Cody Polston 
In 1850, the Mesilla Civil Colony Land Grant was established by the Mexican government to give settlers in Mesilla land ownership. The grant was later honored by the United States Government. The Civil Colony Land Grant was established to govern the entire town and to distribute the common lands. Father Ramon Ortiz was the Commissioner … Read moreGrigg’s House, History
Although the house has been remodeled several times, the basic house is still intact, and it appears that some of its former residents have refused to leave. Practically every room has its own story and experiences. Each room of the house is named after the families that once lived there. The restaurant is entered through … Read moreMaria Teresa Restaurant, Reported Phenomenon
The strangest experience that I ever had at the Maria Teresa restaurant occurred in August of 2000. I was doing an investigation to capture the location on video for a series of television shows for Channel 27, public access, in Albuquerque called A Ghostly Presence. I met with the film crew in the Baca room … Read moreMaria Teresa Restaurant, personal experience
The focus of our historical investigation was based on the ghost stories surrounding the hotel. The results clearly show that myth-building is a significant issue as many of the stories have no factual basis. The Suicide Jumper There was another Baker Hotel located in the downtown area of Dallas. The hotel had the same owners, … Read moreBaker Hotel, addressing the other paranormal claims
This homestead, built around 1783, is now the home of a romantic restaurant. The showpiece is a long bar that was moved from Fort Sumner, NM, in 1970. The bar has the distinction of having quenched the thirst of notorious outlaw Billy the Kid and members of his gang. Wandering its rambling rooms are at … Read moreMaria Teresa Restaurant, Location History
Interview with David Scoville (manager) I came to work at the Luna Mansion in 1979 and worked as a kitchen manager until 1983. After that, I left eventually returned after a three-year absence. But the present position is general manager/owner. I know a lot of history about the mansion and of stories of the ghosts … Read moreLuna Mansion, Los Lunas, NM (Ghost Stories)
The first issue, historically, with the mistress myth, is that it changes over time, indicating that myth-building is actively changing the story to make it more dramatic. The first accounts of the tale told in the 1980’s state, “Another legend is that a mistress was so distraught that she could not have her lover killed … Read moreBaker Hotel, Historical issues with the ghost of a mistress on the 7th floor
Disembodied footsteps and laughter have been reported on the upper floor of the lobby after hours. Objects have been reported to have been moved about throughout various hotel locations by unseen hands. The bridal suite has reported the mysterious opening and closing of doors. A hotel housekeeper once walked in and was terrified to see … Read moreEl Rancho Hotel, Gallup, NM (Paranormal Claims)
Formally opened December 17, 1937, The El Rancho Hotel was built by the brother of the movie magnet, D.W. Griffith. Drawn by the many films made in the area, Ronald Reagan, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, and Kirk Douglas were some of the many stars listed in the guest register. Autographed photos of the stars, Navajo … Read moreEl Rancho Hotel, Gallup, NM (History)
These are the general claims of ghostly activity that is reported at the Press Club. The vast majority of reported phenomena are auditory in nature. The sound of high heeled shoes has been heard by several witnesses walking across the floors of the bar and lobby area. Noises have also been associated with the poll … Read moreAlbuquerque Press Club (Paranormal Claims)
Photographs taken during various visits to the Baker Hotel. Most of these were taken in 2001 and 2002.
Caretakers at the site have reported seeing a figure in Civil war dress lurking around their trailer. Voices are often heard coming from the ruins and believing that someone is in the fort, the caretakers investigate to discover that no one is there. The caretakers at the fort rotate from site to site and not all … Read moreFort Craig, NM (Paranormal Claims)
From a sandy terrace above the west bank of the Rio Grande, about 35 miles south of Socorro, the scrub desert stretches out for miles to the distant mountain ranges. It’s a lonely and desolate place baked by a hot sun in summer and chilled by snow-laden storms in winter. It’s a land of dry, … Read moreThe history of Fort Craig, NM
i was recently interviewed for an article in the Tribune about ghost hunting along with other members of the Southwest Ghost Hunter’s Association. Click on the images to enlarge.
During the investigations at the hotel, we interviewed several people to establish what the paranormal claims actually were. Ronny’s accounts Ronny reported one night he was near the main lobby on the first floor when he heard the distinct sound of a woman in high heels walking across the lobby. Thinking the footsteps to be those … Read moreBaker Hotel, Paranormal Claims
The Baker Hotel was a concept that, in some ways, was ahead of its time. It opened at a moment when time stood still, just before it leaped backward. In 1929 T.B. Baker opened his pleasure place, 14 stories tall with 450 rooms. It was glamorous, designed it in the Spanish Renaissance style like the … Read moreThe history of the Baker Hotel
Charles Bent, the first civilian governor of the territory of New Mexico came to a brutal end during the January 1847 Taos Revolt. Scalped alive, he was then dragged into his home to be beaten until death while his children and wife looked on. The mob went on to kill Bent’s brother-in-law Pablo Jaramillo, Steven Lee (the Sherriff … Read moreBent House (Paranormal Claims)
This entire article is from NewMexico.org and describes the basic history along with some of the paranormal claims. Now essentially a ghost town, Loma Parda was forever changed when Fort Union moved into the neighborhood. Loma Parda became the town where soldiers could go for wild nights. Saloons, gambling, dance halls and women of ill … Read moreLoma Parda, NM (Paranormal Claims)
He was killed on January 19, 1847, at about six in the morning. We were in bed when the Mexicans and Indians came to the house, breaking the doors. Some of them were on the top of the house, tearing the roofs, so we got up, and father stepped to the porch asking them what … Read moreThe story of Governor Bent’s massacre as told by his daughter Teresina Bent Scheurich
In 1850, Lieutenant Colonel E. V. Sumner looked at the U.S. troops stationed in Santa Fe, and the temptations offered to soldiers there. He immediately determined to remove them from “that sink of vice and extravagance” by establishing forts only in remote areas. The plains near La Junta seemed a likely spot since the Santa … Read moreLoma Parda, NM (History)
Opened in 1946, the Mineshaft tavern was purchased from the Albuquerque and Cerrillos Coal Company and restored in 1982. The original building burned down on Christmas Day, 1944. Oscar Huber, rebuilt the tavern for the many coal miners of the area. It reopened in 1947 and has been open ever since. Some remodeling of the … Read moreMine Shaft Tavern, Madrid, NM (History)
The Mine Shaft Tavern is said to be the most haunted place in Madrid. Bartenders, as well as guests, have seen glasses fall on their own and break, doors that open and swing back and forth, sounds that can be heard coming from the six-inch adobe walls. After closing hours, objects are mysteriously moved about. … Read moreMine Shaft Tavern, Madrid, NM (Paranormal Claims)