Oliver Lee's Home

We have moved 17 miles south-east of Alamogordo to Oliver Lee Memorial State Park in the Sacramento Mountains at the mouth of Dog Canyon. Oliver Milton Lee was a pioneer southern New Mexico rancher and state legislator who established his ranch headquarters at the mouth of Dog Canyon to take advantage of the fresh water springs that flow year-round in the canyon.

We were fortunate to arrive early enough to take advantage of the week-end tour of Oliver Lee's reconstructed ranch house visible down the hill from the campground. While other visitors gathered at the Visitor Center and drove down to the ranch house, we decided to walk and make it our hike for the day.

Oliver Lee's reconstructed ranch house.

Although at the time of reconstruction the roof was gone and most of the walls, there was a historic picture that was used for the planning. This original wall shows the adobe bricks that were most likely made on the property using water from Dog Canyon.

Our tour guide, Dave, talked about a thick layer of "stucco" that was applied over the adobe bricks.

Kitchen

Dining Room with original furnishings.

Master bedroom with museum furnishings.

After the tour we hiked back up the hill to the campground that is situated at the mouth of Dog Canyon in the Sacramento Mountains.

Today's hike:

Length - 3.77 miles

Duration - 1 hour, 6 minutes

Elevation gain - 360 feet (36 floors on the Fitbit)