Our Hauntingly Delightful Stay at Shakespeare Ghost Town

1nonblonde
Jan 20
2 min read

December 2024: Who knew that our Harvest Hosts subscription would lead us to spend a night with ghosts? Our first overnight on our journey to New Braunfels, TX, we discovered the Shakespeare Ghost Town near Lordsburg, New Mexico—a detour that turned out to be eerily delightful.

Originally a rest stop called Mexican Springs along a stagecoach route, the area was renamed Grant after the Civil War, in honor of General Ulysses S. Grant. The discovery of silver transformed it into a mining boomtown named Ralston City, after financier William Chapman Ralston. To distance the town from earlier swindles (diamond seeding), Colonel William G. Boyle renamed it Shakespeare in 1879. Despite its booms, the town lacked a church, school, newspaper, or formal law enforcement. The railroad bypassed Shakespeare by about three miles, leading to its decline as nearby Lordsburg flourished. The mines closed during the depression of 1893, and the town was eventually abandoned. In 1935, Frank and Rita Hill purchased the town and its buildings for a ranch. Shakespeare was declared a National Historic Site in 1970.

Thanks to Harvest Host, we secured an overnight spot at the town's spacious parking area. While amenities were as scarce as a ghost's shadow, the unique experience more than compensated.

Arriving just in time for the last tour of the day, we half-expected tumbleweeds to roll by and a spectral sheriff to enforce a 4 PM ghostly curfew (sundown). Instead, our host, the grandson-in-law of Frank and Rita Hill, was gracious, offering us a tour of the ghost town, which is full of rich history. Our guide shared the town's colorful past, including tales of hangings to the death and a hanging almost to the death plus the town's role in the silver mining boom. The tour was very interesting and informative, providing a deeper appreciation for this slice of history.

The town's preserved buildings whispered tales of the Old West, with structures like the Stratford Hotel and the remains of the old mercantile store standing as silent storytellers of a bygone era.

If you're ever headed east on I-10 from Arizona to Texas or simply seeking a unique overnight adventure, we highly recommend a stay at Shakespeare Ghost Town. It's a hauntingly charming experience that brings history to life—or perhaps, unlife.