Billy the Kid may have only had one or two photos taken within his life time, but he certainly did leave a paper trail of notable places where he lived, bordered, was jailed, and committed crimes. Maybe the Kid was smart. With little or no photo evidence, it was probably a lot harder to track him down. 
But now there is a new six day itinerary tour where Billy the Kid fans can follow the footsteps of one of the West’s well known icons. It covers a lot of western territory that hasn’t changed much from the days Billy the Kid rode through—perhaps that is why his ghost feels right at home at some of these locations. These are just a few places you can visit while following the ghostly trail of Billy the Kid.
The tour of Billy the Kid territory compiled by the New Mexico Tourism Department begins in Silver City, New Mexico. On the NW corner of Hudson St and Broadway—adjacent to the Grant County Chamber of Commerce—is a marker near the site of Billy the Kid’s boyhood home from 1873 to 1874. On the SW corner, you will find a second marker that points out one of the Kid’s foster homes—the Star Hotel. The NE corner was the site of the city jail where Billy the Kid escaped by climbing up and out of the chimney. You can also pay your respects to the Kid’s mother who is buried in Memory Lane Cemetery, two miles to the NE.
From Silver City, the Kid wandered to Camp Grant Arizona—about 35 miles north of Willcox, AZ. About 3 miles SW of the former army post is McDowell’s Store which he visited when in the area. You can still locate the foundation of Hotel de Luna where the Kid was arrested for stealing horses. Next to the store is the foundation of George Atkin’s Saloon. The Kid shot a blacksmith at the saloon who died the next day and Billy headed back to safety in New Mexico.
Your second day on the tour finds you at the La Mesilla courtroom where the Kid faced a two day trial for the 1878 murder of Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady. The former courtroom is now an art gallery and souvenir shop. The Kid’s original jail cell is in the Gadsden Museum—two blocks east of the former jail.
You can visit the original grave site of Pat Garrett in the Odd Fellows Cemetery at Compress and Brown Roads. The Garrett family purchased at lot in the Masonic Cemetery across the road in 1957 and had the remains of Pat Garrett re interred in a larger plot.
Legend tells the Kid road 81 miles in late 1876 to bust a pal out of the San Elizario, Texas jail built in 1850. The two room adobe jail with its two original cells intact is about 21 miles SE of El Paso, TX. A state monument in remote Faulkner Canyon pays a note to William Bonney and those of his pals, Tom O’Folliard, Charlie Bowdre, and Dave Rudabaugh.
The third day on the trail finds you at some locations situated on private land. Be sure to stop and get permission to visit if you choose to go there. Blazer’s Mill is the site of an epic gun fight in April 1878. Andrew Roberts held the Regulators at bay, wounding the Kid and two others. Dick Brewer, their leader was killed—and Robert lost his life in the battle as well. Both are buried in a tiny cemetery on a hill situated on private property.
Billy the Kid, Garrett, and other Lincoln County notables frequented Dowlin’s Mill—a fortress looking flour mill, mess hall, store and blacksmith shop. They gambled and danced here and sometimes bought supplies for the trail. Today the mill is a museum and souvenir shop. 
Frank Coe befriended the Kid in late 1877 and was a part of the Regulators until August 1878. The Frank Coe Ranch is on the tour and again situated on private property. The Kid and his pals were at Whiskey Jim Greathouse’s Ranch and Stage Station when Deputy Sheriff William Hughes and his 13 man posse trapped the outlaws inside. After a day long shootout, the Regulators escaped.
The ghosts of Billy the Kid, his Regulator Pals, and the lawmen that hunted them have been seen in several New Mexico locations. A great site with maps, history and day planner for visiting the entire Billy the Kid adventures is:
Be sure and return to this site tomorrow with more information on Following the ghostly trail of Billy the Kid part 2.
For more info: www.mvdghostchaseres.com
Debe Branning nazanaza@aol.com
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