Madrid, New Mexico

Madrid is just a few miles south of Cerrillos. The only reason for a town to be here was the old coal mine but that went out of business years ago. What has kept Madrid alive since then has been the hippies and the artists.

Madrid is a nice little town right at the foot of the Ortiz Mountains on the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway (NM 14). Quite a few of the buildings in town have been refurbed drastically (modernized) but quite a few buildings haven't. It makes for a nice mix. And where most of the architecture for miles around is either Pueblo or Territorial, Madrid could have been transplanted here from Appalachia (something about that utilitarian coal camp architecture).

Back when the coal mine was in operation, the town rooted for the Madrid Miners AA Minor League baseball team who played at the Oscar Huber Ballpark at the edge of town. The Miners won many pennants at that ballpark, the first lighted ballpark west of the Mississippi.

The Diner pictured above is right in the middle of town. It's a bit of an anomaly for Madrid. The sign in the window says: "Diner built by Disney for the movie “Wild Hogs” starring John Travolta, WH Macey, Tim Allen, Ray Liotta, Peter Fonda, & Marisa Tomei." Of course, the place isn't open for business. So I went back up the street to Java Junction, had an excellent cup of coffee and talked to some great local folks.