Cloudcroft’s Fall Forecast: Golden Leaves, Fresh Biz
What's new, what's changing, and what's happening on the mountain in October?
It’s October in the village: the seasons—and businesses—are changing, with plenty of community events scheduled throughout the month.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming gatherings and plan your visit.
Spooky Spots
Cloudcroft Schools’ Fall Festival fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, October 24th. Dollar bingo—with loads of prizes, including a one-night stay in the Lodge’s Governor’s Suite— a cake walk, carnival games, dinner, and more will be open to the public from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Grab your gourds: the annual Pumpkin Roll on the steep Swallow Place starts at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 25th. Trustee Gail McCoy is leading the event and needs volunteers. Email her at TrusteeMcCoy@cloudcroftvillage.com to help out.
The village also plans a Trunk or Treat event (also on the 25th), starting at 3:30 p.m. Trustee McCoy says that folks will be able to sign up through the village website soon.
Summit Christian Fellowship—the new moniker for Cloudcroft’s First Baptist Church—is hosting its annual Fall Festival on Burro Avenue at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, the 25th.
Halloween weekend, reserve a spot at The Lodge for a Halloween Ghost Hunt, including dinner and breakfast for two. To learn more, call 575-682-2566 or email reservations@thelodgeresort.com.
Also at the Lodge: the International Remote Viewing Association will meet September 30th through October 5th. If you’re thinking of George Clooney’s “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” you’re not far off. Learn more about the practice and the upcoming conference online.
The Sacramento Mountain Museum and Pioneer Haunted Village returns this October on these Fridays and Saturdays: the 10th & 11th, 17th & 18th, 24th & 25th, and the 31st from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Entry is $13.00 per person—beware the jump scare!
Arts and Culture
Local EMT and volunteer with the Cloudcroft VFD Hilary Kitzman is also a movie producer. She moved to Cloudcroft after living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and spending nearly 20 years working in Hollywood and Los Angeles.
Her recent film, Wild Like Me, features inmates in an Arizona prison who train wild mustangs, finding “purpose and redemption,”—a project she edited from Cloudcroft.
Wild Like Me is streaming on Great American Pure Flix and is available through Amazon Prime.
Carly Spann recently won Grand Champion at the Otero County Fair for her kimono-inspired woven garment. She wove her wearable winner in Joan Nussbaum’s Weaving Introductory Course at the High Valley Weaving School in Cloudcroft.
Samantha Odom Art is offering a free instructional commercial arts course, open to five students. For more details and to sign up, check out her Facebook page.
Black Bear Coffee Shop’s October featured artist is none other than Crystal Tompkins, co-owner of Black Bear and light-capturing photographer. Check out her work in situ while you sip a seasonal latte.
The Cloudcroft Art Society Cooperative Gallery will be adding arts and crafts starting on October 4th. Deemed The Holiday Show, visitors can snag holiday gifts every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Old Red Brick Schoolhouse. The Holiday Show will last until the end of November.
A short stroll away from Burro Avenue, the new Osha Trail Depot carries local art, handmade wares, and southwestern goods, located in the former High End Cannabis retail space.
Osha Trail Depot owner Debbi McCurdy is seeking local artists to represent—drop by the shop if interested.
Local Business Buzz
New sourdough grab-and-go baked goods purveyor Levain It Up is open for business in High Rolls, directly off Highway 82. They’re open Friday through Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Base Camp, located on Burro Avenue, is now available for rent, and the business is also up for sale. “We are beyond grateful for all the love, support, and memories shared through this journey, and we’re excited to see someone new continue to grow it,” owner Ellie Smith said.
Cloudsoft Laundry To Go, “your local laundry fairy service,” now offers pick up and delivery services to Cloudcroft, Alamogordo, High Rolls, and Mayhill. Call or text 520-330-2613 or find them on Instagram at @cloudsoftlaundry.
Be in the Mountains Yoga changed locations—one unit over in the Village Plaza, to a sunlit, cozy space. Owner Beth Merrell still offers Thai Yoga and Swedish Blend massage, along with Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, and a range of other sessions.
Next door to Bhair Neccessities, Maggie’s is undergoing a new paint job and a rebrand under new ownership. The fresh butter-yellow Kerry’s Kitchen will specialize in cheesecakes—Kerry hopes to open in December.
Sharlene Rogers, Nurse Practitioner, alongside daughter and R.N. Sabina McClain, recently opened Mountain Grit Wellness in downtown Mayhill next to the park. They’re open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and every other Saturday by appointment.
The wellness center features a medical clinic for comprehensive assessments and consultations, as well as a spa. The clinic will also offer wrinkle reduction injections—also known as Botox. Rogers plans to conduct insulin consults for folks with diabetes and insulin resistance.
Trestle Medical Services is expanding its days of operation and now sees patients on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
On October 10th, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Trestle Medical is partnering with Walgreens for a vaccination clinic offering flu, RSV, and pneumonia vaccines for individuals aged 3 and above. Call ahead at 575-682-1014 so they can prepare for your visit.
Meet Your Next Mayor. Ask Questions
Tuesday, October 14th, the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce and the Cloudcroft Reader co-sponsor a public candidate debate featuring Tim King and Dusty Wiley.
Get to know trustee candidates Keith Hamilton, Gail McCoy, and Danny Hardwick, and hear from Judge Mark Tatum. RSVP for the debate at the Lodge Pavilion—complete with a cash bar and desserts—by emailing us at rsvp@cloudcroftreader.com.
Gather
Sip New Mexico-based Sheehan Winery wines at the Grand Cloudcroft Hotel wine tasting on October 3rd from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Exclusively for hotel guests 21-and-up, make reservations at www.grandcloudcroft.com.
Sunspot Observatory: From September 8th to October 3rd, the Dunn Solar Telescope will study the interiors of Jupiter and Saturn. This year, a “rare alignment lets us see more of (Saturn’s) disc than usual.”
Bring a chair, friends and family, snag some snacks from Tree-Riffic Toys and Candy and catch these free movies behind the Burro Street Exchange on select Saturdays starting at 7:30:
Ghostbusters: October 11th
Haunted Mansion: October 25th
Casper: October 31st
Give
The Mayhill Baptist Church is holding a silent auction on October 4th from 1:00-4:00 p.m., benefitting Christy Duncan and family, who recently lost their home to a fire.
October 25th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., head to the Osha Trail Depot located at 102 Mexican Avenue for a silent auction, live music, chili from Brother-N-Law BBQ, and more to fundraise for a new helipad in Cloudcroft, in partnership with the Cloudcroft Sparkies. Want to donate to the silent auction? Call 575-551-2099 for more info.
Did we miss your business update or event? Let us know at fall@cloudcroftreader.com.
Thank you to our sponsor, the Cloudcroft Sandwich Shop:
The Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great businesses like:
Osha Trail Depot
Your destination for unique, hand-crafted treasuresCloudcroft Sandwich Shop
In the heart of downtown Cloudcroft, New MexicoThe Stove and Spa Store
We offer a variety of services to ensure your hearth and spa dreams are met!The Lodge at Cloudcroft
Landmark Choice Among New Mexico ResortsSacramento Camp & Conference Center
Come to the Mountain — Let God Refresh Your SoulNew Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association
We Convert Abandoned Railroad Lines Into Recreational TrailsLaughing Leaf Dispensary
Discover a world of wellness at Laughing LeafInstant Karma
Adventure Within: Transformative Yoga, Ayurvedic Wisdom, Nourishing Organics, Fair Trade BoutiqueOff the Beaten Path
Eclectic gifts & original artworkFuture Real Estate
Raise your expectations.Ski Cloudcroft
Pizza and Summer Tubing start July Fourth!Cloudcroft Therapeutic Massage
Maximizing Movement, Quality of Life ImprovementHigh Altitude
Your favorite little outdoor outfitter on Burro AvenueBlushing Yucca Esthetics
✨ Book your glow-up today✨The Elk Shed
Purveyors of Southwest Mountain Goods & FineryThe PAC
Pickleball Addicts of Cloudcroft—Pickleball in the CloudsPeñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative
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