Eagle Nest New Mexico - Anglers Paradise

Eagle Nest Lake

<<Previous 1 2 3 Next >>

Finally, on May 24, 2002 the Legislature voted to purchase the lake and the residents breathed a collective sigh of relief. The state once again resumed the operations of the lake, this time under an interim lease that ended when the sale of the lake was finalized in October, 2002. The lake is now an official State Park with plans for improvements including picnic and camping areas.

Les Davis, Kirk Davis' father, had envisioned state ownership of the lake. "He always wanted the citizens of New Mexico to have the lake. That was the driving force, really, behind sticking with the state on this. He didn't want to see it developed," Kirk Davis said.

View of Eagle Nest Lake, 07-03

View of Eagle Nest Lake from Eagle Nest Lodge,

July, 2003, Kathy Weiser.

The 2,200 acre Eagle Nest Lake offers excellent fishing. In the winter, anglers wander out onto its frozen surface, drill a hole and try their hand at landing kokanee salmon, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Ice fishing usually begins in January and open water fishing usually starts in April. Approximately 30,000 anglers visit Eagle Nest Lake every year and thousands more who just love the 13,000-foot Sangre de Cristo mountains overlooking the lake. Though camping is not currently allowed at the lake, the Department of Game and Fish has installed toilets, courtesy docks and boat ramps at the lake.

Future plans for the lake include the addition of campgrounds and picnic areas. Local guides and fishing gear are abundantly available in the area to help the angler get equipped and dispense plenty of advice on where the "big ones" are and places to avoid.

Eagle Nest continues to host the annual Fish Fest which T.D. Neal started back in the 1930's. The Fish Fest, held in the fall, features great prizes and an especially unique event - the world's only Worm-Eating Contest!

Today, the Village of Eagle Nest is lined with arts and crafts shops, lodging, restaurants, and saloons. The village is now known as a laid-back mountain town, unbothered by the traffic and noise of city life. The village has seen a renaissance in recent years with the addition of sidewalks, old-fashioned streetlights, park benches and flowerboxes, making the stroll through the village a pleasure. The less than mile long Main street features numerous specialty shops carrying locally-made crafts and fine arts, sculpture, sterling silver jewelry, Indian jewelry, antiques, pottery, candies, fudge, clothing, souvenirs, T-shirts, and much more.

The town's July 4th celebration features an old fashioned parade, the annual fireman's barbeque, and one of New Mexico's largest fireworks displays over the lake.

Stream fishing in nearby Cimarron Canyon State Park also offers a worthwhile challenge to fly and bait anglers. Browns and rainbows are abundant and the upper 1.4 miles of the river is designated as special waters. Only fly-fishing and barbless single-hook lures are legal there.

At one time the Eagle Nest Lodge was the swankiest

place in town. Now the abandoned beauty is slated

to be torn down. Photo courtesy Ann Tyer Walker.

For nature lovers, the high country terrain offers some of the best scenery in the state with views of majestic mountains, valleys, ranchlands and scenic vistas with pine, aspen and wildflowers. Herds of elk can be seen roaming the pastures and sometimes have been known to swim across the four mile long alpine lake.

Offering visitors year-round recreation the area provides some of the best hiking trails, big game hunting, fishing and snow skiing to be found anywhere. The abundant wildlife in the area includes bear, Trophy elk, mountain cats, beavers, mountain lion, deer, turkey and bald and golden eagles.

Eagle Nest's newest venture is the building of the Enchanted Circle Gateway Museum that will reflect the historical heritage of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A group of Moreno Valley business owners and individuals are making progress on the museum, which will be on the north side of Highway 64 and Fifth Street. The museum plans to include historical displays and artifacts, a model train display, antique toys and an interactive learning center.

In an aggressive move, the museum is working toward moving the blacksmith shop and parts of the Klondike Gold Mill from the Idlewild area to the 6.5 acre museum site. Other buildings will house visitor information centers, a gift shop and meeting rooms.

EagleNest-EnchantedCircleMuseum1.Weiser.07-03.jpg (222x296 -- 28885 bytes)

Site of the new Enchanted Circle Museum,

July, 2003, Kathy Weiser

The museum project is funded by public contributions of gifts, materials, and services; fundraising activities; and grants. For more information or to make a contribution, contact Enchanted Circle Gateway Museum, c/o Sangre de Cristo Communities Interacting, PO Box 427, Eagle Nest, New Mexico 87718, Phone (505) 377-2752.

Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, © June, 2004

Also See:

Idlewild and the Klondike Mine

Mystery of Eagle Nest Lodge

Get Interactive!!

Forums!

Legends Blog!

LAGUNA VISTA LODGE, RESTAURANT AND SALOON

51 Therma Drive, PO Box 65,

Eagle Nest, New Mexico 87718

800-821-2093 505-377-6522

www.lagunavistalodge.com

KlondikeMine14.Weiser.07-03.jpg (304x232 -- 12324 bytes)

The Klondike Mine in Idlewild. Photo by

Kathy Weiser, July, 2003.

<<Previous 1 2 3 Next >>

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Vintage Magazines - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected a number of Vintage Magazines, including True West, Frontier Times, Treasure and more for our Old West and Treasure Hunting enthusiasts. For most of these, we have only one available. To see this varied collection, click HERE!