Riley - New Mexico Ghost Town

RILEY

NAME: Riley
COUNTY: Soccorro
ROADS: 4WD
GRID #(see map): 5
CLIMATE: Hot in summer, possible flash floods.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Fall.

COMMENTS: 20 miles north of Magdalena, NM on Cibola NF road 354. Excellent rock- hound area. On N bank of Rio Salada. The road up to the Salada River is an excellent dirt road and 2WD is OK. At the time I crossed the Salada, a 2WD drive would have been adequate but certainly that may not be true all the time. As you cross the river, you only see one delapidated building on your left. Persist and go on over the rise to the old school, church and cemetery. You can see the school and church on the road before you get to the river but they are hidden by a rise as you get closer to the river. Along a 4WD-only (trust me) trail heading eastward from the church, there is a string of delapidated adobe cabins. Near the beginning of this trail, there is a relatively new-looking sign with "Trujilloville"...perhaps a Riley suburb. --Harold Frodge
REMAINS: Some buildings & cemetery

Riley was first settled around 1880 under the name Santa Rita. It was originally a colony of Mexican-American homesteaded farms. It was granted a post office in 1890 under the name of "Riley." Deposits of coal and manganese were found nearby and in 1897 the population was estimated to be 150.The mines closed and the water table dropped and the post office was closed in 1931. Submitted by Ray Kessler. Riley Courtesy Kurt Wenner Riley Courtesy Kurt Wenner	Riley Courtesy Kurt Wenner Riley Courtesy Kurt Wenner Riley Courtesy Kurt Wenner

Riley was first settled around 1880 under the name Santa Rita. It was originally a colony of Mexican-American homesteaded
farms. It was granted a post office in 1890 under the name of "Riley." Deposits of coal and manganese were found nearby and in 1897 the population was estimated to be 150.The mines closed and the water table dropped and the post office was closed in 1931. Submitted by Ray Kessler.

Riley
Courtesy Kurt Wenner

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