The Most Haunted Places in New Mexico

Ranked

1. 

   1. St. James Hotel Cimarron · Haunted Hotel / Inn · Family Comfort: Moderate

   Henri Lambert, once personal chef to President Lincoln, built the St. James Hotel in Cimarron in 1872 along the Santa Fe Trail; at least 26 murders occurred within its walls during the town's wilder years. Room 18 has stayed locked since 1872, when its occupant, T.J. Wright, was shot in the back after winning the hotel in a poker game. An owner described being pushed inside the room and seeing a ball of orange light.

   5 original accounts · documented across 8 decades, 1872-2002 · retold in 5 later publications

2. 

   2. Plaza Hotel Las Vegas · Haunted Hotel / Inn · Family Comfort: Moderate

   HauntBound identified three distinct published accounts at this working hotel, across four kinds of published source. Reported phenomena include a sensed presence and objects moving.

   3 original accounts · documented across 6 decades, 1947-2017

3. 

   3. La Fonda on the Plaza Santa Fe · Haunted Hotel / Inn · Family Comfort: High

   HauntBound identified three distinct published accounts at this working hotel, across five kinds of published source. Four later publications retell those accounts. Reported phenomena include apparitions and shadow figures.

   3 original accounts · documented in 1867 · retold in 4 later publications

4. 

   4. KiMo Theatre Albuquerque · Theater / Performance Venue · Family Comfort: High

   HauntBound identified two distinct published accounts at this working theater, across four kinds of published source. Four later publications retell those accounts. Reported phenomena include apparitions and electrical anomalies.

   2 original accounts · documented across 5 decades, 1951-2014 · retold in 4 later publications

5. 

   5. Shaffer Hotel Mountainair · Haunted Hotel / Inn · Family Comfort: Moderate

   HauntBound identified five distinct published accounts at this working hotel. Three later publications retell those accounts. Reported phenomena include electrical anomalies and objects moving.

   5 original accounts · documented across 3 decades, 2004-2021 · retold in 3 later publications

6. 

   6. Church Street Cafe (Casa de Ruiz) Albuquerque · Haunted Dining / Bar · Family Comfort: High

   The adobe at 2111 Church Street, built around 1706, stayed in the Ruiz family for nearly three centuries, until the last resident, Rufina Ruiz, died in 1991 and it became Church Street Cafe. Staff attribute occurrences to Sara Ruiz, mother of that last resident: thrown silverware, slammed doors, and keys that vanish and reappear. One employee got his keys after apologizing to her, and staff tell guests to say 'Goodnight, Sara' on the way out.

   3 original accounts · documented across 3 decades, 1991-2022 · retold in 6 later publications

7. 

   7. Double Eagle Restaurant & Peppers Restaurant Mesilla · Haunted Dining / Bar · Family Comfort: Moderate

   The adobe housing the Double Eagle Restaurant on Old Mesilla's plaza dates to the 1840s and is the oldest building in town; the Maes family occupied it after relocating from Santa Fe after the Mexican-American War. Legend holds that the eldest son, Armando, loved a servant named Inez, and that when his mother discovered the romance, both died violently in the Carlotta Salon. Staff report worn chairs, perfume scents, whispered names, and glassware breaking untouched.

   2 original accounts · documented across 1 decade, 1983-1988 · retold in 2 later publications

8. 

   8. Former College of Santa Fe (Midtown Campus / Bruns Hospital Site) Santa Fe · Other Dark Tourism Site · Family Comfort: Moderate

   This campus began as Bruns General Hospital, a World War II Army hospital that treated wounded soldiers, including survivors of the Bataan Death March. The Christian Brothers opened St. Michael's College on the grounds in 1947, renamed the College of Santa Fe, which closed in 2018. Legend for years named 'Nurse Medina,' said to have died at the hands of a patient, but no one by that name appears on the hospital's 1944 duty roster.

   2 original accounts · documented across 2 decades, 1944-2007 · retold in 2 later publications

9. 

   9. The Old St. Vincent Hospital (Marian Hall Complex) Santa Fe · Haunted Hotel / Inn · Family Comfort: High

   HauntBound identified three distinct published accounts at this working hotel. One later publication retells those accounts.

   3 original accounts · documented across 2 decades, 1977-1983 · retold in 1 later publication

10. 

    10. Fort Union National Monument Watrous · Battlefield / Military Site · Family Comfort: Moderate

    HauntBound identified two distinct published accounts at this military site. Three later publications retell those accounts. Reported phenomena include apparitions.

    2 original accounts · documented across 3 decades, 1896-1971 · retold in 3 later publications

Superlatives