TOURISM PRESS KIT
New Mexico, USA
Contact:
Wilann Thomas
Tourism & Marketing Supervisor
505-334-9551
[email protected]
888-543-4629 | AztecNM.com
AZTEC, NEW MEXICO
Home to the Aztec Tigers, Aztec is a desirable place to live, work and
play that’s rich in history and small town values. Aztec offers an airport,
kids water park, 18-hole golf course, ball fields, live music venues,
skateboard park, tennis courts, parks, motels, restaurants, modern
library, landscaped streets, many churches and bountiful shopping.
It is best known for the Aztec Ruins National Monument (a UNESCO
World Heritage Site), trophy fly-fishing, lake and river recreation, 300plus natural sandstone arches, motor speedways, historically registered
structures, festivals and celebrations, Pioneer Village and Museum,
world-class mountain biking and the oldest living cottonwood tree
in New Mexico.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Fact Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Fun Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Story Ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Image Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Event Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Aztec Arches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Aztec Ruins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Quality Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Crash Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Big City Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
All American City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
FACT SHEET
Your Four Corners
Playground since
1100 A.D.
888-543-4629 | AztecNM.com
1
FACT SHEET
Location: Aztec is in northwest New Mexico on four-lane U.S. 550,
16 miles south of the Colorado/New Mexico border and 179 miles north
of Albuquerque. The major towns nearest Aztec include Durango, CO
(36 miles north) and Farmington, NM (16 miles southwest).
Population: Aztec is the county seat of San Juan County. In 2013 it
had an estimated population of 6,578 people.
Economy: Aztec’s three primary industries are Oil & Gas, Local & County
Government, and Tourism.
Local Airport: The Aztec Airport is, in FAA terms, an “uncontrolled
municipal airport” that serves helicopters and small private planes and
jets. Services include fuel sales, a courtesy vehicle, an airport lounge,
free parking and complimentary Internet.
Major Airports: Durango-La Plata County Airport (37 miles north)
serves the Four Corners Region with various major carriers including
U.S. Air, American and United Airlines. Four Corners Regional Airport
in Farmington (16 miles southwest) is served by United Airlines’ codeshare partner, Great Lakes Airlines. Both airports offer the convenience
of major-brand rental car companies.
Major Tourism: Aztec Ruins National Monument is a celebrated
UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 11th century. It’s
one of three historically significant sites in the Four Corners Area that
include two other UNESCO World Heritage sites: Mesa Verde National
Park and Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
Population: 6,578
Elevation: 5,646 ft
Established: 1887
Quality Waters of the San Juan River are ranked among America’s
top-10 trout fishing waters. The nutrient-rich Upper San Juan River flows
from Navajo Dam, and includes a 4.5-mile section that is so spectacular
for fishing that it has earned “Quality Waters” designation and attracts
sports enthusiasts the world over.
Navajo Lake State Park is 25 miles long with over 200 camping and
picnic sites, two improved boat ramps and a marina. Recreation includes
camping, house boating, water skiing, stand-up paddle boarding
and other water sports, plus trophy fishing for brown, rainbow and
cutthroat trout, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and
kokanee salmon.
Aztec Arches consists of more than 300 natural sandstone arches and
windows have been found in the immediate area, including Hart Canyon’s
Arch Rock and Cox Canyon’s Anasazi Arch.
FACT SHEET
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Aztec Municipal Golf Course at Hidden Valley, designed by Jim Casey,
was opened in 1950 with a 9-hole routing. The course was expanded
to an 18-hole, 6,086-yard track in the 1990s. Features include towering
cottonwood trees, penal-style shot values, bent grass greens and
rolling high-desert terrain. The clubhouse offers a modern fleet of carts,
pro shop, grille and fully licensed bar. Host site of The First Tee of
San Juan County. For more information call (505) 334-3248 or visit
www.aztechiddenvalleygolf.com
San Juan County Historical Society is located on historic Main Avenue
in a newly remodeled building that formerly was the historically significant
Old Fire Station. It offers visitors a colorful landscape of Aztec’s eclectic
past, including a collection of records and images of Four Corners area
settlers that is more than a century old.
Aztec Museum & Pioneer Village houses one of the nation’s finer western
Americana collections, plus an expansive array of original buildings like
the early settlers’ doctor and sheriff offices, blacksmith and foundry,
hand-hewn cabin, general store, post office and church.
The Old Spanish National Historic Trail, designated by Congress in
2002, spans over 2,500 miles and is regarded America’s longest and
most arduous pack mule route. It was in 1829 when Mexican trader
Antonio Armijo, 60 men and 100 mules visited Aztec en route to California.
Starting in Abiquiu, New Mexico, Armijo followed established trails as
well as the 1776 exploration route of Franciscan missionaries Sivestre
Velez de Escalante and Francisco Antanasio Dominguez.
Animas River is an undammed, 126-mile-long waterway with headwaters
in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. After bisecting Aztec, it joins the
San Juan River and later the Colorado River. It is a popular recreational
resource for fishing, rafting, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding.
Aztec Speedway offers auto race fans explosive entertainment on a
quarter-mile, IMCA-sanctioned oval clay track has been a Four Corners
staple for generations. The expansive, family friendly venue features a
variety of stock and funny car events throughout the summer, including
modified-, hobby-, late model-, sport compact- and sportmod-class.
Mountain Biking is a major recreation. Aztec boasts over 30 miles of
mountain bike trails, including the Alien Run, ranked among the more
technically challenging and scenic single tracks in the Four Corners.
Routed near an alleged UFO crash site, “The Alien” can be ridden by a
novice yet is immensely challenging for experts.
FACT SHEET
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Historic Places within Aztec include numerous residences and structures
listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Mexico
State Register of Cultural Properties. These include the Old Fire Station,
now the current home of the San Juan County Historical Society.
Nearby Tourism: Four Corners Monument is the only place in America
where four states touch at a single point. The states are Arizona, Utah,
Colorado and New Mexico. Visitors enjoy the opportunity to physically
be in all four states simultaneously by placing each hand and foot in a
state, either by sitting or “push up” fashion. Visitors can also patronize
numerous gift booths that offer Native American crafts such as jewelry,
rugs and other fine art. The site is located 76 miles northwest of Aztec.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is 80 miles from Aztec in a
canyon that contains the largest excavated ruins in the Southwest. This
UNESCO World Heritage Site features hundreds of small sites and 13
major ruins, most of which are accessible by car or on foot.
Ranked the 6th Safest City
in New Mexico
Mesa Verde National Park is 80 miles northwest of Aztec. Its worldfamous Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and mesa-top villages were
built from 600-1300 A.D. Amenities include ranger-led tours, restaurants
and a recently opened Visitor Center.
Ranked 8th Most Beautiful
Town in New Mexico
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad arrived in nearby Durango,
CO in 1881. The rail line transported both passengers and freight to and
from the legendary silver mines of Silverton, CO. Today, the meticulously
preserved 45-mile journey is regarded among the most scenic and
breathtaking in the world, and is among America’s favorite railways.
Lodging: Aztec offers a variety of lodging options including budgetminded motels, a stately bed and breakfast, and a recently constructed
major-chain hotel.
Dining: Food aficionados will relish the variety and quality of breakfast,
lunch and dinner fare in Aztec. The city’s variety of cuisine ranges from
sumptuous regional specialties to deliciously authentic Asian.
Shopping: Travelers can find every imaginable essential in Aztec. The
city also boasts stores and unique boutiques offering arts and crafts,
sporting goods, food markets, sundries and specialty shopping.
Awards: In 1963 Aztec earned the coveted All America City Award from
the National Civic League. In 2015 it ranked the 6th Safest City in New
Mexico by movoto.com and the 8th Most Beautiful Town in New Mexico
by culturetrip.com.
FACT SHEET
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FUN FACTS
Aztec and the immediate area have been occupied for more than
1,000 years. The early population of Ancestral Puebloans reached
their peak around 1100 A.D. Approximately 200 years later the area
was abandoned, possibly because of a 23-year drought that began
in 1276, and/or due to raids by enemy tribes. The area was not used
extensively again until the 1500s with the arrival of the Navajo people.
Aztec’s recorded history began in the summer of 1776 with the arrival
of Father Francisco Atanosio Dominquez and Father Francisco Velaz
de Escalante. The two friars were seeking a shorter overland route
between Santa Fe and California. Dominquez and Escalante never
did find a suitable trail to the missions of California. However, their
efforts did provide a route into the San Juan Basin for other explorers
and early settlers.
Aztec’s name is attributed to Escalante finding the large, ancient ruins.
At the time people believed the ruins were built by the Aztec Indians of
Mexico. The ruins became a national monument on January 24, 1923.
What began as an early trading post, Aztec grew to become an
established community by 1887. In 1895 it boasted a blacksmith,
drugstore, barbershop, livery barn, water-powered flour mill, saloon,
mercantile store, two lawyers, a doctor and a dentist. By 1900, daily
postal delivery was standard. Telephone service began in 1903, and
in 1905 the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad operated a standard rail
between Durango, CO and Aztec, which helped the city become a
key shipping point for sheep and cattle.
Aztec has
been occupied
since 1100 A.D.
In 1921 on the town’s east side the Aztec Oil Syndicate drilled to
a depth of 985 feet and found an abundance of oil. The company
then drilled to 1,750 feet and found natural gas. It resulted in Aztec
becoming the first town in New Mexico to use natural gas for fuel.
Among Aztec’s many businesses is Jack’s Plastic Welding. The
company is recognized world-wide for its no-glue manufacturing
of top quality inflatable rafts, pontoon boats, inflatable kayaks,
stand up paddle boards and other products crafted primarily from
high-grade rubber. It also customizes special orders like pontoons
made for salmon run studies in Seattle, oil and gas spill containment
devices, and an industrial “sled tube” that enabled a National Science
Foundation team to traverse Greenland.
FUN FACTS
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STORY IDEAS
Aztec and the immediate area have been occupied for more than
1,000 years. Ancestral Puebloans, once known as the Anasazi,
reached their peak around 1100 A.D. About 200 years later the area
was abandoned, possibly because a 23-year drought that began
in 1276, and/or due to continuous enemy raids. The area was not
used extensively again until the 1500s with the arrival of the hunting/
gathering Navajo from the north. (Anasazi, loosely translated, means
“evil ones” in the Navajo language. Many consider it a disparaging
insult that should not be used.)
Aztec Ruins National Monument is a one of three prestigious UNESCO
World Heritage Sites in the immediate area, including Mesa Verde
National Park and Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
Hollywood’s “Indiana Jones” character was made famous by Harrison
Ford. The character appeared in several Steven Spielberg blockbuster
movies. Did you know Indiana Jones is based on the real-life
persona of Earl Morris, famed archaeologist and former director and
preservationist of the Aztec Ruins National Monument?
In 1948, a UFO of outer space origin allegedly crash-landed in the hills
outside Aztec that, according to rumors and lore, was trucked away
and covered up by the U.S. Air Force.
Fly fishing enthusiasts from throughout the world ply the trophy troutinfused Quality Waters of the San Juan River. The spot is located just
30 minutes from Aztec.
Aztec’s immediate area includes a massive collection of natural
sandstone arches. With over 300 found already, some of the larger
arches are nearly three stories high. Think of Arches National Park
and you have an idea of the grandeur of this treasured and popular
attraction.
Among Aztec’s many businesses is Jack’s Plastic Welding, recognized
world-wide for its no-glue manufacturing of top quality inflatable rafts,
pontoon boats, inflatable kayaks, stand up paddle boards and other
products crafted primarily from high-grade rubber. It also customizes
special orders like pontoons made for salmon run studies in Seattle,
oil and gas spill containment devices, and an industrial “sled tube”
that enabled a National Science Foundation traverse of Greenland.
STORY IDEAS
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IMAGE USAGE
Thank you for your interest in Aztec, New Mexico!
We want to help make your research or story about Aztec as complete
and convenient as possible. Our large portfolio of high-resolution digital
images is a free resource that you are welcome to use with just one
restriction. Please credit all photos with the following byline:
“PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF AZTEC, N.M.”
Our extensive photo library includes (but is not limited to) the
following subjects:
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Animas River Blues & Brews
Aztec Arches
Aztec Christmas Scenes
Aztec Highland Games & Celtic Music Festival
Aztec Parade Scenes
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Antique Truck & Equipment Show in the Park
Fly Fishing the San Juan River
Golf Course Scenes
Historic Downtown Aztec
Mountain Biking the “Alien Run”
Special Event Scenes
Water Park Scenes
Aztec has an
extensive photo
library.
If you need something in particular, please do not hesitate to contact
us directly:
Wilann Thomas
Tourism & Marketing Supervisor
505-334-9551
[email protected]
IMAGE USAGE
888-543-4629 | AztecNM.com
7
EVENT CALENDAR
March: Aztec Speedway opens its warm-weather season. This quartermile, IMCA-sanctioned oval clay track has been a Four Corners staple for
generations, offering explosive racing entertainment featuring modified-,
stock-, hobby stock-, late model-, sport compact- and sportmod-class
autos. www.aztecspeedway.com
April: Aztec Ruins National Monument begins its warm weather tours of
the East Ruins. www.nps.gov/azru
Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Pioneer/Minium Park. Ages 5-12; free.
Kart Kanyon opens its warm-weather season. This fifth-mile, USACsanctioned oval clay track is designed expressly for youth racing
of quarter midget, mod 160, flat kart and micro sprint vehicles.
www.kartkanyon.com
Feat of Clay Recycled Art Show at 107 South Main Avenue. (505) 334-4336
ATOS Not Quite 5K Run is held at Riverside Park in conjunction with
Earth Day at Aztec Ruins National Monument.
Earth Day at Aztec Ruins National Monument brings together many
events, games and presentations, including Native American tribal
dancing. www.nps.gov/azru
May: Annual Alien Run Mountain Bike Competition offers beginner-tocompetitive races that are staged on Aztec’s high sierra desert, including
a site where a UFO allegedly crashed in 1948. Regarded among the top
mountain bike races in the Southwest. www.alienrun.com
Aztec Ruins National Monument begins its warm-weather Full Moon
Hiking Tours of the West Great House. www.nps.gov/azru
Aztec Ruins National Monument begins its telescope-equipped Star
Talks. www.nps.gov/azru
Annual Ty Waybourn Memorial Rodeo is an NMRA- and CPRCAsanctioned event at McGee Park.
Aztec Museum & Pioneer Village opens its warm-weather season. www.
aztecmuseum.org
Annual Ryan Bard Memorial Weekend is at Aztec Speedway. www.
aztecspeedway.com
Annual Aztec District Courthouse Art Show is held at the Eleventh
Judicial District Courthouse, 103 S. Oliver, Aztec. Information/Entry
Form: (505) 334-7845 (Tammy Vigil)
June: Annual Summer Lecture Series begins at Aztec Ruins National
Monument. Lectures include presentations by scholars, artists, authors
EVENT CALENDAR
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and other experts about Aztec Ruins and related sites. Fridays 7-8:30
p.m. through September. www.nps.gov/azru
Annual Aztec Fiesta Days at Minium Park is the town’s longest running
community event, offering parade, car show, themed contests, food,
live music and the traditional burning of Old Man Gloom. Special-event
breakfast with all the fixins’ served at the Aztec Community Center.
www.aztecchamber.com
Aztec Gun & Knife Show is a two-day event held at the Aztec
Community Center.
Annual Summer Solstice Recognition at the Aztec Ruins National
Monument is a unique event that illustrates how Ancestral Puebloans
were able to accurately time and mark the year’s longest day. Kids and
special night-sky programs. www.nps.gov/azru
July: Annual Animas River Blues & Brews Fest at Riverside Park
entertains the Four Corners with five national blues bands, crafts, kids
activities, food, libations and spirits. Kids 12 and under admitted free.
www.animasriverblues.com
Annual National Night Out at Minium Park brings the community together
to enjoy a free night of barbecue fare, giveaways, live entertainment and
the event’s infamous donut eating contest. Kids are encouraged to bring
swimming suits to play at the water park.
September: Witten’s Warrior
www.aztecspeedway.com
Weekend
at
Aztec
Speedway.
Annual Green Chile Festival at Sutherland Farms includes green chile
roasting, live music, barrel train rides, face painting, Wines of the San
Juan and food from The Purple Cow. www.sutherlandfarms.net
Annual Antique Truck & Equipment Show at Riverside Park will include
a Saturday morning parade on Main Avenue, craft and food vendors, and
live music.
Annual Aztec Museum Founders Day offers residents and visitors a fun
and informative opportunity to glimpse into Aztec’s pioneer era.
Feat of Clay Non-Profit Silent Auction at 107 South Main Avenue. (505) 334-4336
Annual Harvest Wine Festival at Wines of the San Juan is two lively days
of live music, jewelry, fine art, delicious food and award-winning wines,
capped by the Great Grape Stomp. www.winesofthesanjuan.com
EVENT CALENDAR
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9
October: Annual Pumpkin Festival at Sutherland Farms includes
hayrides, pumpkin patch pickings, food and petting zoo. Only open on
weekends. www.sutherlandfarms.net
Annual Aztec Highland Games & Celtic Music Festival is a
glorious weekend of Scottish Highlands athletic events, traditional
live music, bagpipes, food, arts & crafts and more. Don’t miss
the special-event hot breakfast at the Aztec Community Center.
www.aztechighlandgames.com
Annual Moonlight Dinner
www.sutherlandfarms.net
&
Hayride
at
Sutherland
Farms.
Artful Bee at Feat of Clay
Safe Treats at the Aztec Chamber of Commerce offers families a fun and
safe place to bring their kids for Halloween.
November: Annual Veteran’s Day Parade on Main Avenue.
America Recycles Day at the Aztec Ruins National Monument.
www.nps.gov/azru
Annual Aztec Community Center Thanksgiving Dinner invites the entire
community to come enjoy a free traditional Thanksgiving feast at the
Aztec Community Center.
December: Aztec Gun & Knife Show is a two-day event held at the
Aztec Community Center.
Annual Evening of Lights at the Aztec Ruins National Monument kicks
off the Christmas holiday season with an eye-popping light display that
illuminates the park. Telescopes, kids activities, cultural demonstrations,
holiday cookies and hot cocoa. www.nps.gov/azru
Annual Aztec Sparkles Christmas Festival offers Main Avenue holiday
shopping, arts and crafts fair, live music, and a community parade led by
Santa Claus. Most activities are free, including the holiday libations and
giveaways. Local shopping receipts worth $50 or more double as entries
for a drawing to win Santa’s Gift Bag, worth about $2,000 in 2014.
Annual Winter Solstice Recognition at the Aztec Ruins National
Monument is a unique event that illustrates how Ancestral Puebloans
were able to accurately time and mark the year’s shortest day. Kids and
special night-sky programs. www.nps.gov/azru
Annual Aztec Community Center Christmas Dinner invites the entire
community to come enjoy a free traditional Christmas feast at the Aztec
Community Center.
EVENT CALENDAR
888-543-4629 | AztecNM.com
10
AZTEC ARCHES ASTONISH
There are so many extraordinary things about Aztec, including fabulous
events, top-shelf recreation, enviable climate, rich history and eclectic,
small-town pleasures. Yet there is one Aztec asset few visitors know very
much about: the massive collection of nearby sandstone arches.
You know the kind when, hollowed out by Mother Nature, natural forms
beautiful “rock rainbows.” So far, more than 300 arches of varying size
and grandeur have been discovered, and every single one is within an
hour’s drive of Aztec.
Without question, these arches are some of the Four Corners’ region
more compelling attractions. Some will leave onlookers breathless,
while others can make you grin and chuckle. One has earned the name
“Octopus” due to a resemblance to that multi-tentacle mollusk, while
another—the “Alien”—features a spooky, bulging-eyes stare.
Some are no larger than an office desk, while others are big enough
to drive a train through. And several, quite sadly, are destined to last
for a very short time due to erosion. Falling arches are part of nature’s
natural cycle. However, full-span bridges are continually being found,
photographed and cataloged.
Most of the arches can be found amongst the desert badlands east of
Aztec. This is an expansive l public-land area uniquely landscaped with
water-carved canyons, stunted Piñon trees, blowing sagebrush and
blossoming cactus. This remote, verdant desert is ideal for concealing
arches, yet they’re being revealed almost on a weekly basis by walkabout
hikers, horseback riders and people enjoying four-wheelers.
More than 300
arches have been
discovered!
Ed Kotyk, City of Aztec’s Project Manager, is one such researcher of
undiscovered arches. Ed has personally explored and discovered nearly
200 of the formations. He has photographed and geo-tagged each arch
individually so the collection can grow to be a favored outdoor recreation
for anyone who ventures into the area’s untamed high sierra desert.
“The canyon lands east of Aztec offer a plethora of undiscovered
wonders,” said Kotyk. “For the photo enthusiast, it’s an awesome
opportunity to see nature at work, both in sandstone and in wildlife.”
AZTEC ARCHES ASTONISH
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11
EXPERIENCE THE
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE AZTEC RUINS
Among the many astonishing things that can be enjoyed and explored
in the American Southwest is the Aztec Ruins National Monument. This
major Ancestral Puebloan ruins development is more than 1,000 years
old and dates back to the 12th century. The location is central to the City
of Aztec.
This 27-acre site is located near the banks of the Animas River. Its
historical, cultural and physical significance is so great that in 1987 it was
designated with the prestigious title as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Presently, the United States has only 23 UNESCO Sites, among which
include the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Carlsbad Caverns
National Park and the Statue of Liberty.
The Ruins were primarily constructed using stone and mortar. Wood
needed for the design and construction was carried in from as far away
as 20 miles away and includes pine, spruce, fir, and aspen tree trunks.
The Ruins consist of an integrated network of massive masonry and
living spaces. The main West Ruins covers two acres and once stood
three stories high. The excavation indicates the development contained
approximately 500 rooms averaging 10 by 12 feet.
Ancestral Puebloans
inhabited the Ruins for
approximately 200 years.
A key design element that dominates the site is the Great Kiva. This was an
important enclosed chamber that served as the core of the community. It
was likely used for ceremonies, social interaction and council. The Aztec
Ruins is unique because it has the largest reconstructed “Great Kiva”
anywhere in the world.
Evidence indicates the Ruin’s builders were closely related to the same
ancestral people who built two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The
Chaco Culture National Historical Park is also situated in northwest New
Mexico. The Mesa Verde National Park is located in southwest Colorado.
Both of these archaeological wonders are within a short drive from Aztec.
For approximately 200 years, Aztec Ruins, Chaco Culture and Mesa
Verde provided a vital “regional triangle” for ceremonies, trade and
political activity. The peoples were linked by an elaborate system of
carefully engineered and constructed roads, many of which can still be
traced. It is a wonder the people achieved all of this despite the region’s
incredibly harsh environment.
Ancestral Puebloans, whose descendants include the Hopi, Navajo and
Pueblo people of northern New Mexico, reached their peak population
around 1100 A.D. Approximately 200 years later the entire area was
abandoned, possibly because of a 23-year drought that began in 1276,
and/or due to continuous raids by enemy tribes. The area was not used
EXPERIENCE THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE AZTEC RUINS
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12
extensively again until the 1500s with the arrival of the hunting/gathering
Navajo from the north.
European explorers came upon the site in the summer of 1776 when
Spanish friars Francisco Atanosio Dominquez and Francisco Velaz
de Escalante were seeking a shorter overland route from Santa Fe to
California. Nearly 140 years later, famed archaeologist Earl Morris
conducted excavation work of the ruins from 1916 to 1921. He unearthed
and collected nearly 6,000 artifacts, the bulk of which are housed at the
American Museum of Natural History. His effort laid the groundwork for
the National Park Service’s restoration of the site that began in the 1930s.
Fun fact! Hollywood’s charismatic and dashing Indian Jones character,
played by Harrison Ford in several Steven Spielberg blockbuster movies,
is based on the real-life persona of Morris. In 1934 Morris returned to the
Aztec Ruins to reconstruct the Great Kiva. His work in Aztec is commonly
regarded as a major accomplishment that has helped millions of park
visitors gain a firsthand understanding of the Ancestral Puebloan’s
mysterious way of life.
The Aztec Ruins became a national monument when President Warren G.
Harding signed the legislative bill on Jan. 24, 1923. For more, go online
to www.nps.gov/azru.
EXPERIENCE THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE AZTEC RUINS
888-543-4629 | AztecNM.com
The ruins were
discovered by European
explorers in 1776.
13
QUALITY WATERS OF THE
SAN JUAN RIVER ARE WORLD CLASS
Sensational trout fishing is experienced virtually the entire length of the
San Juan River in northern New Mexico. However, one particular 4.5
mile stretch, located immediately below Navajo Dam, has an expanse of
abundant and healthy fishing. The Dam is just 30 miles from Aztec, and
the 4.5 mile stretch of river has earned world-class status as “Quality
Waters” status due to its extraordinarily high nutrients level, ideal yearround temperatures and singular riparian habitat.
In fact, studies have shown the Quality Waters of the San Juan River
teem with an estimated 80,000 rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout that
average 17 inches in length with a huge proportion exceeding 20 inches.
Local fishermen and women call them “lunkers,” with many regarded
as state and national records that soon after are released back into the
river’s crystal-clear depths.
The first quarter mile of the river, immediately after the dam, is designated
as a Catch & Release area. All hooks must have barbs removed, flies
and lures must be artificial, and every fish must be returned to the river
regardless of size. After the first quarter mile is a four (4) stretch of river
where regulations allow a fishermen a one-trout-limit, but only if the fish
exceeds 20 inches. Fishermen are still required to use artificial flies and
lures with barbless hooks in this area.
Quality Waters,
teaming with trout
What makes the lower San Juan River so extraordinary? It helps that
its upper reaches start in the Colorado Rockies within a protected area
noticeably absent of historical mining and industrial pollution. The magic
happens, however, when the waters reach Navajo Reservoir and are
mixed with a perfect mix of nutrients and cooler temperatures.
Outflow from the dam is from the bottom of the lake, creating a year-round
symbiotic relationship that, even on the coldest of winter, is naturally
perfect for rearing fish.
As a result of its celebrity, the Quality Waters of the San Juan attract a
sizable number of intrepid anglers, especially on weekends. Peaceful, allby-yourself solitude is a rare privilege, however that’s a small price to pay
when the rewards are easy access and hours upon hours of successful
fly-fishing for trophy trout.
Below Navajo Dam, the cascade quickly expands into a verdant, lowgradient area measuring over 100 feet wide, punctuated by shallow
canyons, scattered vegetation and deep runs. Flows range from 250
cubic feet per second (CFS) to 5,000 CFS, depending on mountain
snowpack and reservoir conditions.
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The colder water temperatures require anglers to dress warm, particularly
from the waist down. Wool socks and fleece pants are advised, especially
when worn in tandem with modern waders.
To fully appreciate and experience the Quality Waters’ bounty, the Four
Corners area offers an impressive list of experienced fly-fishing guide
services. Both wade and float trips are available. Peak season is from
June to October, leaving the waters much more open and peaceful during
the cooler months of November to March.
Additionally, wheelchair-accessible fishing facilities are available along
the San Juan River, including four handicap fishing access ramps.
Peak season is from
June to October.
QUALITY WATERS OF THE SAN JUAN RIVER ARE WORLD CLASS
888-543-4629 | AztecNM.com
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CRASH MUSIC ROCKS
AZTEC LIVE MUSIC SCENE
Something astonishing is happening in Aztec!
It started a few years ago when George Rowe began teaching guitar and
drum lessons in downtown Aztec. When they started, George and Sue
Rys were located in a small eclectic store a few blocks south from their
current location on Main Avenue’s Historic Aztec Theater. Their services
and commitment to the community were immediately noticed and soon
they had a need for more space. Once they moved to the Theater, a
modest stage was erected and collapsible metal chairs were set up as
the venue for live performances.
As the couple booked and promoted more live performance, they also
scheduled art shows and other events that set the impetus for creating
an engaging downtown space to incubate a thriving and dynamic artsand-entertainment movement. George and Sue are now co-owners of
Crash Music located in the Historic Theater. Their passion for bringing
music and venues to the Aztec Community has changed the way many
in the region view Aztec. Their efforts also provided the reason why it
didn’t take long for them to be awarded Business of the Year by the
Aztec Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
Still, George and Sue had a lot of restoration work planned for the Historic
Aztec Theater. The building was long-neglected yet full of potential. Far
from fancy, the 88-year-old property was in desperate need of TLC, which
Rowe, Rys and a few bright-eyed believers brought in by the bucket
load. Eventually the expansive and freshly painted theater became home
to a creative space with an elevated stage and a large dance. Combined
with the existing peanut-gallery seating, the theater became ideal for
promoting and hosting upper-tier musical talent. Crash Music’s work
broadened the scope of musical talent visiting Aztec to include groups
like The Plateros, Studebaker John Grimaldi, Joe McMurrian, the Dirty
Bourbon River Show, Miss Tess & the Talkbacks, Round Mountain, J.D.
Strait, Willow Blues and the incomparable Victor & Penny.
Aztec has benefited
greatly from these
talented musicians.
Many who have attended a Crash Music event agree that Aztec has
benefited in grand fashion from these amazingly talented blues, country,
rock and pop stars that otherwise may never have made a stop in
northwest New Mexico. And to the bands’ delight, they’re discovering
a core-group of impassioned music lovers. “At one concert, Studebaker
John was scheduled to perform for about 90 minutes, but he was getting
such phenomenal feedback from the audience that he played for almost
three hours,” said Rowe. “That’s truly remarkable, and it’s a testament to
how music is influencing and shaping Aztec.”
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Attracting music aficionados from throughout the Four Corners is another
remarkable benefit. Sleepy little Aztec is increasingly becoming regarded
as a vibrant and happening place. The ‘cool-breeze buzz’ growing in
the city is unlike any other within a 300-mile circle. And if Rowe and Rys
have anything to do with it, the success at the theater and Aztec’s artist
community is going to continue. “I’m in this for the duration,” said Rowe,
“It’s a financial risk, but I think it’s totally worth it. I am bringing value into
this world—it’s my vision of what great music is—and I get to share it
with, and hopefully inspire, my community.”
For tickets and information, call (505) 427-6748 or go online to
www.crashmusicaztec.com.
Vibrant and
Happening!
CRASH MUSIC ROCKS AZTEC LIVE MUSIC SCENE
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SMALL TOWN AZTEC OFFERS
BIG CITY ENTERTAINMENT
There is so much to experience in Aztec. No matter reason, you can
enhance your vacation plan by visiting the ancient ruins or touring
towering sandstone arches; take time to enjoy world-class fly-fishing and
water recreation; feel the thrill of motor sports or white-knuckle mountain
biking; go back in time to historic Americana, or relax while playing golf.
Aztec’s many activities can also wrap your vacation around one of the
city’s many special events, celebrations, festivals or regularly scheduled
live music shows.
Headlining Aztec’s entertainment calendar is the two-day
Aztec Highland Games & Celtic Festival, which is held in October at a
park next to the Animas River. The Highlands-inspired athletic celebration
includes caber tossing, weight for height, stone putting and hammer
throws. The festival also offers Scottish and Irish dance exhibitions,
bag piping, kids activities, clan tents, merchandise, and food and
beverage. It also features acclaimed musical performances from local,
regional and world-touring Celtic bands. For more information, go to
www.aztechighlandgames.com.
Don’t miss Aztec’s annual Animas River Blues & Brews Fest, held in July
amongst a verdant riverside location. For 10 years, the event has hosted
all-day playbills of nationally renowned blues musicians. Plus, event
goers enjoy easy access to sumptuous food and beverage, checkbookenticing vendors, and a bevy of distractions for youngsters who receive
free admission. www.animasriverblues.com.
Aztec offers unique
celebrations an
experiences.
Top-flight entertainment is always on tap at the Historic Aztec Theater.
The stylish 150-seat venue stages must-see weekly performances by
celebrated musicians like The Plateros, Studebaker John Grimaldi, Joe
McMurrian, the Dirty Bourbon River Show, Miss Tess & the Talkbacks,
Round Mountain, Willow Blues and the incomparable Victor & Penny.
www.crashmusicaztec.com.
If you crave a more athletic pursuit, come to Aztec in May for the town’s
annual Alien Run Mountain Bike Competition. Regarded among the
top single-track races in the Southwest, the “Alien” rout passes through
Aztec’s heart-pumping high sierra desert. The courses range from
beginner-to-competitive races that zip past an infamous site where, in
1948, a UFO allegedly crashed. www.alienrun.com
Adrenaline-infused recreation awaits visitors of the Aztec Speedway,
a Four Corners staple since the 1960s. This expansive, family oriented
race venue runs weekend events throughout the spring, summer and fall
on a quarter-mile, IMCA-sanctioned oval clay track that hosts a variety
of stock car classes including modified, hobby, sport compact and
sportmod. www.aztecspeedway.com
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If you’re a fan of authentic Americana, Aztec offers several opportunities
to relive the Old West in all its glory. In May, the Annual Ty Waybourn
Memorial Rodeo is held at McGee Park in nearby Farmington; in June
it’s Aztec Fiesta Days, the town’s longest running community event; and
July offers National Night Out, a family oriented celebration that includes
an “infamous” donut eating contest. September spotlights two popular
events—the annual Antique Truck & Equipment Show and the annual
Aztec Museum Founders Day. www.aztecnm.com
One September event that should not be missed is the Annual Harvest
Wine Festival. Wines of the San Juan hosts the event at its celebrated
vineyards just 22 miles from Aztec. The annual two-day celebration offers
live music and sales of jewelry, fine art, delicious food, award-winning
wines and a compelling demonstration called the Great Grape Stomp.
www.winesofthesanjuan.com
More art-oriented enticements are waiting at Feat of Clay, located on
Aztec’s historic Main Avenue. The popular co-operative art gallery
showcases a variety of local and regional works including oil and
watercolor paintings, metal craft, wood carvings and more. Be here
in late April for Feat of Clay’s annual Recycle Art Show, featuring an
inspiring journey into imagination and creativity.
Experience
Aztec!
Capping Aztec’s camera-prompting events schedule is the town’s annual
Aztec Sparkles Christmas Festival in December. The holiday event
includes an arts and crafts fair, live music and a Santa-led community
parade. Plus, the Aztec Ruins is gloriously illuminated with twinkling
lights and family events during the park’s annual Evening of Lights.
www.nps.gov/azru
SMALL TOWN AZTEC OFFERS BIG CITY ENTERTAINMENT
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AZTEC CELEBRATES HISTORIC
ALL AMERICA CITY AWARD
Aztec marked a cherished moment in its 1,000-year history on May 4,
2013, when it celebrated the 50th anniversary of receiving the prestigious
All America City Award from the National Civic League.
Aztec received the AAC Award in 1963 in honor of the community’s
selfless, true-grit determination to build a two-lane highway from the
town’s outskirts to a newly constructed public resource. The Navajo
Dam was a $42 million federal project and a major early component of
the Upper Colorado River Storage Project. New Mexico Governor Jack
Campbell and many other dignitaries attended the festive groundbreaking
on Jan. 6, 1963. The road—later valued at $250,000—was completed
on April 21.
Building a 19-mile highway in little more than three months was an
astonishing feat in itself. The project takes on legendary status when one
considers it was designed, funded and constructed almost exclusively
by Aztec residents, businesses and neighbors. No government support
was provided to the road project.
In fact, Navajo Dam Road/State Road 173 was built with donated
equipment, material, supplies, cash and labor. Schoolboys and girls raised
road fund money by staging plays. Civic groups and local businesses
organized fund raisers not unlike the war bond rallies of the 1940s. And
a dedicated committee headed by Bonnie Walls served meals, snow or
shine, to workers each and every day the work was in progress.
Selflessness
True-Grit
Determination
Approximately 3,000 volunteers, nearly three-fourths of Aztec’s 1963
population, participated in this dramatic undertaking. After Navajo Dam
Road was completed, it received several noteworthy acknowledgments.
President Lyndon B. Johnson sent a cablegram message of
congratulations; Look Magazine featured the project in its pages; it
was written about in the U.S. Congressional Record, and; in 1963
Aztec received lasting tribute when it was one of only 11 communities
to be honored with designation as an All America City by the National
Civic League.
Said the Farmington Times: “The project was a marvelous display of
what can be accomplished through private initiative and resourcefulness,
through voluntary cooperation of people at the grass-roots level.”
Said The Christian Science Monitor: “Practically everyone in Aztec as
well as many neighboring communities such as Farmington, Bloomfield,
Blanco, Cedar Point, and Durango, Colo., had a part in the project.
Perhaps never in the annals of the Aztec community have so many
people from every walk of life rallied to the cause. It was a display of the
AZTEC CELEBRATES HISTORIC ALL AMERICA CITY AWARD
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kind of all-out unity that can provide progress, pride, and stature to any
community.”
As originally envisioned, Navajo Dam Road has served as an outdoorrecreation gateway to millions of travelers and vacationers needing quick
and easy access to hundreds of natural sandstone arches; panoramic
high-desert scenery; ancestral Puebloan ruins; the hiking, camping,
fishing and water sports amenities of Navajo Lake State Park, which
contains New Mexico’s second-largest lake; and the Quality Waters of
the lower San Juan River, a U.S. Top 10 Fly Fishing Destination.
“I hope everyone appreciates the meaning behind those green ‘All America
City 1963’ signs on the city’s outskirts,” said City Manager Joshua Ray.
“The National Civic League award put an indelible red circle around one
of the most important events in the history of Aztec. We are very proud
of and thankful for the monumental efforts and sacrifices made 50 years
ago by this great community.”
For information about the City of Aztec, go online to www.aztecnm.gov
or www.aztecnm.com. For information about the National Civic League
All America City Award, go to www.allamericacityaward.com.
AZTEC CELEBRATES HISTORIC ALL AMERICA CITY AWARD
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Progress
Pride
Stature
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