Red River was once a stomping ground for Ute and Jicarilla Apaches, who raided nearby pueblos and roamed the area. In the late 19th century, miners from the nearby town of Elizabethtown were drawn to Red River by gold strikes, and trappers came to seek out game. The area now known as Red River was once used for summer hunting for bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, and mallards, among other species.
Dawn of a Mining Town
By 1895, Red River City had become a thriving mining camp, with gold, silver, and copper, and a population of approximately three thousand. Mining hit its peak in 1897. Copper King, established in 1867, put Red River City on the map along with other mines. Black Copper, Silver King, and Golden Treasure were once gold, silver, and copper mines. Mines were located in various canyons including Bitter Creek, Goose Creek, Pioneer, Mallette, and the Upper Red River Canyons. You can still see remnants of structures and mines in these areas.
A Boomtown’s Rise and Fall
Red River Mining Company established a claim and built a smelter in 1879-1880. This solidified Red River as a mining center. When the snow began to melt in spring of 1895, the discovery of shiny metals in the springs and rivers began.
The pursuit of gold and silver dominated the people coming to the area. Names like Golden Treasure, Jayhawk, Independence, and the Black Copper would stir the spirits of the rainbow chasers who came in search of a future. Most people coming to seek out the little town were not professional miners, but those who had lost everything in President Cleveland’s recession and had nothing left to lose, such as teachers, farmers, and store clerks.
By the time Red River City got into the full swing of mining, the chance to strike a huge find was not the way to become wealthy. It required money to develop a mine properly. A good example was the 1897 sale by Harry Brandenburg of his share in the Black Copper. The $4,000 he received was sizable for the time, and the Black Copper only officially produced $200,000 in pay ore. Many miners had moved on to other gold fields in Colorado and Alaska by 1897.
The population began to decrease to as little as 150 by 1905. By 1905, the mining and population had dwindled, but the town survived. Mining did not go away completely, as it picked back up some during World War I.
From Mining to Tourism
Once the boom of mining ended, the homesteaders and Red River City took on new life by renting out the abandoned miners’ cabins to visitors looking to escape the heat and enjoy the mountains. By the 1920s, the mountain playground was established.
The history of Red River comes to life when you visit the properties that are still here today as they were back then. The following properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with a few others:
- Little Red School House Museum
- Ver Mallette Cabin
- Miners Hospital & Westoby Cabin
The last mining efforts lasted until 1931, right when tourism had become the main economic livelihood. Since then, it has been renamed Red River, becoming a great getaway from hot weather and a trout fishing paradise.
Panning for Gold Today
You can still pan for gold today, right here in Red River. Recreational gold panning is allowed without special authorization as long as you are not disturbing riverbank vegetation, fish, and/ or other wildlife. Some popular areas to pan for gold near the Red River include the Bitter Creek area, Pioneer Canyon, and Placer Creek. Spring, early summer, and just before the first freeze in the fall are the best times to pan for gold because the water is low and gold-bearing gravels are exposed. Schedule a horseback ride and gold panning tour with New Mexico River Adventures this summer!
Today, Red River exists as a mountain getaway and a way to get a break from everyday life. While mining is no longer going on in our town, you can find remnants of its mining past in the surrounding hills and canyons. Old mine workings can be dangerous, so be sure to use caution and don’t enter one when you see it.
