Visiting this ghost town in New Mexico is as much about seeing spectacular scenery as it is about history.
34025 U.S. 64 West, Raton, NM
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Just south of Raton, New Mexico, tucked among rolling grasslands and weathered mesas, sits the almost-forgotten ghost town of Van Houten. Once a thriving coal-mining community that helped fuel the railroads of the American West, it remains as one of the most well-preserved ghost towns in New Mexico.
Founded in the late 1800s, Van Houten grew around rich coal deposits that attracted miners and their families from across the region. At its peak, the town included homes, a school, stores, and the infrastructure needed to support a bustling community.
Like many mining communities throughout the West, Van Houten’s fortunes rose and fell with coal demand, and by the mid-1900s, all its residents had abandoned the community. Today, only a few remnants of the area’s mining past remain, and it is a popular stop along the Historic Santa Fe Trail.
Visiting the Van Houten ghost town requires a willingness to venture off the beaten path. To access it, you must drive through the NRA Whittington Center, as it is located on its property. Once you enter the property, follow signs for Van Houten Coal Mine, taking a mix of gravel and paved roads with beautiful views of mountains, mesas, and the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field. So, even if you aren’t really a fan of old coal mining towns, the scenery itself is worth the drive.
The out-and-back route through the ghost town features informational kiosks, fragments of old structures, and traces of the mine itself. Eventually, the canyon dead-ends at the entrance to Number 5 Mine Shaft, where the road becomes very rocky, and most vehicles will have to turn around.
For travelers drawn to forgotten places, ghost towns and hidden pieces of history, this small town stop near Raton is definitely worth the stop.
