New Mexico is full of stunning landscapes and rich Native American and Hispanic history—but if you’ve got a taste for the eerie, weird, or downright creepy, you’re in for a treat.
From haunted hotels to UFO crash sites and mysterious carvings, the Land of Enchantment has a darker side hiding in plain sight. If you’re into the creepy and macabre, here are 11 spine-tingling things to see in New Mexico.
1. Roswell UFO Crash Site (Roswell, NM)
You can’t talk about weird New Mexico without starting here. In 1947, something crashed in the desert—and people have been arguing about it ever since. Whether it was a weather balloon or something… less explainable, the Roswell UFO Museum and related sites offer a deep dive into conspiracy, aliens, and government cover-ups.
2. The St. James Hotel (Cimarron, NM)
This Wild West hotel is so haunted, some rooms are permanently locked. Built in 1872, it hosted outlaws like Jesse James and Billy the Kid. Supposedly, over 25 people died violently here—and Room 18 is said to be so active, no one’s allowed to stay there anymore.
3. Dawson Cemetery (Dawson, NM)
Once a booming coal town, Dawson saw two deadly mining explosions (1913 and 1923) that killed hundreds. Today, all that remains is the cemetery, where rows of white iron crosses mark the graves of those lost. It’s quiet, remote, and haunting.
4. Chapel of Our Lady of Light (Lamy, NM)
This abandoned church in a tiny desert town is beautiful but eerie. The chapel has long been deserted, and ghost hunters claim it’s a hotspot for supernatural activity—especially at night.
5. The Gila Wilderness Cliff Dwellings (Gila National Forest)
While not haunted in the traditional sense, the cliff dwellings built by the Mogollon people around 1300 AD feel mysterious and otherworldly. The question of why they were suddenly abandoned still puzzles historians—and gives the place an eerie stillness.
6. La Posada de Santa Fe Hotel (Santa Fe, NM)
Luxury with a side of ghostly activity. Guests and staff report flickering lights, strange cold spots, and the ghost of Julia Staab, a former resident who never quite checked out. If you’re into upscale haunts, this is your spot.
7. Elizabethtown Ghost Town (Colfax County, NM)
A mining boomtown turned ghost town, Elizabethtown once had over 7,000 residents. Now, crumbling buildings and scattered foundations are all that remain. Rumour has it, spirits of long-dead miners and gunslingers still roam the hills.
8. Haunted Hill (Albuquerque, NM)
A popular hiking spot in the Sandia foothills during the day—Haunted Hill has a much creepier reputation after dark. Locals report screams, ghostly figures, and even rocks being thrown from unseen hands. It’s the kind of place you don’t want to explore alone.
9. Fort Stanton (Lincoln County, NM)
Built in 1855, this historic fort has served as a military base, a tuberculosis hospital, and a WWII internment camp. Today, it’s a museum—and a paranormal hotspot. From shadowy figures to voices in the dark, ghost sightings are common among staff and visitors.
10. The Taos Hum (Taos, NM)
This one is more creepy than spooky. For decades, people in Taos have reported hearing a low-frequency hum with no identifiable source. Scientists can’t explain it, and not everyone can hear it—which only adds to the mystery.
11. Urraca Mesa (Philmont Scout Ranch, NM)
According to local folklore and Native American legend, Urraca Mesa is a portal between the worlds of the living and the dead. It’s said to be a spiritual battleground—and even today, hikers report feeling watched, seeing strange lights, and hearing unexplained whispers.
SOURCES
- (https://www.newmexico.org/haunted/)
- (https://www.visitlascruces.com/things-to-do/museums-history/haunted-historic/)
- (https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/abq365/blog/post/albuquerques-most-haunted-places/)
