Mesilla Valley Tour (Thurs., Sept. 27, 2018)

Tour activities and points of interest by Paul and Marilyn Duncan, editing and photos by Mark Wing (unless otherwise noted)

Tour Day 2: Drive Through the Mesilla Valley from Las Cruces to Santa Teresa, Visit to the War Eagles Air Museum

The tour on this Thursday was a drive from Las Cruces to Santa Teresa, a level route through the verdant Mesilla Valley nut orchards. This was round trip of 80 miles. The following is extracted from our tour instructions:

“We start the morning with a scenic drive through the Mesilla Valley to Santa Teresa where we will visit the War Eagles Air & Car Museum. We will tour the Museum and enjoy Rudy’s BBQ lunch in the Museum dining room. Staff and docents from the Museum are invited to join us. Spend as much time as you want at the Museum and return on your own. Consider stopping at Old Mesilla village or take pictures for the photo contest. Also, Las Cruces has a number of antique and thrift stores. Return to the Hotel when you are ready and dinner is on your own.”

Points of Interest

The Mesilla Valley where we will be driving is a geographic area in Southern New Mexico and West Texas. It has been described as “like an island: a fertile patchwork of farm fields and groves of pecan trees surrounded by the brown Chihuahuan Desert.” The Valley was formed by repeated heavy spring flooding of the Rio Grande River and extends from T or C, NM to El Paso, TX. Following completion of Elephant Butte Reservoir and Dam in 1918, flooding was controlled and large scale agriculture was possible. Initially cotton was king but has been replaced by pecan orchards, chile and other crops. Abandoned cotton gins are visible along the driving route. Stahmann Farms is the world’s largest pecan orchard. New Mexico and Texas are currently involved in a long running law suit over allocation of Rio Grande River water from Elephant Butte Reservoir/Dam as well as ground water pumping by Mesilla Valley farmers.