RED RIVER!!!! Need More Info ! (Gallup, Ruidoso: fit in, real estate, condo)

[Texas Aunt Julie]

Obviously from my name I am from Texas. However, friends and I are looking at Red River, NM, for a second (vacation) home (condo or townhouse). I welcome any and all comments regarding Red River, NM.

Weird, I know, but I have never skied in my life. Would love to take a baby course in it (I'm in my 50's after all !!!!) but know I'd go for snow tubing, snow shoeing, cross country skiiing, hiking, etc. as I am active.

Okay, before anyone starts bashing Red River as being a small town, let me say I have grown up in rural areas, PREFER rural areas, have always loved New Mexico, the mountains, light snow (okay, I admit, have never lived in a heavy snow area.... mainly lived in North Central Texas. phhhhhhhhhhhthhhh. so there. HAHAHAA!! Am going to Red River in Sept for my first ever visit there. I had acreage south of Gallup long ago (7500 ft elevation) loved it, had to give it up, broke my heart, now I am in a position again to be able to consider a vacation place to go to and thought RR sounded perfect. Yes, LOVE the small town thing. Sounds like there is much to do, summer and winter.

Who has been there? Who can tell me about it? Could you stay there a couple or 3 months at a time? What is the climate like, and what else can you tell me about it?

Thank you, thank you, and a virtual cuppa coffee to all who respond.

wags and woofs,
TAJ
www.grrrvillage.org

[mcol]

Well I lived 14 years in Raton and loved going up to Red River to spend a few hours. It is a beautiful drive.

That being said, I really don't know what you'd do for 3 months there??
You need to visit, take your time, chat with the locals, and see how you like it before deciding anything. Summers are fantastic there - cool and dry. Winters can be something else. Also keep in mind the lack of a good medical facility, lack of decent shopping, etc. Not that this is meant to put you off it is just something that many don't consider. All in all I found it a very neat place to VISIT, never considered actually staying there for long. It has more of a touristy feel than a homey feel to me.

[Texas Aunt Julie]

Mcol, I absolutely appreciate your post! Thank you so much. I am interested in the 'touristy' type attractions there, things that will keep me busy, (the hiking, etc., and the surrounding areas seem superb - plus community activities). Obviously I need to look at it, research more, and see what I feel about it. I work online as well as being an artist; I believe it would be a great place to both do my online work and inspire my art in the long run. I realize it is quite a ways from any real 'shopping'. Is it correct to assume that the closest place to actually shop (for big groceries, etc) would be Taos? (I'm thinking Wal-mart type lines here). Also aware of the medical (or lack thereof) facilities.

Still, the country itself seems to beckon me, and as I mentioned, I am no stranger to the rural life; I do want a condo/townhome in the heart of the town area (Main Street??) soo that I could walk to places at my discretion. Do you know anything of this? Any good locations, any condo or townhome communities that would be a good 'home base' for a couple months at a time ?

Thanks again for your quick response. That is awesome. I have rated your post positively! I appreciate you.
TAJ

[mcol]

Thanks for the reputation.
I don't know where people in RR go to shop? Taos or maybe Angel Fire?
I don't know anything about the housing, sorry.
You know, if I had to pick someone that would seem to fit a Red River
resident, I would pick an artist. So it just might be the place for you, I don't know. You really need to visit and spend a few days. As long as you are aware of the weather and the isolation, those are probably the worst things I can think about the area. I don't know either how the locals respond to 'outsiders', that would be something to consider.
Good luck!

[Texas Aunt Julie]

EEK! You're right, I would be an "outsider" - however, I did find out that (synchronicity happens!) The lodge where I'm staying is owned by a person here in Weatherford, Texas!! Small world! And the manager of said lodge has a permanent home not far from Weatherford, TX! So I already feel among friends, in a way. They tell me RR is where Texans and Oklahomans go to learn to ski. LOL - then, apparently, they move on to bigger and better areas. @@ <---- that is me rolling my eyes.
Thank you, as always, for your comments - any and all observations are most appreciated. I look very forward to my first visit to Red River, and will definitely be reporting back to the forum and perhaps we will get a HUGE thread on Red River going - you'd be surprised what we have going on in the "Weatherford, Texas" forums - who'da thunk it? HAA!!

thankkks so much,
TAJ

[_yb]

Every time I go up there it feels like im in Texas. You should fit in good up there. A couple of weeks and it might get old. But since you prefer rural small town life you just might love it.


good luck.

[jiminnm]

Julie, you would definitely not be an outsider. The Red River, Eagle Nest, Angel Fire corridor is sometimes called Little Texas (in an a friendly sort of way). We have a place in Angel Fire and it sometimes seems that we see more Texas license plates there than we do NM plates.

[catman]

I certainly would bash Red River because it's a small town. That's one of the things I like about it. I'd hate to see it grow very much. Not that it will, of course.

TAJ, you're just 30 miles west of me! I go to NM every chance I get (which hasn't happened in way too long!). I know Texans are all over Ruidoso, NM. The Ruidosans gripe about it some, but they make so much money off us that they don't protest all that much.

[JDTH]

Originally Posted by catman

I certainly would bash Red River because it's a small town. That's one of the things I like about it. I'd hate to see it grow very much. Not that it will, of course.

TAJ, you're just 30 miles west of me! I go to NM every chance I get (which hasn't happened in way too long!). I know Texans are all over Ruidoso, NM. The Ruidosans gripe about it some, but they make so much money off us that they don't protest all that much.

I often refer to Ruidoso as Ruidoso, New Texas. There are many times when Texans outnumber New Mexicans in Ruidoso. That is fine with me. It is a tourist town. So be it! Obviously it is still beautiful or it would not draw the crowds of Texans.

[Rogarven]

Just came back from Ruidoso yesterday after a 10 year absence. I am always amazed how the town has grown into more of a city. The highway to Capitan has built up immensely. The passing lanes on that road are much improved and safer. I wonder how much the recession has affected real estate there? Especially around Alto.