Coming to Las Cruces?
Here’s some information you might find helpful whether you’re just visiting or planning to relocate to the area.
About Las Cruces
Useful Information
Stores
Arts and Culture
- American Southwest Theater Company
- Black Box Theater
- Brannigan Cultural Center
- Children’s Theater of Mesilla Valley
- Dona Ana Lyric Opera
- Downtown Arts Ramble
- Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum
- Fountain Theater
- Las Cruces Chamber Ballet
- Las Cruces Civic Concert
- Las Cruces Community Theater
- Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society
- Museum of Art
- Museum of Natural History
Sites Within 200 Miles
- Aguirre Springs Hiking and Camping
- Bosque del Apache
- Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
- City of Rocks
- Dripping Springs Natural Area
- Mesilla, NM
- NM Museum of Space History
- Very Large Array
- White Sands National Monument
Golf In Las Cruces
Fiestas, Fun, Families
March
April
May
July
August
September
- White Sands Balloon Invitational
- Diez y Seis de Septiembre Fiesta
- Frontier Days
- The Whole Enchilada Fiesta
October
November
December
About Las Cruces
Las Cruces is a mid-sized city with many amenities. It is a college town and so has access to good medical care, libraries, a wide variety of entertainment, including live theater, concerts, and a local jazz society. In the summer, you can enjoy evening concerts in the park.
When you plan your visit to southern New Mexico, Las Cruces is a fine central location from which you can branch out on your travels. We have many good accommodations, including local hotel chains, bed and breakfast
rooms, and budget hotels and motels.
Our weather is fabulous; even in the hottest part of the summer, evenings and nights are “soft,” with temperatures typically dropping 20-30 degrees after sunset, perfect for sitting on the patio or outside at one of our restaurants and enjoying our spectacular sunsets to the west or our majestic purple mountains to the east. As you may have guessed, golf is a favored pass-time in Las Cruces with four golf courses in the city. A local joke claims that Las Cruces is where Arizona golfers come in the summer when it’s too hot to play on their own courses.
If you’ve lived in one of the typically humid locations around the country, for example, most of the east coast, Gulf coast, Great Lakes area, and so on, you’ll find Las Cruces offers welcome relief. Our humidity rarely exceeds 20 percent and is often much lower. That means that in Las Cruces, shade means something. It may be extremely hot out in the sun, but step into the shade and you immediately step into comfort. At the other end of the seasons, low humidity means winters are rarely as bitterly cold as they are in more humid areas. Any snow we might have usually confines itself to our beautiful mountains. In fact, it’s hard to surpass the beauty of our mountains when they’re dusted with snow.
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You can learn more about Las Cruces by visiting our city’s Wikipedia entry.
Moving To Las Cruces?
Useful information if you’re thinking about moving to Las Cruces
Schools –
- Elementary schools – 24
- Middle schools – 7
- Five of our middle schools have magnet programs
- Lynn Middle School – Engineering, Multimedia Productions and Visual Arts
- Picacho Middle School – Piano and Dance
- Sierra Middle School – Science and Media
- Vista Middle School – Music Technology and Technology and Enriched Sciences
- White Sands Middle School – Aerospace Academy
- High schools – 5
- Vocational schools – 1
- Special Education Schools and Programs
- School ratings
Information and ratings for public, private, alternative, and academy and religious schools
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Higher education
Hospitals and Medical Centers
Las Cruces has too many medical centers, clinics and other health care services to mention here. Not only does the city offer standard medical services and practices, it also offers a wide variety of alternative medical services, such as: acupuncture, herbal practices, massage therapy, and more. Las Cruces is only 45 miles away from El Paso, TX, on Interstates I-25 and I-10, where there are many fine medical services available.
Listed below are the primary sources of hospital care in Las Cruces.
- Mesilla Valley Hospital
- Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico
- Memorial Medical Center
- Mountain View Regional Medical Center
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Stores
Disclaimer. The following stores are included in this list either because they are large chains or are representational of some of our highly specialized stores. The fact that we did, or did not include a particular store or
shop does not reflect upon the quality of the store in any way or the products it sells.
Farmers market
The Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning from 8 a.m. until noon on the Las Cruces downtown mall. The market specializes in locally hand-crafted items and seasonal local produce.
Grocery Stores
- Albertsons (3)
- Costco (in El Paso)
- Lowe’s food stores(2)
- Sam’s Club
- Walmart(2)
The city also has a wide variety of local stores. Two, Mountain View Cooperative Market and Toucan Market, specialize in organic and health foods. We also have many fine markets that offer regional food specialties.
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Department, Home Supply, and Other Stores
- Barnes and Noble
- Bed, Bath and Beyond
- Best Buy
- Dillards
- Home Depot
- Kohl’s
- Lowe’s
- Marshall’s
- Men’s Warehouse
- J.C. Penny’s
- Pier 1
- Sears
- Target
These are the well known national chain stores. There are numerous small stores and speciality shops throughout Las Cruces, such as: men’s and women’s clothing stores, several western wear shops, sporting goods stores, an excellent cooking supply store that also offers cooking classes, many antique stores, independent book and music stores, knitting and sewing stores, fine and art jewelry stores, and many, many art galleries.
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Arts and Culture
American Southwest Theatre Company
The Company puts on polished professional performances between September and May, including Shakespeare, musical theater and dramas. It is located on the New Mexico State University campus.
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Black Box Theatre
This theater is the home of the No Strings Theatre Company, presenting six different plays a year, mostly by contemporary, little-known or local playwrights. The Theatre is located in the Downtown Mall.
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A Children’s Theatre of the Mesilla Valley
Productions for and by children.
Doña Ana Lyric Opera
The opera presents four shows a year, including one summer Broadway musical using high school students. There are two traditional operas performed each fall, spring and summer, using New Mexico State University students and visiting professionals. Shows are at the NMSU Music Center Recital Hall.
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Fountain Theatre
The historic Fountain Theatre is New Mexico’s oldest movie house. Built in 1905, the Theatre originally featured vaudeville performances and silent films. It has been the home of the non-profit Mesilla Valley Film Society since 1989, showcasing the best independent, foreign, documentary and other alternative art films. Screenings are nightly with Sunday matinees.
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The Brannigan Cultural Center
The Branigan Cultural Center has as its focus the history and culture of the region. The complex contains several galleries and offers lectures and classes as well as display space for a variety of arts.
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Downtown Arts Ramble
Enjoy art gallery openings, preview some coming gala events and stay for plays and open mic events as Downtown Las Cruces comes alive for the Ramble, held the first Friday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m.
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Farm and Ranch Heritage Musuem
The interactive museum, which has welcomed visitors from all over the world, brings to life the 3,000-year history of farming and ranching in New Mexico.
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Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society
The Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the cultural life of the Mesilla Valley by providing a venue for excellent, live jazz and blues. Come to a monthly society meeting and you’ll hear some of the best jazz and blues musicians from Las Cruces, El Paso, and many other areas of the country. The Society usually meets the first Sunday of every month at 6:30 pm in at First Christian Church on El Paseo, but dates sometimes vary so please check their website.
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The Museum of Art
The Museum of Art hosts traveling exhibits and features the works of regionally and nationally known artists. The exhibits change several times a year and are often accompanied by lectures, programs, and demonstrations. The Studio Program also offers classes in drawing and painting, ceramics, weaving, digital photography, and other media.
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Las Cruces Civic Concert
The Civic Concert performs four or five times a year between September and April. Call for show times. (575) 522-0792.
Las Cruces Chamber Ballet
The ballet puts on two major performances a year, including the traditional holiday version of The Nutcracker Ballet. Call for show times. (575) 523-1654.
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Las Cruces Community Theater
A theater providing local talent with a place to perform year-round in a variety of plays and musicals.
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The Las Cruces Museum of Natural History
The Las Cruces Museum of Natural History is located in the Mesilla Valley Mall and is dedicated to broadening people’s understanding of natural history, science, and the environment of New Mexico and the Chihuahuan Desert. We offer exhibits and educational programs geared towards this mission. The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center houses more than 40 live animals from our area.
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Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra
Las Cruces has a vibrant and excellent local symphony directed by Maestro Lonnie Klein. As in prior seasons, Las Cruces Symphony programs feature renowned guest artists from around the world, world premieres, an annual “POPS” concert and our own fine musicians performing master-works and highlights from the symphonic repertoire. The Las Cruces Symphony at New Mexico State University is “blooming in the desert.”
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Visiting Las Cruces?
As you look at the list of places to visit in the area, remember that in the desert Southwest, we consider a 100-200 mile trip a Sunday drive. Our main highways are mostly flat and straight and there is no traffic to speak of. In other words, a trip to the Very Large Array is a nice day trip if you take a lunch with you.
It is impossible to list here all of the interesting and beautiful places to visit while you’re based in Las Cruces but the brief list below will give you an idea of what’s available in southern New Mexico. A good guide book is an excellent resource while you’re traveling here, and you should take a look at the Las Cruces Blog for more extensive information about sites around the area. Be sure to bring your camera, walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat; New Mexico’s sun is intense.
Some Places Worth Visiting Within 200 Miles
Aguirre Springs hiking and camping
The high wall, needle-like spires of the Organ Mountains curve dramatically around a semicircle of Chihuahuan Desert habitat at the Aguirre Spring Campground. The campground, nestled at the base of spectacular cliffs, overlooks the Tularosa Basin and White Sands National Monument.
15 miles from Las Cruces.
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Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
One of the most spectacular national wildlife refuges in North America. Here, tens of thousands of birds–including sandhill cranes, Arctic geese, and many kinds of ducks–gather each autumn and stay through the winter. Feeding snow geese erupt in explosions of wings when frightened by a stalking coyote, and at dusk, flight after flight of geese and cranes return to roost in the marshes. In the summer Bosque del Apache lives its quiet, green life as an oasis in the arid lands that surround it.
126 miles, 2 hours from Las Cruces
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Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
Located in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, the 960-acre Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park site is a topographically and biologically diverse example of this beautiful desert. The Nature Park encompasses a small section of the Doña Ana Mountains northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Spectacular views of the Organ Mountains, San Andres Mountains and the Jornada Basin are also visible from the Park.
About 10 miles, 30 minutes from Las Cruces
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City of Rocks State Park
Formed of volcanic ash welded together 30 million years ago, then sculpted by wind and water into rows of monolithic blocks, these incredible rock formations give City of Rocks its name. New hiking trails and a new public night sky observatory add to this unique destination.
89 miles, 1.75 hours from Las Cruces
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Dripping Springs Natural Area
The Organ Mountains are a haven for hikers and adventure seekers alike. The mountains rise to over 9,000 feet in elevation, are named the Organs because of the steep, needle-like spires that resemble the pipes of an organ. This picturesque area of rocky peaks, narrow canyons and open woodlands shelters the Dripping Springs Natural Area, noted for its “weeping walls.” Formerly known as the Cox Ranch, this area encompasses a wealth of habitats containing great biological diversity. [Photo courtesy of the Las Cruces Blog]
18 miles from Las Cruces over the St. Augustine Pass
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Mesilla, New Mexico
Mesilla is the best-known and most visited historical community in Southern New Mexico. Since 1848, Mesilla has had a major influence on the economic, cultural, historical, and political life of the Mesilla Valley. From the Gadsden Purchase, to the Civil War, to the Butterfield Stage Coach Trail, to the trial of Billy the Kid, to being a lively social center in the 1880s– Mesilla has been a prominent part of the rich history of the
Southwest.
Visiting Old Mesilla is like stepping into your favorite cowboy movie; many of the buildings in the town are original to the period, however, this is only one reason to visit the little town. It’s loaded with Spanish culture, cantinas and restaurants, art galleries and shops. You may be lucky enough to run into a fiesta complete with Folklorico dancers and wonderful music and you can take pictures of the last remaining Butterfield Stagecoach stop.
4.5 miles, 15 minutes from Las Cruces
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NM Museum of Space History (Alamogordo, NM)
The mission of the museum is to educate visitors about the history, science, and technology of space. The museum stresses the significant role that the state of New Mexico has played in the development of the U.S. Space Program through collecting, preserving, and interpreting significant artifacts relevant to the history of space.
Come to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces and view our large Tombaugh memorial window dedicated to the life of Clyde Tombaugh, one of the church’s founding members, then follow up with a visit to the Clyde W. Tombaugh IMAX Theater and Planitarium at the Museum of Space History.
71 miles, 1.5 hours from Las Cruces and White Sands National Monument is on the way
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Very Large Array (VLA) on the Plain of San Augustin
The Very Large Array, one of the world’s premier astronomical radio observatories, consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration on the Plains of San Agustin fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. Each antenna is 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter. The data from the antennas is combined electronically to give the resolution of an antenna 36km (22 miles) across, with the sensitivity of a dish 130 meters (422 feet) in diameter.
200 miles, 3.25 hours from Las Cruces
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White Sands National Monument
Take a picnic to the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world’s largest gypsum dune field. This is the magical place where part of the movie “Transformers” was filmed.
White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment.
64 miles, 1.25 hours from Las Cruces
Special Note — Ciudad Juarez or Palomas, Mexico – Both of these are very dangerous places to visit, we do not recommend doing so at this time
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Golf In Las Cruces
There are four courses within the city, three public courses and one private. In Las Cruces, you can golf year-round since we boast of 350 days of sun in the Mesilla Valley.
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Las Cruces Country Club
Las Cruces Country Club is located in the heart of the city. The golf course offers 18 holes, pro shop, paved cart paths, driving range and putting greens. The course has small bent-grass greens and open bent-grass fairways.
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New Mexico State Golf Course
Designed by Floyd Farley in 1963, the 18-hole course is framed by the majestic Organ Mountains to the east and the picturesque Mesilla Valley to the west. Measuring over 7,000 yards, the course provides a challenge to golfers of all skill levels with a unique combination of traditional and desert golf featuring large greens and generous fairways.
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Sonoma Ranch Golf Course
This golf course is located in a newly built golf community. Designed by Cal Olson, the course is longish with rolling hills, strewn with bunkers and undulating bent grass greens. With five tee boxes, it offers a stimulating challenge for all levels of golfer. Equipped with paved cart paths and a clubhouse with a full-service restaurant.
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Picacho Golf Course
This is the only private golf course in Las Cruces, offering reciprocal agreements with other private clubs. At nearly 7,000 yards, this par 72 desert-style course features lush bluegrass fairways and bent-grass tees and greens.
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Fiestas, Fun and Families
Check the paper or the Internet for the exact times and dates of these annual events, but there’s much more happening in Las Cruces so you should go to this website and select the month in which you’re interested
March – Cowboy Days
Nothing Says the Old West like the cowboy, and the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum honors the western legend with a weekend festival complete with roping and riding demonstrations, “cowboy food,” dancing, and cowboy poetry. New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.
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April – Trinity Site Tour
The Trinity site is the location of the first atomic bomb explosion on earth. The site is open to the public twice a year. White Sands Missile Range.
April – Border Book Festival
This unique festival brings together authors from around the world. Live performances, food, fun and lots of reading. Various locations.
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April – La Viña Blues and Jazz Thing
A weekend of good music and good wine hosted by New Mexico’s oldest winery. La Viña Winery, La Union.
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May – Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
A traditional Mexican fiesta honoring Mexico’s second revolution. Experience traditional Mexican music, food and dancing on the historic Old Mesilla Plaza.
May – Blessing of the Fields
Also known as the La Fiesta de San Ysidro. A celebration of New Mexico’s 3,000 year-old farming heritage, featuring farming demonstrations, mariachi music, folklorico dancers, and a blessing of the fields, all capped off with an
evening dance. New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.
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May – Southern New Mexico Wine Festival
Visitors can sample wine from the many New Mexico wineries as well as enjoy live entertainment and local vendors. Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
July – 4th Electric Light Parade, Celebration and Fireworks
Commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Las Cruces celebrates with a parade of floats decorated with electric lights. Experience live entertainment throughout the day plus a spectacular fireworks display at night. All events are free and open to the public.
August – Hatch Chile Festival
The Mesilla Valley is the chile capital of the world, and what better way to celebrate than with a chile festival. Sample some of the finest chile while you enjoy food, crafts, an auction, live music and more. Hatch, NM. Click on the link and view the video.
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August-September – New Mexico Wine Harvest Festival
Celebrate New Mexico’s wine harvest with grape stomping, wine tasting, live entertainment (including up and coming country music star Tim Murphy on Sunday). Festival features arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities, hourly wine seminars and a great relaxed atmosphere. Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds
September – White Sands Balloon Invitational
A collection of colorful balloons filling the air over the white gypsum dunes of White Sands National Monument.
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September – Annual Frontier Days
Take a trip back in time with a visit to Fort Selden State Monument as they honor the civilians and soldiers who lived at the fort and protected the residents of the Mesilla Valley after the Civil War. Among the groups honored are the Buffalo Soldiers who, were some of the first soldiers assigned to the Fort. Fort Selden State Monument.
September – Diez y Seis de Septiembre Fiesta
Mexican Independence Day! Join the village of Mesilla as they commemorate Mexico’s independence. Be sure to catch folklorico dances, mariachi music, authentic Mexican cuisine and have a really good time. Old Mesilla Plaza.
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September – The Whole Enchilada Fiesta
We have a chile festival so why not an enchilada fiesta! Las Cruces hosts one big street party complete with food, dancing, a parade and the making of the official world’s largest enchilada! Meerscheidt Recreation Center.
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October – Southern New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo
The Southern New Mexico State Fair has something for everyone; a midway, an auction, food, music, livestock shows and a cowboy rodeo. Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
October – Trinity Site Tour
The Trinity site is the location of the first atomic bomb explosion on earth. The site is open to the public twice a year. White Sands Missile Range.
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October – Mesilla Jazz Happening
Mesilla Valley Jazz Happening will be swinging into historic Old Mesilla at the Mercado Plaza and on the Historic Plaza. The Plaza will host free live jazz music at two venues. A special Wine Garden at each venue featuring eight New Mexico Wineries will provide wine tasting. Horse drawn wagons will offer free transportation between the Mercado and the historic plaza.
October – La Viña Wine Festival
This festival is the oldest wine festival in New Mexico and features food, entertainment and of course, wine produced by New Mexico’s oldest winery. La Viña Winery, La Union, NM.
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November – Dia de los Muertos
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with lots of music and food. Join the candlelight procession as the dead are remembered. Homemade altars are on display and a giant pinata is broken open. Old Mesilla Plaza.
November – Renaissance ArtsFaire
Spend a weekend with Kings and Queens at the Annual Renaissance ArtsFaire. Local, state and regional artisans gather to participate in a juried art show and exhibition. Only the highest quality arts and crafts are for sale accompanied by live theater, dancing, music and food, all presented with a Renaissance theme. Young Park.
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November – International Mariachi Conference and Concert
A week-long educational conference culminating with one spectacular concert featuring internationally known mariachi performers. Parque Festival at Young Park features entertainment and cultural activities. New Mexico State University Pan American Center and Young Park.
December 24 – Christmas Carols and Luminarias on the Plaza
The historic village of Old Mesilla is aglow with thousands of luminarias and caroling.
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