Santa Rosa, Guadalupe County Seat
photo by Laurence Parent
City of Natural Lakes
Surrounded by artesian spring lakes, foothills, mesas, and plateaus, Santa Rosa is a picturesque community conveniently located between Albuquerque, New Mexico and Amarillo, Texas — an ideal destination for regional and cross-country travelers. Santa Rosa is a city of tradition, natural attractions and a thriving business sector. The pleasant climate, historic points of interest and magnificent natural beauty are guaranteed to make a stay in Santa Rosa a memorable one.
Communities
- Northeast Guadalupe County: Cuervo and Newkirk
- Northwest Guadalupe County: Colonias, Dilia, Anton Chico, Milagro
- South Guadalupe County:Puerto de Luna, Pastura, Vaughn
Santa Rosa to other cities (distance in miles)
- Albuquerque, NM: 114
- Amarillo, TX: 170
- Carlsbad, NM: 205
- Dallas, TX: 522
- Denver, CO: 391
- Gallup, NM: 252
- Las Cruces, NM: 244
- Las Vegas, NV: 700
- Oklahoma City: 425
- Phoenix, AZ: 551
- Santa Fe, NM: 107
Elevation
- 4,600 feet
Temperatures
- July avg. mean temp.: 77.2 degrees
- January avg. mean temp.: 38.9 degrees
- Annual avg. precipitation: 13.7"
Santa Rosa Tours
Tour selections include the famous Blue Hole, Puerto de Luna, Billy the Kid's grave, Anton Chico, Ft. Sumner, Route 66 the Mother Road. Customized tours arranged throughout Guadalupe, DeBaca and Lincoln Counties.
Santa Rosa Tours
Contact: Elbert Garcia
472-4397
losproducts@etsc.net
Santa Rosa Municipal Airport
- Located on South Hwy 84
- 472-4032; Cell 799-0697
- General Aviation: Private
- Note: They have access to a charter service in Santa Fe.
- Runways (2): 5,000', 4,400' (both asphalt)
- "Route 66" is painted on the runway
Number of Churches
- 7
For History Buffs
photo by Laurence Parent
In 1865 Don Celso Baca built a hacienda and started a cattle operation in the fertile plain between El Rito Creek and the Pecos River. In 1879, to honor his wife, Dona Rosa Viviana Baca y Baca, he built an adobe chapel and dedicated it to the first canonized saint of the New World, Santa Rosa de Lima. Remnants of this charming and historic shrine, along with the original Baca hacienda, are still standing today. In 1901, 4,000 workers came to live in Santa Rosa to connect the Southern Pacific Railroad with the Rock Island Railroad. The county seat moved from Puerto de Luna to Santa Rosa at this time. When the railroad workers eventually moved on, Santa Rosa remained a vital farming and ranching community. Historic Route 66 still runs east-west through Santa Rosa on Will Rogers Drive for four miles, passing Joseph's Restaurant, the Club Cafe and the Lake City Diner.
Put On Your Walking Shoes
Take a walk through Santa Rosa's downtown area to admire the architectural mix of 1940s and 1950s sandstone and brick buildings. A few art deco style buildings also exist.
For Outdoor Enthusiasts
Santa Rosa is known as the "City of Natural Lakes" and is fast becoming a recreational paradise for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Santa Rosa actually has 15 separate lakes and streams and four city parks: Blue Hole, Park Lake, Janes Wallace Memorial Park & Dam (Power Dam) and Perch Lake. Numerous fishing opportunities are available at almost all of the city parks and along the Pecos River. Santa Rosa Lake State Park & Dam has excellent camping, boating and fishing.
The area is also noted for its abundance of small game including deer, antelope, quail and duck, making hunting, birdwatching and photographic expeditions enjoyable pastimes.
Blue Hole: Scuba Diving Capitol of the Southwest!
Santa Rosa is home to one of the most unique geological phenomenons in the Southwest. Blue Hole is an 81-foot-deep natural artesian spring. This beautiful bell-shaped pool delivers up to 3,000 gallons of water per minute and remains a constant 64 degrees, permitting diving all year round. Due to its amazing clarity, Blue Hole has become a favorite location for scuba divers, photographers and sightseers. It's so clear divers have reported they can look up through 80 feet of water and see the stars at night! No wonder Blue Hole is called the "Scuba Diving Capitol of the Southwest." The spring is 4,600 feet above sea level, which makes the bottom the equivalent of nearly 100 feet of depth in the ocean. The diameter is 80 feet at top and 130 feet at bottom. Often referred to as "Nature's Jewel," Blue Hole is inhabited by goldfish, catfish and snails that cling to the walls. A convenient bath house is on-site.
photo by Laurence Parent
Park Lake
The City of Santa Rosa offers a wide range of free recreational activities at Park Lake including swimming in the spring-fed lake. Some say this is the largest free swimming pool in the world! Along with tennis, basketball and softball facilities, a kiddieland, a picnic area and a hiking trail down the beautiful El Rito Creek are there for everyone's enjoyment. Kids and senior citizens fish free at the kiddie ponds.
photo by Laurence Parent
Janes-Wallace Memorial Park and Power Dam
This beautiful spring-fed lake on the southern outskirts of Santa Rosa provides some of the best trout, catfish and bass fishing in the area.
Perch Lake
This picturesque lake is located on Hwy 91. It contains a twin engine plane, submerged 55 feet deep and is used primarily for advanced scuba diving training.
Santa Rosa Lake State Park
Juniper and pinon trees dot the rocky hills surrounding this pretty lake, located seven miles north of the town of Santa Rosa. This state park is a recreational paradise, offering waterskiing, windsurfing and excellent fishing, along with fully equipped campgrounds, nature trails and wildlife viewing. Santa Rosa Dam and Lake was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1954. It serves for conservation of irrigation water, sedimentation control and flood control. There is no permanent pool; however, the irrigation pool will frequently be available for water recreation. The main embankment was completed in 1981. Dam construction and development of the area was a federal project costing $43 million. During development, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided funding for exploration of more than 250 archeological sites located in the project area. Exhibits concerning these sites and local flora and fauna can be seen at the solar-heated Information Center.
photo by Laurence Parent
Year-round camping is available at the Rocky Point Recreational Area, which has 48 developed sites with showers, flush toilets, electrical hook-ups and water hydrants. Additional tent sites are available at the primitive camping area. Picnicking facilities are available for families and groups in the Juniper Park recreation area. All sites are covered and have grills for outdoor cooking.
Much of the canyon is open for hiking. Several hiking trails have been developed, and other trails are planned. The .5 mile Scenic Trail Loop and the .75 mile Handicap Trail Loop offer good panoramic views of the lake. Pinon pine, juniper, yucca, cholla, pincushion and prickly pear cactus are common, and wildflowers can be observed in season. Birds are abundant, including falcons, mountain bluebirds, duck, geese and bald eagles.
Depending on pool level, boating, water skiing and wind surfing are popular recreational activities. Swimming is also popular, although there are no designated swimming areas or sandy beaches. The lake is a popular fishing spot for channel catfish, bass, crappie and prize walleye.
Fees are charged for entering the park area, using the picnic facilities and using the boat ramp. Fees are also charged for overnight camping and the use of electrical hook-ups.
Santa Rosa Lake State Park
P.O. Box 384
Santa Rosa, NM 88435
505-472-3110
Santa Rosa Golf Course
Local and visiting golfers enjoy this challenging nine-hole course and fun driving range. In 1999 golfers saw $130,000 worth of improvements, including new landscaping, new equipment to improve fairways and greens, a new sprinkler system and a remodeled clubhouse.
