Is Ruidoso a good place to take family with kids after it warms up? Never been and was curious if its worth checking out. Any recommendations are appreciated.

There was bad fire last year, followed by a flood.

Growing up, we would go on a family trip to Ruidoso at least once a year. Enjoyed hiking as a family, fishing, going to Ruidoso Downs, and exploring downtown. Went a couple of years ago with some friends and all of our kids had a good time too.

I was up there around New Year's this year on a hunt and they are rebuilding. Most the tourist part of the town survived the fire and there were plenty of folks hanging around for New Years.

We had a trip planned last year but the fire and flooding pushed it off. Look at the different websites for Ruidosa, they have a lot of neat activities for the family and kids during the Summer. The surrounding towns also have some fun activities like Lincoln and Roswell.

Plan to go to Sunspot. Interesting place.

I've driven up that mountain a few times, not going back, color me skeered....

We went 2 years ago. Not even close to as good as colorado. The fishing store knows nothing about fly fishing. He will tell you that. They fish in lakes there not streams.

We went a few years ago...meh

Colorado has much better scenery or if you wanna stay somewhat close Red River, NM is better

Just my opinion...

It’s an ok place to visit. It’s not Colorado but it’s 9 hrs to get there not 14-20hr.

I like the Cloudcroft area myself.

Lincoln is a cool place for history buffs.

They have some nice golf courses and the zip line at ski Apache is amazing. Best one I’ve been on

I go there to visit folks several times a year
Ruidoso is much less than the hype

We enjoy Ruidoso. Pillows Funtrackers is fun. (Go karts, mini golf bumper cars and a maze). The mini golf is a fun course and very challenging.

We went to Cloudcroft last year when Ruidoso was on fire. They reopen the horse races, and we went the Friday they reopened and had a great time. Two days later it flooded the track, and they eventually moved the races to Albuquerque for the remainder of the season. Cloudcroft has a great little 9-hole course I`ve played the past 5 years we`ve gone there. We also make a few trips into Alamogordo each year. It`s not Colorado, but it`s much closer and an easy drive. There is no traffic you have to worry about once you get off I-20. Theres an Allsup's about every 60 miles, so you would be able to eat as many of those good Burritos as you want.

My family had a cabin there for years. I haven't been in 11 years. My parents went last year and said they would never go back. Covid and dems have ruined it. Lots of homeless people and wee shops on every corner. Some of the museums have closed down.

We went after the fire and flood, it was great, Restaurants were happy to have us and town wasn't as busy as I've seen it before. Golf was good at the Inn and better at Rainmaker.

We went in June between the fires for a wedding and it was great but 2 weeks later the fire through Alto area did it's thing. Heard they are making it back. Downtown on weekends are a mad house, I'm a fan of week days when traveling. If you drive on I20 you will be relieved to get off of it. Summer cost of rooms are always pricey but there are some nice ones. My son is up at Cloudcroft right now and dodging elk and horses and trying to stay warm. That area becomes Texas any time of year so if wanting to escape Texans it not the place to be, the mayor is from Odessa, police chief of Ruidoso Downs I believe is from here too. If it wasn't for snow on a mountain and Texas it wouldn't exist.

It’s not that bad. It’s still Little Texas. There will always be the area influence but it’s not near as bad as like Durango or Co in terms of homeless bums

Oh man, they got to Durango?

I visited when I was young with my parents and Durango was a really cool place to me with the way they had the "mountain" vibes going. Took the train up to Silverton and it was one of my favorite things I ever got to see.

What a shame.

They should probably give it away. I can't stand democrats either but just because you're a fellow THF'er, I'll take it to help out.

10 years or so ago, my buddy had us out to his cabin outside of Ruidoso. The last night there we drove up to the casino and on the way back home, along the river, someone shot at our rental car. We heard to bullet hit and of course, did not stop, but when we looked in the light, there was a bullet hole through the driver's side rear fender, just behind the passenger seat. I haven't been back.

It used to be

We still like Santa Fe and Taos

There are so many other places that are better, not sure why anyone would drive up that mountain to ski, like I said color me skeered, but that is nonsense,

Is the road up the ski mountain still only one way up or down certain times of the day?