Overview
New Mexico has several ghost towns that are easy to visit. But Cuervo may be the easiest. Between Santa Rosa and Tucumcari on Interstate 40, take exit 291, and you will be in Cuervo. The town was divided when I40 was built. Leaving two streets north of the highway and four south. The famous “Mother Road”, Route 66, passed through town. On the Internet, it is said to be mostly empty. But, at least south of the Interstate, I saw no sign of anyone living there in early 2026.
History
A main east-west line of the BNSF Railroad runs along the north side of Cuervo, underscoring that it started life as a railroad town in 1901. The citizens got a Post Office in 1902. Between Cuervo’s founding and 1926, as Route 66 grew in importance, it served the area’s ranches and residents with the supplies they needed. As with many small towns along the highway, it had businesses that helped travelers passing through. Modern travelers may have little empathy for the daunting issues faced by travelers in that era. The town’s population was about 300 people at its peak in 1940. But as with many small towns along Route 66, Curevo began its decline with the coming of the Interstate. While in the early 2000s there were still a few residents reportedly living in town, that no longer appears to be the case.
Today
North of I40 are several buildings that look abandoned. However, there is a gas station and a tow truck there that look to be in operation. There is a neat old barn north of the railroad tracks that does not appear to have vehicle access. You may be able to walk there, but respect private property and watch for the numerous and fast-moving trains.
South of I-40 appears to be Cuervo’s residential area. There are several houses in various states of disrepair, a church, and a school building. Many had no trespassing signs. I would not enter any of the buildings for legal and safety reasons. Almost all the wooden and adobe structures are in very poor condition. At the same time, the brick and stone structures are in remarkably good shape.
One of the more interesting-looking structures is the water tower. Because of its location, it is difficult to determine if it is for the whole town or for an individual residence. Another is the school building. It looks like dozens of others that were built in the first half of the twentieth century across the US. Including one I attended in junior high school in Illinois.
Conclusion
While you zoom along Interstate 40 through the deserts of New Mexico, take fifteen minutes and get off at exit 291 and visit the remains of a once-thriving community.
Note: Much of the history of Cuervo came from the Wikipedia page on Cuervo.
