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As you probably know, Chaparral began as a barren spot in the desert that was attractive to those who bought lots there because it was (pardon the pun) dirt cheap. And because there were no county zoning laws, which is true of much of New Mexico, including Lincoln County, where I live. Having no police force of its own, it's also reputed to be rather lawless since the county sheriff and state police provide the enforcement.
Because of it's close proximity to the NM-TX state line, and because it's still unincorporated, I guess the boundary for what is called Chaparral is open to interpretation.
When I was a kid I hunted in the area where Chaparral now stands and there were ruins there that belonged to an even earlier community - the name of which I have no clue. I recall the old school house walls (adobe, of course) still standing and blackboards still in place - but the building was roofless. There were several other buildings scattered around. Would be interesting to know the history of that former community - I've never seen a reference to it. There was a distinctive dry lake bed there, and it still filled with water in the rainy season "back then." The location was just a few hundred yards north of the old El Paso Nat. Gas pumping station (about where the power plant now sits).
Newman is a distinct place that has been in existence for at least a century, compared to Chaparral's beginnings sometime after WWII. Newman was a small grouping of buildings - service station and cafe - on what was once US-54 as it crossed the state line. It's still got a few active businesses, the largest of which is the popular "Edge of Texas" restaurant. The Jim Bowen family has long owned a large ranch tract that straddles the state line and are owners of the restaurant. Newman, Texas had a post office from 1922 to 1971.
Their ranch headquarters still sits just south of the state line (in Texas) just to the west of Newman. It's identified by the large windmill which can be seen for some distance.
If your looking to put your kids on dope or make crimanals out of them chaparral the place for you.I GREW UP THERE MOST OF MY FREINDS ARE DEAD OR IN PRISON Im 40 and some change I know I left 10 years ago some things just dont change chapparal is the school of devri for criminal intent move in on camper leave out on a bus.
I have a 19 year olg attending college, she's looking into joining NMU. I also have a 15 year old, almost 16 who's gotten into some trouble with friends around our neighborhood. I have a great job but I am sick and tired of Las Vegas, I hate this city!! I want to move back to El Paso but I am afraid of the border and my son taking that route. I am deciding between Anthony or Las Cruces and someone today mentioned Chaparral. I read the comment above and if it has a big amount of drug users, I want nothing to do with it.
Suggestions please? I am also looking for a place that will have activities for my son, he's into boxing.
I have a 19 year olg attending college, she's looking into joining NMU. I also have a 15 year old, almost 16 who's gotten into some trouble with friends around our neighborhood. I have a great job but I am sick and tired of Las Vegas, I hate this city!! I want to move back to El Paso but I am afraid of the border and my son taking that route. I am deciding between Anthony or Las Cruces and someone today mentioned Chaparral. I read the comment above and if it has a big amount of drug users, I want nothing to do with it.
Suggestions please? I am also looking for a place that will have activities for my son, he's into boxing.
The further the better from the actual border. The drug gangs would find your son perfect bait - he's already in contact with all the worst possible people if he's buying drugs and they're always recruiting.
If they find some easily impressed naive and pot smoking kid, they're going to try to get him in the business, he could easily be used to run drugs over the border -- US citizenship and all that. It happens all the time.
And don't forget that Chaparral is loaded with jimson weed which can be deadly especially in the summer. It's very popular with kids your son's age here. If he's hanging with the drug crowd, he'll get exposed to it and it can be deadly.
Ugh, Chaparral is a horror. It's full of loose dogs, run-down trailers, trashed-out yards. And the reason no one wants to get involved is that Chaparral is where people go to get away from people who are looking for them . . .
Chaparral actually is in two counties. Dona Ana and Otero. County line is the divider.
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