pancho villa state park

Great place for the whole family. Although most would agree that the name of the state park is rather contradictory given the fact that Pancho Villa's men raided the town with ill intent, it was certainly a worthwhile visit. Five dollars gets the whole family in. See the old adobe buildings of Fort Furlong. Go inside the museum for tons of turn of the century antiques and memorabilia, including an old plane. Other vehicles of the time displayed include an armored tank, and an old car riddled with bullet holes; a testament of the terror that was experienced by the innocent civilians of Columbus that day in March, 1916. A short film of survivors who were children in Columbus at the time of the raid, recount their memories of Villista terrorists. After spending an hour or so, wonder across the street to the old train station and take a peek inside. There you'll see many more antiques of the time, speak with well informed docents, and shop for souvenirs. Well worthwhile for you history buffs.

Located about 30 miles south of Deming where highways 9 and 11 meet just a short distance from the Mexican border sits the town of Columbus and Pancho Villa State Park. The park is definitely off the beaten path, but if you enjoy history, you will appreciate this park.The park far exceeded my expectations for two reasons. First, the 7000 square foot exhibit hall allows space to let the visitor relive the March 16, 1916 surprise attack on Columbus, New Mexico led by Pancho Villa which killed 10 citizens, 8 American soldiers, and 90 Villastas. The exhibits also tell in detail of the extensive manhunt to find Pancho Villa authorized by President Wilson and led by General John Pershing. This was the first time the U.S. Military used airplanes in a military situation. A1916 JN biplane hangs overhead. You really get a feel for the courage it must have taken to get into the aircraft and set out over the desert. In the exhibit hall on display is the actual 1915 Dodge Touring car used by Archibald Frost to try to drive his wife and young son to safety. Again when you see the bullet holes the attack and the panic the townspeople must have felt becomes real. Outside is a Jeffrey Quad armored vehicle which when I saw it, I could only imagine what it felt like to be confined in such a contraption in the heat of the desert.The second thing that added to my enjoyment was the great Volunteer who really understood the history of the incident and made sure I saw everything. There is a 22 minute video on the raid which I would highly recommend. Besides all there is to see in the huge exhibit hall, there is also a hike up an gravel trail to see the area, campsites, showers and restrooms, a playground, a botanical garden with over 30 varieties of cacti and buildings from Camp Furlong.The cost is $5.00 per car. Keep in mind that the Exhibit hall is closed for lunch.

I have to preface this that I was passing thru the area to see the park. Quit honestly I'm not sure I would go out of my way to visit this park. There is nothing in the town to draw you here. We went to the state park museum and the town museum which were both ok. Learned alot about Pancho Villa which was interesting but I could have googled it to get same info. Just ok.

We were traveling across the bottom of New Mexico between El Paso, TX and Douglas, AZ on the lonely two lane highway NM-9 and pulled into the state park’s RV campground for the night. This park is as about as remote as it gets in New Mexico and it’s located within a mile or so from the Mexico/US Border crossing. I don’t think we would have ever thought of making this particular state park a destination in itself but after spending over an hour visiting the museum and learning the history of the area, I can easily recommend it as a destination spot. The drive across Hwy 9 is not designated a scenic byway but we found the vast open desert ranches and geography very interesting. The museum was a total surprise – the accounts of the history of the area and the quality and variety of exhibits is excellent. I can’t begin to describe it here so I urge people reading this to Google the park and museum for the details and if you travel in this direction to take the time and the extra mileage to make this a destination stop. The RV park is clean and well cared for and the staff and volunteers friendly and helpful. The town of Columbus is small and quaint.

We took a ride through the desert from El Paso to visit this park. The film was very informative and the trail through the park was interesting. The exhibits about pan hi Villa's attack on the town in 1916 were good.

This is a really nice park. full hookup, pull through sites. This is a neat, quirky, little town, with a very interesting history. Convient to the border (3 mi.) park, & walk across. As state parks go, this one is a bargan. Has some of the old buildinge from the army camp, that was invaded. Even if you're not staying, the visitor center/ museaum, is well worth a visit. It's very convient to another of my favorite towns, Silver City.

Pancho Villa State Park is a desert rv/camping park just a few miles north of the Mexican border. In the visitor center is a replica of the Jenny airplane that was used by the First Aero Squadron to search for the famous bandito after he raided Columbus, New Mexico. Across the street is the Historical Society's museum in the old railroad station building with lots of Pancho Villa memorabillia and local history. Bring your passport to cross the border to The Pink Store in Palomas for good food, inexpensive margaritas, and shopping for authentic Mexican products from glassware to tequilla. Many people go to Palomas for dental work and eye glasses at prices much lower than in the States. The climate is dry except in late summer when thunderstorms may erupt.

Nice combination of history & scenery, interesting drive past the Florida Mts. The small museum is worth a visit.

Wonderful place to hike and camp. The view is lovely and be sure to hike the tall mountain. It is a ways from Las Cruces but closer to Alomogordo

First, I admit that I work for NM State Parks. That said, I job requires me to visit every single park. Pancho Villa SP is among our more unique parks. It tells an interesting history in the midst of where the history happened. The staff are informed and helpful and the grounds meticulously clean. Enjoy the replica Jenny hanging from the museum "in flight."

Learned a great deal about Poncho Via's raid into the US and the Us response of sending an army into Mexico. Many interesting and interactive displays. Very good experience. Not a bad campground either.

This is an exquisite campground at the junction of NM11 and the Columbus Highway, has all the features that you'd expect in any of the fantastic NM campgounds. What I liked best was it's proximity to Old Mexico--just a quick pop across the border but now you need a passport to re-enter the USA!

Its a long way, history is cool. Not much to see the facilities are ok. There is a near by museum. You do need to watch out for the rattlesnakes.

I didn't know anything about the early-morning raid or even who Pancho Villa was until family members took us to visit this state park during our recent visit to New Mexico. After the 30 minute video where now elderly people described the event from their childhood, I had tears in my eyes and a whole new respect for the park. Such a tragic event in American history. There is a $5.00 per vehicle admission fee, but after you pay this you can visit any New Mexico state park for the rest of the day without having to repay. There are several more in the area.

If you happen to be on I-10 near Deming, New Mexico, I highly recommend that you take the 30 mile drive to visit the Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus New Mexico. It consists of a campground, remnants of the original Camp Furlong, and a museum--not to honor the infamous revolutionary General Pancho Villa as some might assume, but to provide a historical account of the early morning raid into Columbus by Pancho Villa's soldiers on March 9, 1916. On display are military vehicles, an airplane and equipment used in the punitive expedition by General John Pershing to capture Pancho Villa--noteworthy in that it was the first time motorized vehicles, armored tanks and airplanes were used by the U.S. Military. Just across the street, is the Columbus Historical Society Museum, run by Richard Dean, a local historian whose great grandfather was killed during the raid. The Society Museum contains numerous photographs and books about the raid, the latest being The General and the Jaguar, a detailed account of General Pershing's punitive expedition. Not to be missed is the annual Camp Furlong day on or about March 9, at the Pancho Villa State Park and throughout the village of Columbus, which is just 3 miles north of the border with Mexico. On that day ceremonies are held to honor the memory of civilians and soldiers who were killed during the raid. The day is also a multicultural festival to celebrate the friendship between Mexico and the U.S. Mexican horseback riders, including one dressed as Pancho Villa, participate in a Cabalgata and cross into the U.S. to join American horse riders. They parade through the streets of Columbus. The Pancho Villa State Park offers history buffs and tourists alike, an enjoyable glimpse into a bit of American history not commonly known outside the state of New Mexico.