The day I went to Carlsbad Caverns, I missed two towns on my list. One was White’s City, which I’d heard good things about – something about a restaurant. And I thought, Hey, I’m white, so why not? But I ran out of time, what with all the lateness and scary cave exploring.
Then there was Artesia. I knew it was an oil town, but I was fine with that, especially since Scampabouts Need Oil For Them to Happen. (My guilt about that will have to wait for another post.)
But more interesting were the fabled hot springs. What was it about those magical Artesian waters, made famous by that cuddly Hamm’s bear?
(Ed. note: Wrong. Hamm’s was “born in the land of sky blue waters.” Turns out Lone Star beer is made from Artesian water, and since I’m going to Texas next month, I wasn’t that far off.)
But driving through Artesia I decided not to stop, because this is the nicest thing I saw:
A Shell Station With a Statue, and a Big-Ass Truck. Pretty!
To be fair, I didn’t explore the place. I’m fully prepared for a reader to chastise me for my jaundiced view of their beloved town, after which I will hang my head in shame. I really will.
But on the day I was driving through, there was also this:
Tanks and Phallic Symbols Are Alive and Well in Artesia
And this:
No, they're not giant hot tubs. I checked.
That, and the pervasive smell of rotting eggs. Only if there had been intestine-eating monsters clamoring after my car would it have been less appealing. I kept driving.
On Monday – Silver City, NM.
the smell of rotting eggs were the hot springs! next time, follow your nose….
I understand completely D, and yet I am unclear how you will get a true ‘read’ on the mindset of ‘America’, if you just skip all the not pretty places. It’s your trip, and as I said, I understand completely and feel the same about those places. It’s just perhaps I misunderstood that you were trying to uncover the actual existence of the right and far right and engage them in discussion. Dollars to doughnuts they’re in Artesia more than Silver.
Wylie,
Dollars to Donuts, love the phrasing, and spot on point. Lets get our little news reporter out there where it counts. How is Gotham to know where clark and lois are truly needed. Deonne needs to develop some XRay insight.
I’m fully impressed by your ability to limit being “chastised by a reader”. What can I say now that a coyote has filled the bill. I see fields, big trucks, tanks – heck that could be almost anywhere in the Midwest these days. Place probably has some charm and hospitality to boot. In fact, here is how the Artesia chamber of commerce features the place:
‘Artesia is a vibrant, activity-filled city that enables its residents to enjoy an exceptional quality of life. There are always activities to interest, entertain and educate locals and visitors alike.’
Certainly they would have embraced if not educated someone scampering on through. I don’t know anyone from Artesia who doesn’t reflect the chambers sentiments. Then again, I don’t know anyone from Artesia.
There is an Elementary school in Artesia which in its entirety is built underground. Concho Resources main Oil well drilling fields in the Permian Basin which is in the Southeast of New Mexico, has an Office in Artesia.
CXO on the NYSE traded today at 68 dollars a share, from a 52 week low at 35 dollars a share. Just sayin.
You can find this stock also with Baron Fund Investments.
Hey, there’s still plenty of fertile ground. I can understand easing into it. How ’bout Clovis, Carrizozo and Aztec.
http://www.dailyyonder.com/best-rural-counties-donations-presidential-campaign
Didn’t mean to leave out Lovington. And Rexburg, ID looks promising too.
kb – I knew the smell, but it didn’t make me want to chase it. Now if hot springs smelled like coffee or rosemary…
Wylie – This was the maiden voyage, so the focus was on learning how to tow and operate a trailer. My next Scampabout is Texas, and I should have plenty of opportunity to talk to different kinds of people there. (Understatement!)
Scooter – I have no doubt Artesia has some charm, but I didn’t take the time to find out. Please don’t tell their chamber of commerce, though, as I don’t want to make them sad.
Rob – An elementary school underground! Yet another place I don’t want to visit, though I suppose it might be worth it when the bomb drops.
I am from Artesia, NM and am a little offended that your 40 mile an hour “scamper” through here was summed up this way. What is your point of saying our town smells, and the only thing of interest is a bronze statue? If you are going to write about some place at least take the TIME to give it a fair shot. Just a note I went to that underground school and it was pretty cool.
We are proud of our town we have even been featured in the National Geographic Magazine, pretty good for a smelly little town.
an underground elementary school.
in the ’70s a gang of rich boys kidnapped a bus-load of kids and buried them, bus and all, and held them for ransom.
that put chowcilla, ca on the map, temporarily, at least.
i don’t think the rich kid gang thought their plan through very well. one of them was in jail with patty hearst.
Mr. Chevere – You just added to my list of Nightmares. Thank you very much.
I grew up in Artesia…and though it is not filled with the beautiful sights that you see at White Sands or Carlsbad Caverns…Driving down the road that goes between Carlsbad and Roswell is not nearly experiencing the town. There are wonderful things throughout the town and more incredible statues on the other main road through town. It truly is a shame that you did not get to experience the town in its entirety.
Im sorry you felt that way about Artesia it is a wonderful , beautiful small town where you can feel safe I have lived in many parts of this counrty and was very happy when I got the chance to move back last year , small children can still walk to school , can go to the toy ile walmart while mom dose the rest of the shopping and no worries at all about her childrens safty . i have never locked my doors . my keys to my car are on top of it and all my neighbors know it. never had a problem . next time stop in and meet the people and for GREAT FOOD stop in at wings my fav resturant .
While I understand that you didn’t feel you saw anything of value in Artesia, next time you pass thru you might open your eyes a little bit. One of the best restaurants in New Mexico is right there, known as the Pecos Diamond, as well as some of the best mexican food I have ever come accross. Artesia is also the base for one of the main Border Patrol training facilities in the country. There are always new people coming and going, but they are all made to feel welcome and at home. It may not look like much, but it truly is a wonderful town, you just have to stop and smell the “roses”. Once you get further north into town, you can’t even smell the refineries!! Please try not to judge a town on a brief stop, you never know just what you may be missing.
Rhonda, Amanda, and Dannie – I didn’t mean to offend. Like I acknowledged in the post, I didn’t have time to explore the town, but will next time I’m passing through.