Taos, New Mexico

In August of 2022, we returned to northern New Mexico and visited the small town of Taos, New Mexico.  We had traveled to Tao several times before but this time we wanted to visit and explore the church at Ranchos de Taos, Dennis Hopper's gravesite, and the Taos Ski Valley.

San Francisco de Asis is an adobe church located in an area of Taos called Ranchos de Taos and was completed in the early 1800s.  This church is still active today and is one of the few original buildings still standing in Taos.  

The building is a unique blend of Spanish colonial architecture and traditional building techniques used by the Taos Pueblo people and features twin bell towers, an arched portal entrance, hand-hewn vigas (ceiling beams), hand-carved corbels, and a choir loft. In addition, the church houses eight imported oil paintings set within hand-carved and hand-painted reredos (altar screens).

Georgia O’Keeffe began visiting the Southwest in 1929, and her experience of the region, as well as of its indigenous peoples, bolstered her interest in abstraction.  If all, or parts of San Francisco de Asis look familiar to you it is because you might recognize O'Keeffe abstract painting of the church.

Dennis Hopper's humble gravesite is little more than a mound of rocks. The Native American-style burial mound in the Jesus Nazareno Cemetery in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, is believed to have been the Easy Rider star's final request. Faded flowers and trinkets from well-wishers cover the top of the rubble pile.

For lunch we stopped at 5 Star Burger located on Paseo Del Pueblo Sur in Taos and sampled some of their delicious chili cheese fries!

The historic Taos Plaza has been around since 1796 when the King of Spain gave the Don Fernando de Taos Land Grant to 63 families in the Taos area. This land grant became the most important settlement in the area outside of the ancient Taos Pueblo two miles to the north.

 

In 1820, the Historic Taos Plaza saw its first “La Fonda” (Spanish for “the Inn”) in the form of a mercantile store that also rented rooms. This historic location is where you will find the Hotel La Fonda de Taos. La Fonda is the only hotel located in the Taos Plaza.  Inside the La Fonda is a completely renovated interior which features its own special touches, including the world-famous D.H. Lawrence “Forbidden Art” collection. 

We do not ski but we've always wanted to visit the Taos Ski Valley which boasts to have over 300 inches of bone-dry powder and some of the most untamed ski chutes, bowls and glades in North America.  The Hondo Rio parallels the road to the Taos Ski Valley and provided us with a beautiful spot to stop to snack on our way up to the ski resort.

As we left Taos we headed north making our way back to Angel Fire, New Mexico, where we were camping. Fascinated by the churches in this area we stopped to view Capilla de San Cristobal Catholic Church located in the village of San Cristobal.  Near the church was the Valley Store housed in an old air stream.

To see more of our trip to Taos, New Mexico, check out our latest video on our YouTube Channel.

Here is the recipe for the travel-inspired cocktail we create in this video.  It was inspired by the Legend of the Taos Tree Martini!

Dirty Vodka Martini

Ingredients 2 1/2 ounces gin or vodka 1/2 ounce dry vermouth 1/2 ounce olive brine Garnish: 2 to 4 olives Steps Add the gin or vodka, vermouth and olive brine to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a skewer of olives.

North Texas - Red River Border

On a rainy summer morning we decided to jump into the truck and take a drive to the border of Texas and Oklahoma, near the Red River, for a little history lesson on the Chisholm Trail and Red River Station.

Making our way to the Red River border we first visited Saint Jo, the oldest town in Montague County, has a population of around, 883. St. Jo's historical Chisholm Trail Square commemorates the famous cattle trail which drove livestock through Saint Jo to the north and into Kansas.  Many of the buildings along the square have been renovated and now hold museums, restaurants, gift shops and art galleries.

Red River Station, a trading post on the Red River, was near Saint Jo. In the post-Civil War period, this post became the southern terminus of the Chisholm Trail. As ranchers undertook cattle drives to get their cattle to railheads in Kansas and then shipped East, where they could command high prices. Cowboys were the chief customers for saloons and hotels in the area. Eventually railroads were constructed into Texas, ending the cattle drives to Kansas, and drawing off business along the trail.

Near the town of Saint Jo lies, Nocona,Texas. Also located in Montague County, Nocona has a population of around 3000. Another stop on the Chisholm Trail, Nocona has views of the past, present, and future. This area is home to great historical sites, museums wineries, unique art galleries, a gorgeous lake, golf courses, and some good delicious BBQ!

Spanish Fort, a Texas ghost town, is near the town of Nocona.  At its peak, the town had numerous businesses and churches, a Masonic lodge, five physicians, four hotels, and several saloons. Spanish Fort became known as a very rough and tumble cowboy town, and at least 40 murders are said to have occurred during the cattle drive heyday.  The 20th century saw Spanish Fort almost completely vanish. The post office, school, and newspapers all had closed by 1970. Even the oil boom in Nocona's North Field could not save Spanish Fort, and the town has maintained a population of around 50 ever since.

We had a great time exploring the area around the Red River in North Texas and taking in all its history.  If you'd like to see more of our little day trip then visit us on YouTube by clicking the link below!

Here is the recipe for the cocktail we made in this episode of The Adventures of TK & Gman.

Red River Punch

1 ½ oz Vodka

½ oz Lemon juice

½ oz Simple syrup

5 Raspberries

Soda water

Lemon peel

Muddle raspberries in a shaker with the vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. Double strain into a wine glass and top with soda water. Garnish with raspberries.

Red River Punch