SHAKESPEARE GHOST TOWN — Attraction in Lordsburg

This was our second stay here as Harvest Host guests(this is not a hotel, motel or an RV park, as Harvest Host is a part of an RV club), and we plan on staying whenever we're passing through. They invited us to stay again anyway, so we'll take them up on their offer. Thank you! They don't claim to have ghosts here, it's an historical place, after all. Their new logo, which I adore, was made by the co-owner, the host's wife. I bought the stickers. We realized that, the day we were to leave, that it was too windy to drive so they graciously let us stay another night(much to our delight, as I didn't want to leave yet). The host/owner Dave, along with Rod, a reenactor, invited us to have a few beers on the porch and we happily obliged. They regaled us with historical and modern stories, ("you kill 'em, you bury 'em", was the motto back in the days, as the ground here is hard and tough to dig) This will forever be a memory burned into my mind. The story about the man killed during a brawl with no one claiming it, then placing the body along the railroad only to plead "no one killed him* was pretty good.

Unforgettable. The six of us also saw a rocket launch. That is another unforgettable memory.

The tour itself is full of fun stories and facts. The saloon is riddled with bullet holes because the patrons were challenged to shoot as many flies as possible. The ceilings are made with yucca stalks, with cloth under them to keep the dust out. The stalks are still there, but a lot have been replaced, as with the cloth. Stuff wears out, y'know.

Like I said, we'll be visiting here again....

We saw a sign in the middle of Lordsburg for The Shakespeare Ghost Town while we were passing through. We didn't know what to expect, but we thought we would check it out. When we got there, they didn't seem to be open to customers. We got out to grab a pamphlet and a man walked over to talk to us. He asked if we wanted a tour. We took him up on it. His son, David (the current owner and keeper) conducted a tour of the property that took a little over an hour and a half. He was very knowledgeable about the history of this small town. He told us the family history, took us through each building and was proud to present the information to us. He is clearly well versed and he can easily switch back and forth between casual conversation and giving detailed information. He had every historical date memorized and clearly cares deeply about the land. This was a very interesting tour. We were very impressed and left wanting to learn more about the area. We plan to go back with family and friends. He said for larger tours, they offer more experiences in the town. For instance, they had a blacksmith come and work on real projects for a large tour group. They are working to fundraise money to rebuild some of the historical buildings. Overall, it seems like an odd off-the-road tour, but I would highly recommend...

Shakespeare Ghost Town This was a very pleasant surprise in the desert just off I-10, Lordsburg New Mexico, the Shakespeare Ghost Town is a diamond in the rough. There is plenty of room to boondock w/ this Harvest Host. It's a foothill surrounding, quite and dark, no light pollution, great star gazing.

Make sure you call ahead, Gina will give your the information you seek. Exit I-10 at Lordsburg (exit 22) turn South on NM Hwy. 494 / Main St. for 1.3 miles, slight right (off pavement to gravel Rd.) onto Ghost Town Road (aprox 3/4 mile, a bit rough, but if you go slowly no problem).

Upon arrival, call again and Dave will coordinate to meet up with you. Dave was such a gracious host and tour guide. The tour is $7 per person. WELL WORTH IT. Dave spent over 2 hours charming us with visions of the past and ties to present. Shakespeare is a whimsical, heart felt and amazing journey from 1800's settlement town, mining booms, to a journey of surviving to keep land and a way of life. The tour, history, and on site visuals are a must do. You will not be sorry you made time for this little ghost town. Again, Big Thanks to Gina & Dave for preserving history...