Madrid, New Mexico: A Hidden Gem on the Turquoise Trail
Madrid is a quirky and eclectic town situated on the historic Turquoise Trail, about a 45-minute drive to the south of Santa Fe. A former mining town, Madrid was reborn in the 70s and 80s as an art colony full of galleries, shops, and historic charm. Madrid makes an excellent day trip if you’re looking to explore the Santa Fe area, and has plenty of options to choose from when it comes to food, shopping, and activities.
Madrid, New Mexico
This quirky former mining town is now home to eclectic art galleries, fun shops, restaurants, and more!
The History of Madrid
Madrid started as a coal mining settlement in the early 1800s, and was officially founded in 1895. It was a company town owned by a succession of different mining companies, with mining cabins and other infrastructure imported from out of state. As demand for coal fell in the early 1900s, mining operations ceased and Madrid became and abandoned ghost town.
In the 1970s and 80s, Madrid was revived as an artist community, and soon found new life as an offbeat tourist attraction situated in between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Much of the original architecture of the town is still standing, now repurposed into galleries and shops. Madrid welcomes art enthusiasts and artists inspired by the beauty of the New Mexico landscape, and the town currently has a population of a little over 200 residents.
Madrid is also famed for its fabulous Christmas light displays, which visitors can view in December on the weekend leading up to Christmas. The town is a great place to walk around, grab a bite to eat, and take in the beautiful New Mexico scenery.
What to Do In Madrid
Madrid features everything from historic taverns to quirky galleries to beautiful hiking trails.
1. Stroll the Historic Streets
Madrid has a much different feel than many other small New Mexico towns, and for good reason: much of the architecture and building materials were actually imported from as far away as Kansas and Oklahoma. Instead of the tan adobe buildings that are a staple of New Mexico architecture, Madrid features historic wooden structures, many of which used be miner’s cabins. Today, the structures are painted a variety of bright colors, and serve as shops, galleries, and homes for the town’s residents.
Walking Madrid’s peaceful streets is also a great opportunity to take your time browsing various galleries and shops along the way. If you’re an art enthusiast, you’re sure to find something that strikes your fancy.
2. Visit the Old Coal Town Museum
The Madrid Old Coal Town Museum is located inside the Mineshaft Tavern. It features exhibits about Madrid’s past as a coal mining town and later ghost town. You can view original items from the coal mines, watch a video about Madrid’s historic Christmas light displays, and even explore an old out of service train. The museum is a great stop for the whole family, and is packed full of interesting history and memorabilia from Madrid’s past lives.
3. Grab a Bite to Eat at the Mineshaft Tavern
The Mineshaft Tavern is right next to the museum, and is a great spot to grab a bite to eat before or after you explore the town. The menu features classic bar and comfort food with a New Mexican twist. Try the Mad Chile Burger, which comes with fried hatch chile, chopped hatch chile, chipotle dijonnaise, and aged cheddar. There’s plenty of vegetarian and kid-friendly options as well. Madrid is a frequent stop for indie musicians passing through New Mexico, so if you’re there in the evening you might even be able to catch some live music!
4. Take a Hike at Cerrillos Hills State Park
Nearby Cerrillos Hills State Park is a great place to stretch your legs and take in the stunning scenery. The park features over five miles of hiking trails through the New Mexico high desert, with both easy and moderate hiking options. You can also book horseback rides with the Broken Saddle Riding Company.
5. Visit Casa Grande Trading Post
The Casa Grande Trading Post is another wonderful stop if you’re driving from Santa Fe to Madrid. Located in the nearby town of Cerrillos, this attraction has a little something for everyone. If you’re interested in New Mexico mining town history, be sure to check out the turquoise Mining Museum, which features mining equipment, artifacts, and more.
The trading post is also home to a petting zoo with goats, llamas, chickens, and more, and families can purchase animal food in the gift shop to feed them. The gift shop also sells local, handmade turquoise jewelry mined from the historic turquoise mines in Cerrillos.
6. Browse Turquoise and Jewelry at Gypsy Gem
If you’re interested in local, artisan-made jewelry, you should also be sure to check out Gypsy Gem, located on the main street of Madrid just a short walk from the Mineshaft Tavern. Gypsy Gem sells owner-mined Cerrillos turquoise, Santo Domingo Pueblo jewelry, pottery, and fetishes. They specialize in natural Cerrillos turquoise mined by hand from turquoise mines in the nearby Cerrillos Hills. Founded in 1988 as the Turquoise Trail Trading Post, Gypsy Gem has been a Madrid staple for decades.
7. Sate Your Sweet Tooth at Shugarman’s Little Chocolate Shop
If you’re in the mood for something sweet after lunch at the Mineshaft Tavern, head on over to Shugarman’s Little Chocolate Shop for inventive artisanal chocolate and other sweets. The shop specializes in unique, creative chocolates, like their hibiscus lemon ginger dark chocolate, matcha and strawberry dark chocolate, toffee and sea salt white chocolate, raspberry chipotle milk chocolate, and many other intriguing flavor combinations.
Getting To Madrid
Madrid is about a 45-minute drive from Santa Fe and an hour drive from Albuquerque, along New Mexico’s scenic Turquoise Trail. It’s a lovely drive whether your destination is Madrid itself, or you’re just passing through on your way to one city or the other. This charming town has a little something for everyone, and is a unique place unlike any other.
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