In the 1890's, silver was discovered at the bottom of Silver Creek Canyon in western New Mexico. In 1895, a town formed up on the top of the canyon. It became known as Mogollon. Several mines were started including the one that was the most productive, named "Little Fanny." The mines in the area produced a lot of ore from 1895 to 1915. In 1915, this area was the leading producer of ore in New Mexico. Mogollon had hit a peak population of 2,000 during the boom years. But as time passed, the assay value of the ore dropped tremendously. The town of Mogollon was headed into obscurity.
Today at Mogollon, there are many great buildings to see. There is still two general stores, a theater, a stage stop, a saloon and numerous old buildings and houses.
To get to Mogollon, you can start in Silver City. From Silver City, take Highway 180 north to Alma. This is about a 70 mile drive. At Alma, you shoud see Highway 159. Take Highway 159 east 9 miles to Mogollon.
Easy enough isn't it! Actually, no it's not so simple. This is a very treacherous drive, at least from Alma to Mogollon. During this stretch of the trip, 9 miles, there is an elevation increase of over 2,000 feet. That's in just 9 short miles! Obviously, there are some switchbacks, many indeed. And none of these switchbacks have guardrails, so BE CAREFUL! Mogollon is an excellent example of a remote ghost town that is a true gem in the rough.
