New Mexico, Old Mesilla - Thursday, April 18, 2019 - Tour of the Plaza

Mesilla was established in 1849.  The Double Eagle restaurant where we are headed for lunch was established in the same year.  It is the oldest structure on the historic plaza, which is itself a National Historic Landmark.  The most beautiful structure on the plaza is the Basilica of San Albino.  The church is only open during services so we haven’t been able to see the inside.  But, I always admire beautiful stained glass windows.

We’ve been here before, but I always enjoy a walk through the shops.  We were here early so there is still plenty of parking.  I didn’t find anything I couldn’t live without (RVers have to be selective).

The plaza is getting ready for the Easter celebrations and parade this coming weekend.

This beautiful cast iron entrance gate leads to the Double Eagle restaurant.  This building has been home to some of Mesilla Valley’s most prominent families.  It has also been a cotton warehouse and then a series of small shops.  In 1970 Robert O. Anderson, who later became the president of Atlantic Richfield Oil bought the building and turned it into a restaurant.  He brought in gold, crystal, art and antiques.  The building was purchased in 1984 by C.W. Ritter and his wife who added to the antiques and art.  There are several ornate rooms off of the main patio where we ate lunch.  I peeked into a few of these but meetings were going on so I didn’t take pictures.  The paintings and sculptures throughout the building are all museum quality and date from the 1880’s through the 1930’s.

Lots of greenery in the lobby and throughout the building.

I had to be careful of the pictures I took of the bar.  Greg said the blog might get an R-rating otherwise.  There were lots and lots of paintings of “ladies” on the walls.  Otherwise, it was extremely ornate.

We ate lunch in the Billy the Kid Patio.  Billy the Kid was jailed in Mesilla in 1881 and tried for murder.  Next to our table was a seven foot carved stone fountain surrounded by Cycad Palms, which can be traced back to dinosaur times.  These plants are valued at $5,000 each by botanists.  They had no idea the danger I posed to these plants.  I’ve only managed to keep two of my original six houseplants alive.  I had the San Franciscan sandwich for lunch (with leftovers for supper).  I would definitely recommend this one.  

Dona Ana County, where we are located is the largest pecan producing county in New Mexico.  Some of the trees in the orchards we passed coming in date back to 1932.  Legacy Pecans is a family owned farm here in the valley.  Our only purchase of the day besides lunch was some really great pecans.

The Patio saloon was owned by Judge Roy Bean, the famous Texas Hanging Judge and his brother.  He got his start here in Mesilla and then stole the town’s money which was kept in the only safe in town (at the bar).  He then headed for Texas.

One of the gift and jewelry shops in town, the Thunderbird de la Mesilla, is the oldest documented brick building in New Mexico.  Construction on the building began in 1860.  It has been a general store, residence, saloon and town hall.  Two former owners were killed during robberies.  Things were much calmer today.