Nara Visa, New Mexico – A Picturesque Ghost Town
Nestled within the rugged embrace of the Canadian River Breaks, a landscape characterized by its eroded terrain and a complex network of tributaries feeding the Canadian River, lies the unincorporated community of Nara Visa, New Mexico. Situated just inside the New Mexico state line, approximately 48 miles northeast of Tucumcari, Nara Visa exists as a poignant reminder of a bygone era. While not entirely deserted, it is undeniably a shadow of its once-thriving self, a picturesque ghost town whispering tales of boom and bust.
The story of Nara Visa is inextricably linked to the arrival of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad in 1901. The iron horse brought with it the promise of prosperity and connectivity, transforming the area from a sparsely populated ranching region into a budding settlement. The town derived its name from the nearby Nara Visa Creek, a waterway that meandered through the landscape. The creek, in turn, was named after a Hispanic sheepherder named Narvaez, who resided in the area during the 1880s. Over time, the pronunciation of his name by English-speaking settlers morphed into "Narvis," which ultimately evolved into the name we know today: Nara Visa.
The genesis of the community can be traced back to November 1901, when Henry F. King arrived at the site to assume the role of the first section foreman for the railroad. At that time, the only structure present was the depot itself. King and his wife took up residence in a boxcar, providing lodging for trainmen, section hands, and the occasional cowboy passing through. In January 1902, a dedicated section house was finally constructed, offering more permanent accommodations. That same year marked the establishment of a rudimentary school housed in a dugout and the opening of a post office, solidifying the nascent community’s foundations.
Adding to the area’s early development were two brothers, Sim and Fred McFarland, who hailed from La Veta, Colorado. They migrated to New Mexico to assist on their uncle’s cattle ranch. Recognizing the potential of the burgeoning settlement, the McFarland brothers each filed a claim on either side of the railroad tracks in 1902. They forged a partnership and established a small store, initially operating out of a boxcar. Notably, they installed a safe to secure their earnings. Before long, the brothers began safeguarding their customers’ money, dispensing it upon presentation of makeshift checks, often scrawled on scraps of envelopes or brown paper bags. Thus, Nara Visa’s first unofficial "bank" was born. However, the McFarland brothers’ tenure in Nara Visa was relatively brief. In 1904, they sold their business to John and Anastacia Burns and relocated to nearby Logan, New Mexico. The following year, they established the McFarland Brothers Bank, an institution that would enjoy a long and successful run.
Meanwhile, back in Nara Visa, two additional small stores emerged, and the town rapidly gained prominence as a shipping point for cattle raised in the surrounding area. John Burns, who had acquired the McFarland Brothers’ business, played a key role in organizing the First National Bank in 1907, further bolstering the town’s financial infrastructure. A more substantial stone schoolhouse was erected in 1908 to accommodate the growing number of children from homesteading families. In 1909, McNeil & Crain launched a weekly newspaper called the Nara Visa New Mexican and Register, providing a voice for the community and documenting its happenings. The newspaper underwent several name changes in subsequent years, reflecting shifts in ownership and editorial direction.
By 1910, Nara Visa boasted a total of four active churches, indicative of the community’s strong religious convictions. Sometime during its formative years, the town evidently suffered a fire, as evidenced by a description in The Dry Farming Congress Bulletin in 1910, which stated: "This town has 300 progressive people who have faith enough in the future of the section to put substantial stone and concrete buildings over the site of a recent fire, that wiped out the business houses of the town."
The residents’ optimism proved well-founded, as Nara Visa experienced a period of significant growth and prosperity. By 1912, the town had a diverse array of businesses, including a hotel, three saloons, three blacksmiths, two general stores, a seed company, two drug stores, two liveries, two hardware stores, two doctors, a broom manufacturer, an undertaker, two bakeries, a restaurant, a veterinarian, a lumber company, a meat store, a lawyer, a barber, and two banks – the Farmers & Merchants Trust & Savings Bank and the First National Bank. The town continued to support its four churches, catering to the spiritual needs of its Catholic, Christian, Methodist, and Baptist residents.
In 1915, the town and its surrounding area were described in New Mexico, the Land of Opportunity, as follows: "Quay County is enjoying a marvelous development at present. Her natural resources are being made known to the people and settlers are flocking to make their homes within her borders. The Nara Visa district is receiving a large proportion of the most desirable people. The thousands of acres of land formerly thought to be fit for nothing but the grazing of sheep are being developed by intensive cultivation and the attendant great results are making the farmers wealthy. Nara Visa numbers about 600, but the population is increasing."
In 1919, Nara Visa was described as a bustling hub with eight saloons, at least three dance halls, drug stores, general merchandise stores, a barbershop, butcher shops, millinery shops, auto suppliers, hotels, garages, and a bank, reflecting its role as a commercial and social center for the surrounding region.
By 1920, with a population of 651, Nara Visa was the second-largest community in Quay County, trailing only the county seat of Tucumcari, which held the distinction of being the only incorporated town in the county. Residents of Nara Visa demonstrated their commitment to education by voting to establish a school for the children of the town and nearby ranching communities. John Burns, a prominent rancher and bank president, generously donated the land for a new, larger school. J.C. Berry of Amarillo, a renowned architect who had designed numerous homes and schools for ranchers in Texas and Oklahoma, was selected as the architect, ensuring that the school’s design would align with the needs and values of the Nara Visa community.
The school proved to be a success, and by 1936, it was chosen as the site for a Works Progress Administration (WPA)-sponsored construction project to expand its facilities. The community’s spirit of collaboration continued with the construction of an adobe gymnasium, utilizing local labor and materials. The gymnasium also provided classrooms for agricultural and home economics training, equipping students with the skills necessary to succeed as ranchers.
However, like countless other settlements across the Great Plains, Nara Visa fell victim to the devastating effects of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The town’s population began to dwindle, a trend that persisted over the following decades. The school, once a symbol of hope and progress, eventually closed its doors in 1968, by which time the student body had dwindled to a mere seven students. Today, the school and its auditorium are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, serving as a community center for the surrounding area. Nara Visa’s post office remains open, and the railroad still traverses the landscape, albeit without making any stops in the small town. Surprisingly, a motel continues to operate, offering a place to stay for travelers passing through. However, aside from the motel and the post office, few businesses remain open. The town now has a population of only about 100 residents, most of whom likely reside on nearby ranches, as the town itself is dotted with abandoned buildings, businesses, homes, and a collection of vintage cars and trucks, serving as silent witnesses to the town’s rich history.