Haunted New Mexico - Sleeping with the ghosts of the Old Cuchillo Bar & Store

Exterior Old Cuchillo Bar & Store Photo credit: Nancy M. Dickinson

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The history of the Old Cuchillo Bar & Store is historical, interesting, deeply rooted in the Old West and...  filled with stories of hauntings.

The Old Cuchillo Bar & Store is located a mere 8 miles or so, along some winding back roads, northwest of Truth or Consequences and Elephant Butte, NM.  Once the hub of the town in which it lives, Cuchillo, this inn is now a near silent reminder of a time remembered only in the movies and the memories of the people who live there still.  If you're an adventurous traveler, the Old Cuchillo Bar & Store might be the perfect solution when looking for a quiet weekend.

The original build date of the Old Cuchillo Bar is sketchy, given the lack of records prior to New Mexico becoming a state on January 6, 1912, but it's estimated to be in the 1850's (though their Facebook site says the 1830's).  Built primarily of wood and adobe, what's amazing is the building still stands.  Back in 2000, however, the building fell victim to an electrical fire and were it not for the assistance of the locals the building would have been lost.

Originally established as a stagecoach stop, the Old Cuchillo grew to become a mercantile, post office, some time bordello (see the rooms across the courtyard from the adobe house) and bar,   The bar is still standing and serviceable and the owner, Josh Bond, hopes to return it to its former glory but as a micro-brewery.

Interior of the Old Cuchillo Bar Photo credit: Nancy M. Dickinson

The owner has recently completed renovations of the adobe house that sits on the property and it is available for overnight lodging, with a two-night minimum. the house is a two bedroom, one bath, full kitchen and sitting room and extremely comfortable. Inside the adobe house are shadowy figures walking from room to room, voices and objects being moved.  Josh, though, lives in the house when it's not rented and he has said he feels no malevolence from the spirit or two that consider the house their home, only welcome and warmth.

The interior of the house has been painstakingly restored to showcase the original tin ceilings, the stove in the kitchen also original to the late 19th Century.  Though the house is an eclectic mixture of decades, there's nothing in there that is post-1970 and a weekend there would be reminiscent of another time, another place, definitely relaxing.  On the walls throughout the property are artifacts, old photos and memorabilia either related to Cuchillo (donated by local residents) or found on the property.  A stay at the Old Cuchillo is like walking through a museum - and sleeping in one.

The Old Cuchillo Bar & Store is a little off the beaten trail but is near enough to Truth of Consequences that it's not too remote.  The owner sees to it most wants and needs of his guests are met and he sleeps on the property when the adobe house is rented, so his response is nearly immediate.  Lately, though, traffic on their sleepy little road has picked up but Josh Bond has a sense of humor about it, buying an old police car at auction and putting a cardboard cut-out of a police officer in the driver's seat, parked directly in front of the building.  One of his neighbors, wanting to get in on the action, donated an old blow dryer to take the place of a radar gun.  The desired effect was achieved and people are slowing down as they drive through the town of Cuchillo, still called a ghost town though the population there has risen by a person or two in the last few years.

Still looking as though it could open for business at any time, a great deal of the paranormal activity takes place inside this bar, once the heart of the town.  There are reports of glasses shaking and sometimes falling off the shelves as well as chairs moving around occasionally.  Past investigations that have taken place have garnered Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) and mysterious footsteps walking through the room; though the activity isn't limited to just the bar area. The kitchen of the adobe house is known for having cabinet doors open, the sounds of pots and pans and noises that sound as though someone is cooking, leading Josh to believe it is the spirit of the former owner's wife, who might have died while living there,  Also, when Josh bought the property, a great deal of personal items were left behind by the prior owners, such as his deceased wife's wedding dress as well as a religious shrine in a closet.

Investigation of the location is still in its early stages so who the spirits are hasn't been pinned down, though it is thought to be a couple of former patrons and the wife of one of the former owners, who lived on the property for years.  As the renovations continue, subsequently leading to the hotel rooms that sit along the courtyard, it's certain more spirits will make an "appearance".  The voices that have been picked up by EVP are male and more than a little resentful of the investigators being there.  As time progresses, as more investigations are done, more information will be given by the owner and the investigators.  It's possible that a "soiled dove" or two might become residents once the hotel rooms are renovated.  (Writer's note: Renovations are known to cause restless spirits, both happy and angry about the changes being made.)

If you're interested in visiting the Old Cuchillo, contact them at info@cuchillobar.com or visit their website www.cuchillobar.com.  Also, if you're interested in owning paraphernalia related to the Old Cuchillo, there is an online store that sells t-shirts, post cards or even an old spur, which aids in the restoration process.