Detour: Ghost Ranch and Echo Ampitheater in northern New Mexico

by Mike on October 22, 2012 · 4 comments

This is the second in a 3-part series about our time in Abiquiu, NM. Read our entries about The Farm and The Food too.

Indiana Jones has got nothing on the Hollicks!  We are always up for a good adventure, and the famous Ghost Ranch, just outside of Abiqui, promised to fit the bill.

Before the illustrious painter Georgia O’Keeffe made Ghost Ranch her home, it was home to cattle rustlers, Spaniards, Navajos, and dinosaurs.  The land was tailor-made for action, with amazing rock formations like Chimney Rock and its red rock cliffs.  O’Keeffe made the landscape famous, and it was fun to see the area sprinkled with artists and their easels.  It’s also no surprise that Ghost Ranch has been immensely popular with filmmakers, including Stephen Spielberg.  I’m a big Indy fan, and I was psyched to learn he chose to film parts of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull here.

Cattle Rustler’s came up with the name “Rancho De La Brujos”, or “Ranch of the Witches”  to scare people from investigating the Box Canyon where they kept their stolen goods.  Eventually the name became Ghost Ranch.

Blue sky, red rock cliffs and golden cottonwoods.

“Don’t worry, Mama, I got you.”

Even though our spirit of adventure is strong, we are still a few years away from some of the big hikes.  I would let Max walk for a few minutes, but eventually he would always cut in front of me, and say, “Up or down, Dada.”  This means pick me up.  At a mere 25 pounds, Max isn’t the heaviest toddler, but certainly made my arms ache after 15 minutes while hiking and holding him. It won’t be long before Ang and I won’t be able to keep up with him on the trail, but until then, we keep it short and sweet.

Keeping an eye out for Cattle Rustlers…

I think I see some tracks!

I thought I saw a Chicken Hawk! (also known as a Red-Tailed Hawk)

Looks like a fun way to spend an afternoon, chasing Georgia O’Keefe…

After Ghost Ranch, we were still hungry for more of the New Mexico desert, and we drove a few miles up the road to Echo Amphitheatre.  Just a short walk from the parking lot, this was a picturesque treat with an echo worthy of an old Looney Tunes cartoon.  Max loved it, and Ang and I couldn’t get enough of him testing the acoustics with his sweet little voice.  We tarried there for a half hour or so before heading back to the farm.

Echo Amphitheatre!  Echo Amphitheatre!  Echo Amphi-  You get the picture.

We got hats.

“This place really big, Dada.”

Hakuna Matata! Hakuna matata! Hakun- yes, I did it again.

Looney Tunes fun!

The Rio Chama amidst the cottonwoods.

We made one stop before heading back to the farm, to Bode’s General Store.  Bode’s has been around since 1919, and came highly recommended by our hosts Djan and Lisa.  We had a Green Chili Cheeseburger that was off-the-charts good. We added a generously portioned slow-cooked chicken burrito, and some delicious peanut butter cookie and coffee that hit the spot, especially after an action-filled day of adventure.  Then we turned back toward Albuquerque, fully satisfied, and with a camera full of memories.

Here we see the famous Green Chili Cheeseburger in its native habitat.

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

LKF October 22, 2012 at 1:21 pm

Watch out for rattlers! Looks so beautiful there!!!!

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Ron October 22, 2012 at 5:09 pm

Really fun to read about your adventures, Hollicks!

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Tara October 22, 2012 at 6:26 pm

Fun in the desert!!!

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steve mccarthy October 22, 2012 at 7:22 pm

the terrain in the southwest just can’t be beat, imho. you could just see mile after mile of red rocks, trees, dusty desert and cactus. i’m sure the night sky was spectular too. my family is really enjoying your blog and traveling “along with the hollicks”. keep it up! the photos are great.

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