, Russian Bill, The Clantons, Jim Hughes and Sandy King. Portions of the original Butterfield Trail are still visible. There are 28 points of interest and visitors will hear stories of the West as it really was. Guided tours will take you through the interiors of eight buildings and approximately four times a year there are re-enactments of documented historical events.
Men and ladies dressed in the authentic clothing of the 1870's perform the re-enactments for visitors. Other groups who perform at Shakespeare are the Paso Del Norte Pistoleros with "Gunfights of the Old West," Historical Blacksmith Hopper Shannon who works in the Shakespeare Blacksmith Shop, The Peso Primitive Shooters do demonstrations and give information about the "Mountain Men," and Friends of Ft. Selden give shooting demonstrations and dress in the authentic uniforms of the Military people in the 1870's.
There are eight original main buildings left standing in Shakespeare and are regularly maintained. They are the Grant House, the Saloon, the Stratford Hotel, Old Mail Station, General Merchandise, the Powder Magazine, the National Mail and Transportation Company Blacksmith Shop and the Assay Office. Also at Shakespeare is the Jim Emanuel Western Collection, which is a collection of antique and reproduction guns, custom made holsters, saddles and tack and is displayed in a special vault and is shown on regular tour days.
Shakespeare has been featured on television shows and movies many times and has been featured in numerous popular magazines over the years. There is much to see and experience in Shakespeare and soon it is hoped that Shakespeare will be open to the public for daily tours all year long.
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