The privately owned ghost town of Steins is open for limited tours once more. This town, sometimes spelled and pronounced "Steens," is located just across the border from Arizona. It’s unusual by New Mexican standards because, unlike most ghost towns here, Steins got its start as a railroad town, not as a mining settlement.
Steins was established in 1880, when the Southern Pacific Railroad needed to blast a pass through the Peloncillo Mountains. This produced a large amount of rock and, in 1905, the railroad opened a rock crushing facility and depot here.
Between 1905 and 1945 the town did well, and the population expanded to 1300 residents. Local businesses included two saloons, a dance hall, and a two-story hotel.
Outlaws also found their way to the town. Black Jack Ketchum even held up the train crossing the Steins Pass.
The main problem that people in Steins faced was a lack of water. There was no natural supply, so the railroad had to haul in tanks of water for residents.
In 1944, the Southern Pacific Railroad no longer needed the quarry and thus stopped subsidizing the water. Locals were offered free train transport to the destination of their choice, but could only bring the belongings they could carry. Much was left behind.
Steins became a true ghost town.
The Link family purchased Steins and opened it for tours. Following family tragedy, the town closed. However, limited tours are now available again. They’re running two or three times a month in 2017 on either Saturdays or Sundays. You need to book your spot in advance and the suggested donation is $10 per person. For more info on booking head to this website or Facebook page.
Steins is located at Exit 3 off I-10, west of Lordsburg.
Have you ever been to Steins?
While you’re in southwestern New Mexico, consider exploring some more of our state’s abandoned places by taking this ghost town road trip.
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