This Ghost Town In New Mexico Is One Of The Eeriest Places In America
By Courtnie Erickson|Published September 12, 2022
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
There are some truly spooky and creepy places in New Mexico to visit. From haunted hotels to haunted hikes, we are no stranger to eerie places in the Land of Enchantment. But, one of the most terrifying locations in our state is Elizabethtown, New Mexico’s first incorporated town. Today, it is a ghost town but years ago, it was quite the place to be.
Elizabethtown was founded in 1866 by Captain William H. Moore, the commander of Fort Union. He named the town after his daughter Elizabeth, but many referred to the town as E-town for short.
Elizabethtown was a mining town, and the gold mines drew many people to its borders. By 1870, the town had grown significantly and at its peak, approximately 7,000 people called it home.
Unfortunately, as mining production decreased, so did the residents. By 1872, only 100 residents were left in the town. Then, in 1903, a fire destroyed most of the town and by 1917, Elizabethtown officially became a ghost town.
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The mines are just one part of Elizabethtown’s history. Today, many people know this area as home to serial killer Charles Kennedy.
Kennedy lived in a small cabin between Elizabethtown and Taos. He would invite travelers to stay in his cabin and have dinner with him. He would then rob and murder his guests. Kennedy was captured but rumors spread that he could be set free. This caused a group of individuals to take matters into their own hands, killing Kennedy.
Today, when you visit Elizabethtown, there isn’t much left to see. Only a handful of people live in the area and as you explore, you’ll come across just a few walls left standing, such as those of the former Mutz Hotel.
However, as you walk around near the ruins, don’t be surprised if there is a creepy, eerie feeling in the air. The way many people suffered and died in the area years ago is chilling.
If you are brave enough to visit, keep your eyes out for paranormal activity such as hearing strange noises, unexplained cold areas, and even an occasional touch (but nobody is there).
With so much history in such a small area, it makes you wonder what stories this New Mexico ghost town could share and what spirits are lingering around this town.
Did you know the history of Elizabethtown? Have you ever been to this eerie ghost town in New Mexico? Let us know in the comments!
If you love to visit ghost towns, you are in luck! Here are eight creepy ghost towns in New Mexico that you’ll want to enter at your own risk!
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