Carlsbad, NM
Area Guide

Welcome to New Mexico, "Land of Enchantment"—and to the City of Carlsbad,   "The Pearl on the Pecos." Carlsbad is located in the Chihuahuan Desert and the Pecos River Valley and is part of the designated micropolitan area of Carlsbad-Artesia, forty miles southwest of the Texas border. In it’s lifetime, the City of Carlsbad has seen itself change from a frontier settlement to “Wild West” boom town to tourist destination and retirement community to its modern incarnation—a peaceful oasis and new technology center, whose charm attracts new residents from all walks of life. Carlsbad city streets are studded with trees and there are numerous municipal parks and city-funded recreation areas throughout the city for residents to enjoy. A high-class school system, low crime rate and the intimacy of a small town add to the reasons that Carlsbad residents choose life in the natural beauty of “Cavern City”. To learn more about Carlsbad and its neighboring regions, please visit:

New Mexico Board of Tourism, Carlsbad
http://www.newmexico.org/explore/regions/southeast/carlsbad.php

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
www.carlsbadchamber.com

Artesia Chamber of Commerce
http://www.artesiachamber.com

History

The City of Carlsbad came into being in 1888 and at that time the town was named Eddy. The establishment of the settlement that would come to be the City of Carlsbad caused the abandonment of the “Wild West” town of Seven Rivers, twenty miles northwest of Carlsbad. Seven Rivers, prior to the establishment of the Eddy settlement, was a raucous frontier boom town of the Pecos, named for the seven arroyos feeding into the Pecos River. At one time, Seven Rivers hosted the legendary frontier characters Billy the Kid, rustler Bob Edwards, rancher John Chisum, saloonkeeper Les Dow, and the Jones family. Today, the land that was Seven Rivers lies at the bottom of man-made Lake Brantley and the bones of Seven Rivers’ famous “Boot Cemetery” are interred at Twin Oaks Cemetery in nearby Artesia. Brantley Lake State Park Visitor’s Center exhibits photos and histories of the “Wild West” origins of the Carlsbad area’s frontier past. In 1893, Eddy was organized as a municipal corporation and the local mineral springs were commercially developed for their medicinal qualities. Consequently, the name was changed to Carlsbad, after the famous European spa of the same name in Bohemia. In 1901, local cowboys re-discovered the Carlsbad Caverns, bringing tourism to the city and expanding its growth.  In 1918, Carlsbad was designated as a city by the governor of New Mexico. The 1925 discovery of rich potash deposits in Carlsbad brought the city industrial and commercial growth and expansion, furthering the city’s economic base. By 1930, Carlsbad Caverns National Park was established, bringing substantial recognition to the Carlsbad region. In 1979, Congress authorized the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, bringing the area to the forefront of technology in New Mexico. To learn more about the history of Carlsbad and the Eddy County area, please visit:

Carlsbad Area History
http://carlsbadchamber.com

Carlsbad Historical Society and Archives
http://www.yelp.com/biz/historical-society-archives-carlsbad

Seven Rivers
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/parkspages/SevenRivers.htm
http://genealogytrails.com/newmex/eddy/sevenrivers.html

Brantley Lake State Park Visitors Center
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/parkspages/brantley.htm

Historic Eddy House
http://carlsbadchamber.com

WIPP Experience Exhibit and Multimedia Show
www.wipp.energy.gov

Parks and Recreation

Carlsbad is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, situated in a region of New Mexico that is virtually unblemished by urbanization. Softball, baseball, soccer, football, volleyball, tennis, golf, racquetball courts, picnic areas and playground equipment for children are available at the municipal parks and recreation centers of both the City of Carlsbad and the City of Artesia. Fishing, water skiing, boating and sailing can be enjoyed at any of three man-made lakes within fifty miles of the city, including Lake Carlsbad, Lake McMillan and Brantley Lake, as well as a municipal beach and greenway along Lake Carlsbad. Sportsmen of all varieties have much to choose from in our region—there are numerous high class golfing ranges to choose from, ample public and private shooting ranges for marksmen to enjoy and anglers can bait their hooks for a variety of warm water fish: largemouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, white bass, bluegill and crappie are all plentiful in the waters of the Carlsbad area. There are plenty state and national parks to enjoy the wildlife—most notably, the colony of Mexican free-tail bats that populate the Carlsbad Caverns, as well as the protected animals housed at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park. Eco-tourism is popular in Carlsbad, with new adventures for those who wish to see nature in its most pristine state, as well as all of the enjoyments of the Pecos River—tubing, kayaking or river cruises are just a few of the leisure activities the waterway offers guests. To learn more about enjoying the great outdoors in Carlsbad, please visit:

Pecos River
http://www.newmexico.org/learn/geology/pecos_river.php

Carlsbad Caverns National Park
http://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm

Guadalupe Mountains National Park
http://www.nps.gov/gumo/index.htm

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/LivingDesert.htm

Brantley Lake State Park
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/parkspages/brantley.htm

Caballo Lake State Park
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/caballo.htm

National Cave and Karst Research Center
http://www.nature.nps.gov/nckri/

Lincoln National Forest
http://www.fs.usda.gov

Project Gnome
http://www.atomictourist.com/gnome.htm

City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation
http://www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com/ParksRecreation.cfm

Carlsbad Eco-Tourism
http://carlsbadchamber.com

Sports and Activities

Carlsbad Bats
www.carlsbadbats.com/

Carlsbad Cavern City Runner's Club
http://caverncityrunners.webs.com/

Playground on the Pecos
http://www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com/PlaygroundOnThePecos.cfm

Carlsbad Skate Park
http://www.concretedisciples.com/skatepark

Lea County RollerWenches
http://www.facebook.com/leacountyrollerwenches

Carlsbad Golf Links
http://www.golflink.com/golf

Riverside Country Club
www.riversidenm.com/

Lake Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course
www.lakecarlsbadgolfcourse.com/

Artesia Country Club
http://www.newmexicogolf.com

Carlsbad Shooting Range
http://carlsbadchamber.com

Carlsbad Action Sports Complex
http://www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com/Parks

City of Carlsbad Rifle Range
http://www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com/ParksRecSports

Carlsbad Caverns Bat Flight Program
http://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/bat_flight_program.htm

Carlsbad Caverns Cave Tours
http://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/cave_tours.htm

Attractions and Activities

Though Carlsbad is well-known for the abundant treasures of its outdoor recreational opportunity, the city is not lacking in cultural leisure activities, some of which are centered on the natural attractions of the region. Driving and walking tours of Carlsbad offer visitors the chance to explore the history and nature of the city on their own timetable, and the breathtaking sunset in the New Mexico sky is especially a treat for guests who opt to experience a sunset dinner cruise on the Pecos River, whose River Flume is listed in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not as the “River That Crosses Itself”. Theatre, art, dance performances and civic events are hosted at local venues such as the Carlsbad Museum and Art Center, Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center, Pecos River Village Conference Center, Old Pecos Gallery and Ocotillo Performing Arts Center. Shopping in Carlsbad offers a broad range as well—from antiques at the Pecos River Antique Mall & Henry J’s to high-quality national retailers at Carlsbad Mall or Northgate Shopping Center, there’s a diverse range to choose from. The Cascades at Carlsbad is a development project that will offer Carlsbad guests an open-air market of retail, dining, and entertainment venues. Upscale hotels, business offices and family entertainment centers are also planned for this project, which is underway and promises Carlsbad residents a future experience unlike anything to be found in southeast New Mexico. Diners in Carlsbad also have much to choose from—local favorites Becky’s Drive-In and Happy’s Diner offer traditional Americana comfort foods served up daily, while Roja’s Mexican Grille and Restaurant serve traditional southwest flavors. The adventurous or the skeptics may opt to take a drive to nearby Roswell, famous for its alien sightings and subsequent place in American pop culture—or just relax at the end of the day and enjoy the beauty of the Pecos River with a glass of locally produced wine from the Cottonwood Winery. In Carlsbad, life is at your pace. To learn more about the attractions of Carlsbad, please visit:

Theatre, Culture and the Arts

The Carlsbad Museum and Art Center
http://www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com/museum.cfm

Old Pecos Gallery
oldpecosgallery.com

Pecos River Village Conference Center
http://carlsbadchamber.com

The Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center
http://www.artesiamuseum.org/

Ocotillo Performing Arts Center
http://www.artesiaartscouncil.com/

Shopping, Dining, Leisure and Attractions

Carlsbad Shopping Guide
http://carlsbadchamber.com

Pecos River Antique Mall & Henry J’s
www.pecosriverantiquemall.com

The Cascades of Carlsbad
http://nm-carlsbaddod.civicplus.com

Carlsbad Dining Guide
http://carlsbadchamber.com

Artesia Dining Guide
http://artesiachamber.chambermaster.com

Carlsbad Caverns Restaurant
http://www.carlsbadcavernstradingco.com/restaurant.php

Becky’s Drive-In
http://www.yelp.com/biz/beckys-drive-in-restaurant-carlsbad

Happy’s Diner
http://www.yelp.com/biz/happys-carlsbad

Roja’s Mexican Grille & Restaurant
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rojas-mexican-grill-and-restaurant-carlsbad

Riverwalk Recreation Center
http://www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com/CommDevRiverwalk.cfm

Carlsbad Beach Park
http://www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com/ParksRecBeach.cfm

Carlsbad Cruise Lines
http://www.carlsbadcruiselines.com/

Pecos River Flume
http://carlsbadchamber.com

Carlsbad Driving Tour
http://carlsbadchamber.com/driving

Artesia Walking Tour
http://www.artesiachamber.com/vi/wt.html

Cottonwood Winery
www.cottonwoodwineryllc.com

Roswell, NM (1.5 hours)
http://www.roswellnm.org/

Events

Geologically, culturally, civically and historically rich, Carlsbad is a progressive community that honors its histories and traditions while embracing modernization and technological advancement in their community.The Carlsbad community calendar is full of festivals and events, changing constantly with seasonal scheduling. Annual events span a diverse range and ensure that there’s an event scheduled to meet anyone’s taste. Christmas on the Pecos, Taste of Carlsbad, Clays Crusher Sporting Clays Fun Shoot, the Balloons & Bluegrass Festival and Carlsbad Caverns Star Parties are area favorites that are not to be missed. To find out what sporting, historic, cultural or ecological events are happening during your time in Carlsbad, please visit:

Christmas on the Pecos
http://www.christmasonthepecos.com/

Shoreline Sweep
http://www.developcarlsbad.org/index.aspx?nid=111

Carlsbad Caverns Star Parties
http://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/starparties.htm

Taste of Carlsbad
http://www.newmexico.org/cuisine/food_festivals/taste_of_carlsbad.php

Carlsbad ArtSplash
http://www.newmexico.org/cuisine/food_festivals/taste_of_carlsbad.php

Balloons & Bluegrass Festival
http://www.artesiachamber.com/events/balloons_bluegrass_festival.htm

Blues & BBQ Festival
http://artesiachamber.chambermaster.com

Gus Macker Basketball Tournament
www.macker.com

Clays Crusher Sporting Clays Fun Shoot
http://www.artesiachamber.com/events/clays_crusher_fun_shoot.htm

Living Desert Events Calendar
https://www.emnrd.state.nm.us

Artesia Arts Council Events
http://www.artesiaartscouncil.com/

Carlsbad Events Calendar
http://carlsbadchamber.com