Legends Letter

Welcome to the first issue of Legends of America's Newsletter!

We focus on travel destinations that appeal to the nostalgic and historic minded.  We're not really interested in the glitter and glitz of the big cities, but rather, those places with "elbow room," lots of history, and hidden attractions.

Furthermore, we do extensive research on the articles and stories that we feature on our website -- these are not just little "snippets" of information.

As you may or may not know, Legends of America started out as a personal website for our on-line High Country Legends -- Truths & Tales of Moreno Valley and Colfax County.  But, the ideas just kept coming and the website expanded from New Mexico into Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri with more coming everyday!

The newsletter will be published periodically when we add new stories on our website, discover something interesting in our travels across the country or across the web world, and when we provide specials at the Rocky Mountain General Store.

I truly hope you enjoy the newsletter and the website!!

Kathy Weiser, Editor

In this Edition: 

New Additions to Legends

Angler's Paradise, Eagle Nest, NM

Featured Book-Lure, Lore & Legends

White Cloud, KS Ghost Town

The Old West

Doc Holliday

Rocky Mountain General Store

Ghosts of the St. James Hotel

Actually, since this is the first Newsletter -- Everything is New!  In this edition, we'll highlight a few of our most recent additions.

When we are traveling, we find that one thing leads to another as we talk with the locals and do our research for an article.  For example, when looking for ghost towns in Kansas, we discovered a new scenic byway called Glacial Hills in northeast Kansas and at the very end of the byway was a pristine "almost" ghost town called White Cloud.

Continuing to bump into things along the way, we have added a bucket load of content including The Old West, Treasure Hunting, more Ghost Towns, and even a ghost story or two for you to explore during your travels.  Some of these include our new stories on the Deadly Dalton Gang, treasure hunting at La Caverna del Oro in Colorado or Pawnee Rock in Kansas, and the "newest" old town we've visited - Weston, Missouri.

What our readers are

saying about Legends of America:

Great site, always interested in westerns and now I've found a great site. Being disabled I spend many hours surfing looking at these types of sites -- some are fair, some are poor, this one is great, thanks.   -- Robert

Your site's been so helpful! You have the best account of Clay Allison's life I've come across so far. I have a personal interest in him, as he was my grandfather's grandfather, so information on him is coveted. I just wanted to thank you.  -- Stephanie

Angler's Paradise - Eagle Nest Lake

Eagle Nest, New Mexico almost lost this Angler's Paradise, which was created from the largest privately built dam in the United States.  Completed in 1918, the lake was privately held for years but was leased to the State of New Mexico in 1980.  While public, the lake provided a training ground for rowing crews and a welcome retreat for anglers.  But, at the expiration of the lease, the lake was almost lost to private investors during political battles, which would have killed the quaint community of Eagle Nest, New Mexico .  But, thankfully, in the end the lake became an official State Park with many plans for improvements.  Eagle Nest Lake is a haven for fisherman looking to hook kokanee salmon, rainbow trout and cutthroat  The Village of Eagle Nest has much to offer in lodging, restaurants, and shopping.  The surrounding area includes many places to visit such as Angel Fire Resort, the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, the ghost town of Elizabethtown, as well as nearby Red River and Taos.

Links to Northeast New Mexico:

Village of Eagle Nest

Village of Angel Fire

Red River, New Mexico

Taos, New Mexico

Enchanted Circle Scenic By-Way

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Philmont Scout Ranch

Carson National Forest

New Mexico Dept of Tourism

Lure, Lore and Legends by the Moreno Valley Writer's Guild

Lure, Lore and Legends, written by the Moreno Valley Writers Guild, is a great compliment to our own on-line High Country Legends.  The Moreno Valley, in northeast New Mexico, is rich in history with gold boom towns, outlaws and Indian lore.  A "Must Read" for those who love the Angel Fire and Eagle Nest area of New Mexico.  Written locally by residents of the Moreno Valley, Lure, Lore and Legends is the only published history work on the area.

If you like books on history, you might like these too:

Silver Dollar, Story of the Tabors

The Vanishing American Frontier

The Hidden West

Legends of the Old West

1959 Life Magazine w/Baby Doe Tabor

Ghost Towns

White Cloud, Kansas - Not Quite Ghostly

This dying town, just minutes from the Nebraska border in northeast Kansas, once boasted a population of over 2,000 residents.  Sitting atop the high bluffs of the Missouri River, White Cloud was founded in 1857 quickly becoming a major port along the Muddy "Mo".  By 1883, White Cloud boasted four general stores, several other shops,  two restaurants, and two hotels, as well as a host of other businesses.  But, when the mighty steam engines of the railroad arrived in the early 1900's White Cloud, without its river boat traffic, began to die.  Though a few residents still live in this small town, all of it's former businesses have gone.  Today, it sits quietly as a nostalgic reminder of its former heyday.  White Cloud today is known for its many historic buildings, in fact the entire downtown district has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

For two weekends each year in May and September; however, the streets of White Cloud are again busy.  The small near ghost town is overwhelmed by visitors to the famous White Cloud Flea market, which has been named one of the "10 best flea markets in the Nation" by McCall’s magazine.  For a few days, the old main street again is crowded with traders and customers, only to return the next day to a sleepy little village, with nothing more than a few bits of trash blowing down the empty street.

You can read the whole story of White Cloud, Kansas by clicking HERE.

Do you have additional information on ghost towns that you would like to add?  Just zap us an e-mail and we'll look into it for you.

kathy@legendsofamerica.com

Like ghost towns?  Check this out!

Ghost Towns of the American West  by Raymond Bial. 

This hardcover book features ghost towns of the west including Tombstone, Calico, Bodie and many others.   Provides a glimpse at the history of these old places and features many excellent photographs of ghost towns taken by the author.  Great Coffee Table Book!   

The Old West  

We started adding a few stories about area outlaws and the old west to our travel destinations, and "o-ma-gosh," these were really popular.  Well, our intent has always been to have an "interactive" website.  What our readers want to know, is what we try to focus on.  Well, that objective turned into a website almost in and of itself.  We now have outlaws, a historical timeline of the "Old West", Facts & Trivia, and even a few old west recipes, plus a whole bunch more.  If you like learning more about the characters that frequented your travel destinations, check out this new portion of our website!

Colorado's Colorful and Deadly Doctor - Doc Holliday

Out west, Doc Holliday was a most unusual character, being an extremely educated and refined man, where such things were uncommon.  He was fluent in Latin, played the piano very well, was a “nappy” dresser, and displayed the manners of a Southern gentleman.  Doc was wracked with coughing fits from tuberculosis, which cut short his career as a dentist.  His intelligence made him a natural at gambling, so he turned there for his means of support.  Gambling in the "Old West" required not only skills at cards but skills with weapons, which Doc quickly learned with enthusiasm.  Unfortunately, Doc was also a moody man with no fear of death and it wasn't long before he became involved in one gunfight after another. 

Doc spent the latter part of his life in Colorado, living in Leadville for several years and finally dying from tuberculosis at the age of 36 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where he is buried.  Doc claimed he almost lost his life a total of nine times. Four attempts were made to hang him and he was shot at five times. How many men Holliday killed unknown.

To read the whole story about Doc Holliday, click HERE.

"I found him a loyal friend and good company. He was a dentist whom necessity had made a gambler; a gentleman whom disease had made a vagabond; a philosopher whom life had made a caustic wit; a long, a lean blonde fellow nearly dead with consumption and at the same time the most skillful gambler and nerviest, speediest, deadliest man with a six-gun I ever knew."

 – Wyatt Earp about Doc Holliday

Well, if you've visited the Rocky Mountain General Store, you have more than likely seen signs of "construction."  Moving as fast as possible, we are in the process of adding the new categories of Antiques, Collectibles, and Hand-Made items.  We hope you'll be patient with us and come back to check on those items soon.

In the meantime, we are currently displaying a large variety of books -- both vintage and new, as well as an up and coming collection of vintage postcards.  We have also partnered with several affiliate vendors to provide a variety products for our readers..

GOOD NEWS!  Recently, we have removed ALL shipping and handling charges from postcards!

You can order from the Rocky Mountain General Store on-line or via mail or fax. We are adding new items everyday and many of these are one of a kind.  Check back often.

Sample Items coming to the Rocky Mountain General Store

The Ghosts of the St James Hotel, Cimarron, New Mexico

The St James Hotel in Cimarron, New Mexico not only hosts "real" guests, but also several restless sprits.  Both the owners and the guests of the hotel will tell you that it is haunted with many unexplained events.   Several psychics have visited the hotel and specifically identified three spirits, as well as many others who just pass through to relive their experiences. 

Henri Lambert built this old hotel in 1872 and its saloon, restaurant and 43 rooms were witness to at least 26 murders during Cimarron's wilder days.  Clay Allison, Black Jack Ketchum and Buffalo Bill Cody have all left their mark on the St. James, as attested by the numerous bullet holes in the ceiling of the main dining room.

The spiritual activity of the hotel has been featured on the popular television shows Unsolved Mysteries and A Current Affair. 

To read more about the St. James Hotel, click HERE

Do you know of a ghost story about any of the states that we are writing about?  We would love to add it here!!

We have found that our ghost story pages are some of our most popular and any new content is greatly appreciated.  Send us an e-mail at:

kathy@legendsofamerica.com

We always appreciate feedback about the website and our newsletter.  Do you have a suggestion about content that you would like to see, or perhaps, would like to contribute a photograph or a story?  We would love to hear about it!  We also want to hear about suggestions for improvement.  See a link that doesn't work or a picture that doesn't appear -- please let us know.  Just drop us a line at our Email address and tell us what you think.

This newsletter is copyrighted© 2004 by Legends of America.  Our reader's e-mail addresses are never sold, rented or otherwise made public.

Legends of America

A Travel Guide for the Nostalgic & Historic Minded

P.O. Box 19423

Lenexa, KS 66285

913-708-5119

Kathy Weiser

Owner/Editor

   www.legendsofamerica.com

Email