Interested in the fun things to do in Santa Rosa NM, a famous city in Guadalupe County, New Mexico? The city is best known for its nostalgic highway, historical sites, and scenic outdoor attractions.
The city is a gateway as it offers a wide range of entertainment options for tourists, including beaches, parks, tent rocks, historic structures, and other things.
If you’ve ever wanted to explore the campsite, a trip to Santa Rosa will stimulate your desire in doing so because the city is packed with parks, historic rocks, and old buildings.
Santa Rosa has long been a favorite destination for tourists and retirees because of its breathtaking desert and mountain setting, vibrant arts and cultural scene, and slight Wild West vibe.
In this post, we have taken the time to give you a full detail of the top things to do in Santa Rosa NM (New Mexico)
things to do in Santa Rosa NM (New Mexico)
1 Santa Rosa RV Parks & Campgrounds
Santa Rosa RV Parks & Campgrounds is an ideal destination to visit in Santa Rosa. located on Historic Route 66. The park and campgrounds are nice spots for road travelers and tourists traveling a long distance journey.
Santa Rosa RV parks and campground is a perfect place for a sleepover with tons of attractions and guest facilities, including a restroom, shower, pool, and laundry.
The onsite staff helps maintain the grounds and provides additional services if requested. The park offers the best amenities for a couple of nights in town to enjoy the town or rest up for the next leg of the journey.
Santa Rosa Campground & RV Park has easy access to Interstate 40 and is also close to Blue Hole and Park Lake.
2 Visit Park Lake
A visit to Park lake is a day full of fun in Santa Rosa. the park is an ideal destination to spend a weekend with kids as it has a lovely playground that will inspire kids.
Park Lake is one of the most visited attractions in Santa Rosa for its outdoor water fun for the entire family. The park offers both picnic and recreational areas that will interest visitors of all ages.
Park lake features many lakeside games for families and people of various ages.
Some of the amazing things to look forward to at Park Lake include a Great swimming spot for adults, a kids’ Picnic with the family, and Santa Rosa Days. Park lake is among the interesting things to do in Santa Rosa NM as it’s a popular place that is not to be missed.
3 Route 66 Auto Museum
There arseveralof Route 66 museums spread out along the legendary route across the nation, but none of them come close to matching the enthusiasm ingrained in the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa.
The museum is a paradise for auto aficionados and those eager to relive an important period in the development of the automobile.
Visitors can explore the historic automobile collection, buy Route 66 memorabilia, and do much more in the ideal setting of the car museum.
4 Pecos River Bridge
If you want to explore nature and its abundance in Santa Rosa, visit Pecos River Bridge for splendid eye-catchy attractions.
Pecos River Bridge is so beautiful with its grandeur nature and lush backgrounds making it a perfect place to visit in Santa Rosa.
The Pecos River Bridge is a scenic railroad bridge built approximately 50 feet above the river as it was one point, North America’s highest railroad bridge, and still ranks among the top.
Pecos River Bridge is one of the most historical bridges in Santa Rosa and a famous local attraction. Never visit the Pecos River bridge without taking exquisite pictures from there. Enjoying this sightseeing lush nature at Pecos River Bridge is among the list of top things to do in Santa Rosa NM.
5 Bless Me, Ultima Park
When visiting Park Lake, you won’t want to miss one of the best public art displays in Santa Rosa. Bless Me Ultima Park comprises a section of Park Lake at the corner of Historic Route 66 and Lake Drive.
In honor of the author and the book that bears their names, Bless Me Ultima Park was dedicated in 2008 to the community.
The park is the result of a public art program. the park is filled with fascinating elements that highlight Santa Rosa’s beauty and echo themes from the book. The Rudolfo Anaya statue, which is the centerpiece of the park and was created by Reynaldo Rivera, is life-size.
Visitors at Bless Me Ultima Park can view a handwritten passage from the book engraved onto the sculpture’s notepad. At the sculpture’s base, a bronze plaque with its details is present which was created in 2007.
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6 Janes-Wallace Memorial Park & Power Dam
One of the best things to do in Santa Rosa NM is to visit Janes-Wallace Memorial Park and Power Dam. This park and Dam which was built in 1929 is a top sightseeing spot both for locals and tourists in the city.
One of the best spots in Santa Rosa for fishing, and more specifically fly fishing, is Janes-Wallace Memorial Park. Due to the various lakes, fishing is a favorite sport for the residents of Santa Rosa.
Over the years Janes-Wallace Memorial Park and Power Dam have provided some amazing fish like Rainbow trout, bass, walleye, catfish, and crappie which no other Lake has produced before, that alone makes it an ideal destination for fishing in the town.
7 Historic Puerto de Luna
Puerto de Luna is a small community along the Pecos River with a diverse historic past in Santa Rosa.Beforeo its relocation to Santa Rosa, the town served as the county seat. The little community is now a fantastic location for touring and exploring the history of the area.
The first European Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, who camped at the hilltop in his early years, gave it the name Puerto de Luna, which translates to “Gateway of the Moon.”
The town’s most recognizable features include the traditional Guadalupe County Courthouse, a gas station, abandoned homes, and adobe architecture that iy visible in the remaining buildings.
This is one of the best things to do in Santa Rosa NM as it gives visitors a better knowledge of the early settlers in the town.
8 Guadalupe County Courthouse
A historic site to visit in Santa Rosa is the Guadalupe county courthouse which is located in Puerto de Luna.
The Guadalupe County Courthouse is one of Santa Rosa’s most notable historical-inspired architectural masterpieces which was built as the first courthouse in the town after the county seat relocated to Santa Rosa.
The courthouse’s architecture is what makes it so well-known. Frank Ogden and John C. Hill, who applied Richardson Romanesque architecture, created the design.
Puerto de Luna, the original county seat, is where you can find the first Guadalupe County Courthouse. It was widely used until the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad was built in the early 1900s, which shifted a lot of attention from Puerto de Luna to Santa Rosa.
The Puerto de Luna courtroom is still standing and is a well-liked tourist attraction.
9 Tres Lagunas Golf Course
Among the best places to enjoy outdoor sports and recreation is the Tres Lagunas Golf Course. Tres Lagunas Golf Course, or Santa Rosa Golf Course, is one of the few golf courses you’ll find in the area.
The Tres Lagunas Golf Course first opened on Chuck N Dale Lane in 1971. It’s a small-scale course that welcomes visitors and provides a ton of entertainment.
Due to the excellent personnel, inexpensive rates, and attractive surroundings, many people believe it to be a superb value golf course.
10 Visit Santa Rosa, Water Park
Just as the city abounds with many Lakes, Santa Rosa water park is an ideal destination to spend a weekend with your kids.
A water park, an inflatable obstacle course, and lake boat rides are all located around the sizable lake. In essence, it serves as an outdoor waterpark to escape the heat of New Mexico.
Since the Water Park is close to Blue Hole, you can check out a variety of swimming areas while you’re there.
A bouncy house, monkey bars, a boating course, swimming, a water slide, and other magnificent activities are just a few of the kid-friendly water sports to enjoy at Santa Rosa water park.
11 The Blue Hole
Visiting the Blue Hole is one of the best things to do in Santa Rosa NM. The Blue Hole of Santa Rosa is a well-known natural pool that was originally utilized as a place to cool off in the desert heat by travelers traveling along Route 66.
Today, it is one of the best diving locations in the nation and attracts tourists for recreational swimming. The water gets its name from the rich pure blue tones of the water. It’s a unique waterhole that refills with 3,000 gallons of water every minute from the natural flow.
Fishing, swimming, cliff jumping, and scuba diving are some of the top things to do in the Blue Hole. Professional divers travel from all over the country to the Blue Hole, a well-known diving location in the US, to explore its depths.
12 Santa Rosa Lake State Park
A trip to Santa Rosa Lake state park is among the list of top things to do in Santa Rosa NM. The park offers the best sightseeing experience to the desert scenery.
At Santa Rosa lake, visitors are to have the best outdoor experience in Santa Rosa as it offers picnic recreation, camping, and overnight stays hiking, horseback riding, fishing, sightseeing, and swimming.
Additionally, there are numerous hiking and walking routes in Santa Rosa Lake State Park for visitors to use. For a closer look at the vegetation and numerous wildlife, visitors can take walks through the grassland and desert scenery.
Also with its 48 designated campsites and proximity to the lake, Santa Rosa Lake State Park is the perfect destination.
13 Visit Jesus M. Casaus House
Jesus M. Casaus was a well-known figure in Guadalupe County, and his home is one of the finest examples of the American Bungalow architectural style.
The house is still a private dwelling, owned by one of his Casaus’ descendants, but it’s a beautiful place to drive by and take pictures while admiring the architecture and considering the Casaus family’s contribution to the neighborhood.
The Jesus M. Casaus House is a traditional two-story home that sticks out among the neighborhood’s other buildings.
From the outside, the bungalow style is attractive with its interior and exterior decorations the house also features a lot of intricate details, including oak moldings, beautiful wall patterns, a back porch, and a little chimney.
14 Trail of the Forty-Niners
Trail of the Forty Niners is an alternative route along the historic Route 66. The route is an alternative route that fortune seekers at an early age use to migrate to Califonia.
Trail of the Forty Niners marks one of the popular routes that travelers used to take when making the brave journey to cross the US.
The path was developed by US Captain Randolph B. Marcy, who was an expert in navigating the neighboring Sante Fe trail, and was followed by tens of thousands of travelers. He participated in the development of the detour so that families may pass more quickly and safely.
The place has grown to be a popular tourist destination that shouldn’t be missed when traveling in Santa Rosa.
15 Spicy Eats and Treats
As you’re advancing to the end of your trip to Santa Rosa, among the best places to taste the delicious cuisine of the town is Joseph’s Bar and Grill & Comet II Drive-In
American and Mexican cultures coexist in Santa Rosa which is good news for those looking for delectable meals to eat as you get to taste American dishes spice up by Mexican cuisine.
Despite the differences between the two culinary traditions, they both share a passion for spicy food.
Joseph’s Bar and Grill maintained its vintage feel with everything from the hospitable service to the old dining booths. It provides Santa Rosa with the best Mexican and American cuisine. Due to the great food and ambiance, it has grown to be a well-known tourist destination in its own right.
Another eatery to try spicy food is Comet II Drive-In. Try some of the suggested menu items, such as Chile Rellenos, Chile Verde, and Chimichangas, or stick with the tried-and-true fried chicken. To go with your dinner, make sure to order some salsa. this is one of the exciting things to do in Santa Rosa NM.
Best time to visit Santa Rosa New Mexico
The best and busiest months to travel to Santa Rosa, New Mexico are March, June, and July. This is the ideal time to visit and get to know this lovely city as is the greatest time of year to experience the majority of the city’s enjoyable activities. Although this time’s hotel and airfare incentives are pricey.
