Road Trip~Claunch, NM: The Center of the Universe

The easiest way to find Claunch on a New Mexico map is to put one finger at the top middle point of the state and another finger at the side middle point and draw your fingers together. The intersection where they meet is Claunch. No joke - try it. Despite what cartographers might say, this means that Claunch is the center of New Mexico, and, by extension, the universe, something the residents of Claunch probably already know.

New Mexico, USA

It's hard not to like Claunch. From the combination post office and library to the abandoned swing sets next to the Claunch Womens' Club, this town's uniqueness is unique. Even the name is cool. I think "Claunch" should also be a verb -- the expression "to have Claunched" meaning "to have had the good fortune of being momentarily in the center of the universe."

(The Post Office/Library. Notice there is only one parking space out front.)

 

(There’s only one church in Claunch. There’s only one paved road in Claunch…Heck, there’s barely more than one person living there for that matter. This town may even be the meaning behind the term “One Horse Town”)

  

For those of you who have not yet Claunched, I'll tell you what you're missing. NM 55 is a beautiful stretch of road between Mountainair and Carrizozo, with some fascinating 90 degree turns (think Etch-a-Sketch) and remains of old structures scattered along the way. If you love to drive, as I do, this is a road you'll enjoy. Halfway through is Claunch. The little town is a mix of buildings -- a few abandoned, a few more occupied, a few idling somewhere in-between.

(And old one room school house is not far from the town of Claunch)

The town is named for L.H. Claunch who owned a nearby cattle company. Which seems only fitting since the cattle in this region far outnumber the humans.

But the area is also known for Pinto Beans. And in fact, there is (or should I say, was?) a Pinto Bean Elevator Museum in ‘downtown’ Claunch. Just don’t blink your eyes or you may miss it.

  

Thanks for coming along with me as we toured Claunch…and I use the word ‘tour’ lightly.

Parts of the text in this post came from Viva New Mexico.

Next up on the Road Trip Tour is the town of Lincoln, New Mexico. If you love old Western Towns, unique buildings, stories of bandits, horse thieves, and outlaws, you won’t want to miss this next post!

From the Tower of,