1978 Map of Bandanna Point

About this map

Azotea Mesa and the prominent landmark of Bandanna Point define this corner of the Chihuahuan Desert in the late 1970s. The landscape is etched by a complex network of ephemeral drainages, including Last Chance Canyon, China Canyon, and Sacahuiste Draw, which reveal the rugged hydrology of the region. This survey, compiled from 1972 aerial photography and 1974 field checks, serves as a record of resource extraction and ranching infrastructure in Eddy County. Scattered wells and stations such as Pipkin Well, Weldy Well, and Wagontire indicate the reliance on groundwater in this arid environment. Strategic natural features like the Sotol Basin and the Hess Hills provide topographic context for the numerous drill holes and gas wells that mark the era's energy exploration activities alongside older family-named sites like Lower John Well.