Hell Dogs of Eldorado Canyon

Mining Shaft in Eldorado Canyon, April 2005, David Alexander

Man per man and mile per mile, Eldorado Canyon has a wider range of historical events than anywhere in the Wild West. This rich history, coupled with the turbulent events taking place in Eldorado Canyon in the 19th century has led to numerous ghost stories of dead miners, Indians, and pioneers who once roamed the area.

However, some of the most fascinating are the ghostly tales of canine spirits. Reportedly, during the rowdy mining days, many of the prospectors kept dogs at their claim sites to protect their property. Reared to attack at the slightest trespass by strangers, the dogs were often extremely vicious.

“Man’s best friend” or not, many of these dogs were shot, left chained at the claim site to die, or released into the wild, when the gold played out and the miners left the area. Over the years, numerous tales of sightings of these many spectral hounds have been told by exploring visitors and locals alike. A few even tell of being attacked by these ferocious canine apparitions.

Ghost Dog

One story told on the Shadowlands Website, describes two brothers who were compelled to test the validity of the canine tales. Exploring the area, they soon found an old mine shaft where they noticed an ancient weathered chain embedded into the rock wall near the entrance. Entering the old mine, they came upon a pile of bones that appeared to be those of a large dog. As the sun was quickly setting, they determined to camp near the mine shaft. Sitting around a small campfire, they listened to what sounded like coyotes yipping in the distance. Not alarmed, they ate dinner around the fire until both men began to feel uneasy as the atmosphere changed, seeming thick and somehow charged. Before long, they heard the sounds of large dogs panting in close proximity, followed by low and hateful growls.

With hair no doubt standing up upon the back of their necks, they then heard the sound of paws circling the campsite and scratching noises coming from the shaft where the chain was lying. Stealing a glimpse at the shaft, the chain began to move, seemingly being tugged away from the rock wall by an unknown force. As the pulling continued, harder each time, the brothers fumbled for their gear and stumbled to their feet. One of them pointed the flashlight toward the chain where scratch marks and bloodstains could be seen on the rock. Suddenly, the chain dropped and one of the brothers felt something brush against his leg before both were frantically running towards their car. As they drove as fast as they could out of the canyon, they could hear wild panting and canine footsteps as a pack of invisible wild strays kept pace with them for several miles.

Locals refer to these spectral hounds as The Hell Dogs of Eldorado Canyon.

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Black Jack Ketchum Lives On!

Black Jack Ketchum Grave

Thomas “Black Jack” Ketchum was the only person ever hanged in Clayton, New Mexico. He was also the only man ever hanged for train robbery in the entire state, a law that was later found to be unconstitutional. But, it was a little too late for poor Black Jack.

Remembering his experience long ago, a gentleman tells a story of meeting Black Jack Ketchum while camping at the Philmont Scout Ranch. He and several other scouts were backpacking through the mountains, visiting various historic sites, including an abandoned gold mine, a ghost town and one of Black Jack Ketchum’s outlaw hideouts.

The hideout was a large rock overhang and the scouts thought it would be fun to camp there for the night. However, their leader insisted that they stay at a nearby-designated site. Disappointed, several of the scouts set their tents up several hundred feet away from the leader’s tent, hoping they would have a chance to sneak back to the hideout later that night.

About 11:00 p.m., when the rest of the camp was fast asleep, five of the scouts gathered their sleeping bags and quietly stole back to the hideout. They set up camp under the overhang and built a fire, where they sat around talking about their trip. When the fire burned down to nothing more than red coals, the scouts settled down in their sleeping bags. The storyteller drifted off to sleep thinking about Black Jack. Suddenly, he was awakened by a noise in the bushes. He said that he felt paralyzed, unable to move and tried to call out to the others, but his throat was all knotted up.

Black Jack and his gang often hid here in what is now called Black Jack Canyon near Raton, New Mexico.

Then he saw a cowboy, dressed all in black come running out of the bushes toward the hideout. He said the man was mostly solid but some parts of him appeared translucent. He described the man as filthy dirty, with a tattered hat, clothes from the 1800s, and terribly yellowed teeth. His face was very red, glistening with sweat, with lots of facial hair and the apparition held a revolver.

The cowboy was apparently unaware of the scout, but the boy was very scared, as much by his inability to move than by the man. As he watched, a strange fog emanated from the tree line across from a small stream and he could hear men yelling unintelligibly, and then muffled gunfire. The cowboy turned and fired his revolver six times into the trees and then ran and stood right over the scout. The cowboy was wounded in the shoulder and discharged six shell casings from his revolver right on top of the boy.

As he watched, the casings disappeared as they fell onto his sleeping bag. The cowboy then reloaded his revolver, fired additional shots into the trees, and suddenly the cowboy saw the scout. The expression on the cowboy’s face indicated that the scout had just suddenly appeared before his eyes. The cowboy seemed to be confused and confounded, while the scout was terrified. Then, the cowboy un-cocked his pistol, looking at the scout very closely, and said, “You’re not supposed to be here,” and then just disappeared into thin air.

Ghost Cowboy

Eventually, he was able to go back to sleep but had to be shaken repeatedly by his fellow campers before waking in the morning. As the scouts broke camp, the boy told his fellow campers about the “dream,” who were amused by the story. But, as the scout rolled up his sleeping bag, he found six shell casings in the dust.

Later, when they returned to base camp, the scout visited an old saloon, where a photograph of Black Jack Ketchum was displayed. The photograph was the same man that the scout had seen at the hideout.

When he told his friends, they brushed him off, as setting them up for a big hoax and the scout never told anyone about it again, but he kept the shell casings. After the scout returned home, he checked with a gun expert who said the casings were dated from sometime around 1878 but were in almost brand new condition and the gunpowder could still be smelt in them. In fact, the gunpowder was one that was used in the last century, but not today.

The scout kept the casings for years, but unfortunately, after he moved away from home, his mother threw them out along with several other items the boy had saved, such as comic books and baseball cards.

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Ghosts of Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque Press Club – Originally built as a family residence in 1903, it was called the Whittlesey House. Over the years it passed into various hands and at one time many of the rooms were rented to people who were convalescing from two nearby sanitariums. Today, the building serves as a nightclub and most of the phenomena are the many strange sounds heard by the staff and visitors. High heeled shoes are often heard walking across the bar and lobby areas, the piano sometimes plays of its own accord, and strange voices are sometimes heard. The apparition of a woman in a black shawl that the staff call “Mrs. M” has appeared to numerous people over the years.

The Arroyo – The Spirit of La Llorona, the weeping woman, is said to wander along this draining ditch crying and searching for her lost children. Thought to have murdered her children long ago, the legend is often told to children by their parents in order to get them to behave.

Carrie Tingly Children’s Hospital – Allegedly there are glowing rooms that have been seen in unused portions of the hospital as well as invisible “force fields” that sometimes stop people from passing through doors and hallways. These barriers make a hissing sound when encountered. Also reported, are the sounds of sobbing, voices and heartbeats and black-robed figures are seen in the darkened hallways.

Church Street Cafe, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Church Street Café – This 18 room hacienda, nestled in the heart of Old Town, dates back to 1709. Originally built as a residence by the Ruiz family, it was referred to as the Casa de Ruiz for nearly 200 years. One of the oldest structures in the State of New Mexico, it remained in the Ruiz family until the last family member, Rufina G. Ruiz, died in 1991 at the age of 91. After Marie Coleman purchased the property and began renovations for the Church Street Café, it was found that the building continued to be inhabited by the spirit Rufina Ruiz’s mother, a woman named Sara Ruiz. Known to be a “curandera,” or healer, Sara was obviously not happy with the renovations as she once yelled at Marie when she brought in a contractor, “Get him out of here, now!” Once a contractor was finally hired, buckets began to mysteriously get kicked around. These types of antics continued until Marie began to talk to the spirit. Employees have seen Sara’s spirit in the café dressed in a long black dress and a number of customers have felt her presence.

Haunted Hill – Located at the end of Menaul Boulevard in the foothills, allegedly visitors have heard the sounds of screaming, phantom footsteps and bodies being dragged. According to the legend, an old man once lived in the caves at the top of the hills, sometimes bringing prostitutes there and killing them. Other reports tell of the apparition of an old man walking and the swinging of a lantern by unseen hands.

Kimo Theatre, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Kimo Theatre – The Kimo Theatre, a Pueblo Deco picture palace, was opened on September 19, 1927. No institution stands through time without something bad happening and the Kimo is no exception. In 1951, a six-year-old boy named Bobby Darnall was killed when the boiler in the basement exploded, demolishing part of the original lobby. It is this boy, wearing a striped shirt and blue jeans that is often seen playing on the lobby staircase. But he is also known to play numerous impish tricks, such as tripping the actors and creating a ruckus during performances. To appease the spirit, the cast hangs doughnuts on the water pipe that runs along the back wall of the theatre behind the stage.

Luna Mansion Restaurant in Los Lunas, New Mexico

Luna Mansion – Actually located in Los Lunas, New Mexico, a nearby suburb of Albuquerque, the Luna-Otero Mansion in is known for its great steaks, hot chili, and tantalizing desserts; but that’s not all it’s known for. It’s also renowned for its resident ghosts. Inside this 1881 mansion turned restaurant, there have been many reported sightings of the ghost of Josefita Otero, who seemingly prefers the second-floor bedrooms and the stairway. Other reported phenomenon includes chairs that move on their own accord and pots and pans that often heard rattling in an otherwise empty kitchen.

Maria Teresa Restaurant –This beautiful old hacienda, turned restaurant dates back to 1783 when it was built by a man named Salvador Armijo. Today it has the dubious distinction of being one of New Mexico’s most haunted buildings. At least four different spirits have been seen wandering through the restaurant on various occasions. Other phenomenon includes a piano that seemingly plays of its own accord, employees who are touched by unseen hands, reflections of ghosts appearing in mirrors, unseen voices, and flatware and tables that mysteriously move on their own.

Rancho de Corrales – Not actually in Albuquerque, but about 15 miles north of the city, in Corrales, New Mexico, this gracious old hacienda was built in 1801 by Diego Montoya. The sprawling adobe home, with its thick walls and heavily timbered ceilings, was, at first, a peaceful oasis surrounded by orchards. However, that all changed when the Luis and Louisa Emberto purchased the property in 1883. Some five years after they moved in, a bloody shootout occurred. It all started when Luis discovered that his wife was having an affair and moved out of the hacienda promising to return and kill both her and her lover. In April 1898, he made good on his promise and shot his wife twice.

An armed posse soon surrounded the hacienda and in the gun battle that ensued, Luis was struck down. Due to the scandalous circumstances of the couple’s death, they were not allowed a proper burial in the church cemetery and were their remains were interred across the irrigation ditch to the west of the building.

Today, the restless pair continue to make their presence known at the hacienda turned restaurant. Reported activities include items that seemingly move on their own, the sounds of disembodied voices, and the appearance of a woman in 1800’s era clothing. Others have heard the sound of midnight parties in the old hacienda.

Wool Warehouse Theater Restaurant – This building, a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1929 by a prominent wool businessman, Frank Bond, as his New Mexico headquarters. Designed by T. Charles Gaastra, who had recently returned from a trip to Egypt, the building prominently displays the Egyptian influence. Today the historic building is part of the Double Tree Hotel Complex. Encompassing some 5,000 square feet, the Wool Warehouse Theater Restaurant is housed on the second floor. During performances, a man in a cream-colored double-breasted suit has been known to have appeared on the stage. Thought to be Mr. Bond himself, the spirit seems to be pleasant and is also known to happily watch the productions from the side stage. On the other hand, the stairs behind the stage that led to the basement, are thought to hold are more malevolent spirit. Employees have reported feeling pushed by unseen hands, something or someone that grabs their ankles, and strange noises emanating from the walls. This has frightened some to such an extent, that they refuse to go to the basement. Other paranormal activities reported are the feeling of hot and cold spots, being watched, and items that are mysteriously moved.

Xilinx Building – Today, this building serves as a technology development center, but this has not always been the case. The building once served as a mental health hospital. Today, staff report mysterious banging sounds throughout the building, groans heard in the courtyard, and whispers in the back office area. Others tell of objects that seemingly move of their own accord, and shadowy figures that are soon moving along the hallways.

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Haunted Luna Mansion in Los Lunas, New Mexico

The Luna-Otero Mansion in Los Lunas, New Mexico is known for its great steaks, hot chili, and great deserts; but that’s not all it’s known for. Evidently, it’s also renowned for its resident ghosts.

In 1692 Domingo de Luna was granted land by the King of Spain in what would later become Los Lunas, New Mexico. A few years later, Don Pedro Otero arrived under similar circumstances. Over the years, the two families added to their fortunes through livestock and additional land acquisitions. Both families became extremely powerful and were involved in politics. The marriages of Solomon Luna to Adelaida Otero, and Manuel A. Otero to Eloisa Luna in the late 1800’s united these two families into what became known as the Luna-Otero Dynasty.

When the Santa Fe Railroad wanted a right-of-way through the Luna property in 1880, the proposed railroad tracks were planned directly through the Luna hacienda. In order to gain their right-of-way, the railroad agreed to build a new home for Antonio Jose Luna and his family according to their specifications. Before long, a southern colonial style mansion, built with adobe materials of the southwest was completed for the family. However, Antonio Jose died in 1881, the same year that the house was completed. As a result, his oldest son, Tranquilino and his family were the first to live in the luxurious home. When Tranquilino died in 1892, his younger brother Solomon took the reins of the empire and moved into the spacious mansion.

Josephita Otero as a young girl

In the early 1900s control passed to Soloman’s nephew, Eduardo Otero, because Soloman had not children. In the 1920s multiple improvements to the mansion were made, including the addition of a solarium, a front portico, and ironwork that surrounded the entire property. It was Eduardo’s wife, Josefita, more familiarly known as “Pepe,” that was largely responsible for these many efforts. The daughter of William R. Manderfield, founder of the Santa Fe New Mexican, Josefita lovingly spent her days caring for her magnificent gardens and improving her fine home.

Over the years the mansion changed hands several times before it was purchased and renovated as a fine dining establishment in the 1970s. It was then that the ghost of Josefita began to appear. Perhaps she didn’t like the renovations or maybe she just wants to stick around to make sure they were doing a good job on the home that she had spent so many years looking after.

Dressed in 1920s period clothing, she has been described by employees as appearing very real. Most often she is seen in two former bedrooms on the second floor, an attic storeroom, and at the top of the stairs leading to the second-floor bar.

At the top of the stairs sits an old rocking chair which she has often been seen sitting in and rocking slowly. On one occasion when an employee approached the ghostly apparition, she simply stood up then slowly vanished. More often she is seen walking up and down the stairs, a habit that has been so commonplace that employees barely notice anymore.

Where there’s one spirit, others seem to follow and more ghostly apparitions have been seen at the mansion. One of these is was a former servant named Cruz, who was thought to have been a groundskeeper. Most often seen on the main level, he is said to be particularly friendly to women and children and likes to play practical jokes on the employees and patrons. On one occasion he was seen sitting on a sofa as if waiting to be served. Dressed in vintage attire, the man was relaxing patiently when a waitress asked another staff member why he hadn’t been served. However, the response was “What man?” and when the waitress looked back to the sofa, the vintage spirit faded away.

Staff suggests that other spirits also roam this historic building.

The Luna-Otero Mansion, on the National Register of historic places, is located at 110 W. Main in Los Lunas, New Mexico just west of the junction of Highway 314 and Highway 6.

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