Pinos Altos, NM

Gold was discovered near Pinos Altos in 1860, but within a year Apaches began to terrorize the miners. The Apache raids and the Civil War caused Americans to leave the town, and by 1862, it was almost deserted.  After the war, the miners returned, and by 1868, there were 600-700 inhabitants.  With the surface ore exhausted, the nature of the mining changed from one of numerous small claims to one of a few large operations such as the Pacific Queen, Atlantic and Phoebe Hearst.  Phoebe Hearst was William Randolph Hearst’s mother, and the Hearst family provided funds to build the Methodist-Episcopal Church.  But, by the turn of the century, mining had ceased and the town was deserted again.  Today, this small village, which is only 6 miles north of Silver City, draws in tourists on their way to the Gila Cliff Dwellings and recreational activities in the Gila National Forest. 

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nm/pinosaltos.html

http://www.southernnewmexico.com/snm/pa.html

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