Haunted Adventures in Colfax County, New Mexico

Spooky season calls for ghost hunting in Colfax County, New Mexico! Here are our top picks for haunted places to explore across the county.

1. The Shuler Theater 

Downtown Raton’s Shuler Theater is known for its stunning architecture, outstanding performances, and of course, its ghostly reputation. 

Staff and visitors tell stories of cold drafts in empty halls, voices echoing backstage, and lights that flicker on and off after the power has been cut. Others say shadowy figures have been spotted drifting across the balcony long after the curtain falls.Some believe that the spirit of Evelyn Shuler is behind all of the mischief. Though we will never for certain if Mrs.Shuler is the culprit, we do know that you are never truly alone in the Shuler Theater. 

2. Uracca Mesa

Perched high above the plains at nearly 8,600 feet, Uracca Mesa, near Philmont Scout Ranch, has long been shrouded in mystery. According to Indigenous legends, the mesa was once a spiritual gateway, a place where the living could cross into the underworld. Ancient stories claim that Uracca Mesa was used by shamans to seal away evil spirits, trapping them beneath the flat mountain top. 

Even today, visitors describe strange experiences like flickering blue lights at night, the eerie feeling of being watched, and compasses spinning wildly while near the mesa. Scouts who have camped near it report hearing whispers in the wind when dusk settles over the cliff. 

Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, there is no doubt that Uracca Mesa has an ancient and unsettling energy to it.

3. St.James Hotel

Said to be one of the most haunted places in New Mexico, it is no surprise that the St.James Hotel made our list. 

Built in 1872, the St,James Hotel quickly became a legendary stop along the Santa Fe Trail. Outlaws, lawmen, and gunslingers like Jesse James and Billy the Kid have all passed through the hotel doors. The history is written in its very walls where more than 26 men have reportedly been killed there. 

Room 18 is the most infamous of them all. The doors are chained up and guests are no longer allowed inside, as it is believed to be haunted by the restless spirit of T.J. Wright. It is said that Wright, a known gambler, was shot dead in the hotel after winning a poker game. To this day, he guards his winnings in room 18 and drives out anyone that dares disturb him.

Visitors often report cold spots, flickering lights, and the smell of cigar smoke lingering in the hallway. Whether you are staying the night or just stopping in for dinner, there is one thing for certain, the St.James Hotel has an undeniable supernatural energy.

4. Dawson Cemetery

Once a thriving coal-mining town of nearly 9,000 people, Dawson now stands with little remains just east of Cimarron, New Mexico Founded in the early 1900s, Dawson's prosperity came to an end with two catastrophic mine explosions. One explosion in 1913 killed over 260 miners and another in 1923 killed 120 miners. The disaster left an everlasting mark on the land and families who once called it home. 

Today, little remains of Dawson except its hauntingly beautiful cemetery, where rows of white iron crosses run along. Visitors describe seeing glowing blue orbs floating across the graves, hearing the faint ring of mining tools, and even catching glimpses of ghost miners on the job. Though it's peaceful during the day, Dawson becomes a chilling reminder at night of the lives cut short and the community lost to a tragedy. 

Pack your flashlight, keep your camera ready, and explore haunted Colfax County, New Mexico…if you dare.