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1953 Map of Ghost Ranch

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Ghost Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Ghost Ranch serves as a prominent landmark in this mid-century survey of the Rio Arriba territory. The landscape is defined by the sweeping Llano de la Piedra Lumbre, a broad valley floor punctuated by the Rio Chama winding along its southern edge. This 1951 aerial study captures the area during a period of transition, noting the CCC Camp (Aband) and a small Airstrip near the ranch, which reflect the changing uses of the land from federal work programs to private retreats.

The topography is dominated by massive elevated features like Mesa Montosa and Mesa del Yeso, separated by a complex network of drainages such as Comanche Canyon and Arroyo de los Gatos. Local water sources were clearly vital for life in this arid environment, with Iron Spring and various Windmill sites carefully recorded. The map also delineates the historic Grant Boundary of the Lobato land grant and the borders of the Carson National Forest, illustrating the intersection of private, grant, and federal land management.