Haunted & Historic spots in Las Cruces
Las Cruces is a city steeped in history, with a rich cultural heritage that has shaped the area for centuries. From the ancient Native American cultures to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and the town's development in the 19th century, Las Cruces has a fascinating story to tell. In addition to its history, Las Cruces is known for its many legends and ghost stories. Here are some of the most haunted and historic places in Las Cruces.
1. The Amador Hotel
180 W Amador Ave, Las Cruces, NM
The Amador Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Las Cruces, was built in 1866 and served as a popular stopover for travelers along the Camino Real. Over the years, the hotel has had many different owners and uses, including a brothel during the wild west days. Many people report spooky sightings of shadowy figures, flashlights turning on and off, and other paranormal activities. Many believe these eerie encounters are the work of a ghost named Annie, who frequents the hotel's second floor.
2. Doña Ana County Courthouse & Jail
.
251 West Amador Avenue, Las Cruces, NM
The Old Doña Ana County Courthouse, located in downtown Las Cruces, was built in 1937 and served as the county courthouse until the 1980s. The building is now home to Southwest Expeditions, which offer ghost tours and other activities, but many people believe that the spirits of former inmates still haunt the building.
Legend has it that in the 1950s, a waitress named Mary Waters was found near the Amador Hotel and brought to the jail, assumed to be drunk. Once in a cell, she screamed – and was found dead with a “horrified look” on her face just moments later. Though the coroner’s report cites a ruptured kidney as Mary’s cause of death (and was later modified to include alcohol poisoning), some say her spirit remains in jail. Visitors have reported strange noises, slamming of cell doors, feeling of not being alone and unexplained cold spots in the courthouse.
3. Double Eagle Restaurant
2355 Calle De Guadalupe, Mesilla, NM
The Double Eagle Restaurant is a well-known landmark in Mesilla, just a few miles outside of Las Cruces. The building was constructed in 1849 as a family home.
Today, the Double Eagle Restaurant is known for its upscale dining experience and its extensive wine collection, but many visitors come for its haunted reputation. Legend has it that the building is haunted by ghosts, including the spirit of a former resident and one of the teenage house servants who were killed due to their forbidden love.
As the story goes, the first owners of the house were the Maes family, who ran a freight line importing and exporting goods. Much of the business was put on the shoulders of the eldest son, a teen named Armando. Armando fell in love with one of the teenage servants of the house, a beautiful girl named Inez. The other servants – and even the townspeople – tried to help the couple keep their love a secret from Armando’s mother, but she eventually caught on and banished Inez from the house. One day, upon returning home early from a trip away, the mother happened upon Armando and Inez back together and in a fit of rage, attaching Inez with her sewing shears. During the struggle, she killed Inez and accidentally stabbed Armando as well, who died a few days later.
The legendary murder is said to have taken place in what’s now the Carlotta Room of the Double Eagle.
Visitors have reported flickering lights, phantom voices, and cold spots.
Agriculture is a major industry in southern New Mexico and carries an intriguing story that spans 4,000 years.