William (BILLY) E. Bullock

Dona Ana Area Information

Doña Ana is located in Doña Ana County, New Mexico and offers an unmatched quality of life. As of the 2000 census, Dona Ana had a population of 1,379. With a strong sense of community, Dona Ana has friendly residents, offers a wonderful variety of local produce and foods, and terrific weather in a rural setting where you can still see the stars. Please visit Dona Ana’s official website at: http://www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/

History

For more than 400 years, travelers between Mexico City and Santa Fe traversed Doña Ana County, leading to Doña Ana County's rich and varied background predating Jamestown and Plymouth, as its history goes back to those first Spanish adventurers who wandered into this unknown territory in 1536. It was not until 1843 that the first intrepid settlers came north and established the Doña Ana Bend Colony, the county's first permanent settlement. In 1846 New Mexico became part of the United States as a result of the U.S.-Mexican War. By 1855 Doña Ana County included the entire southern portion of the territory extending from Texas on the east and south, to the Colorado River on the west, and from the Mexican border on the south to Socorro County on the north. As New Mexico grew in population, Arizona and new counties were carved from the original boundaries until Doña Ana County became its present size and communities such as Las Cruces, Mesilla, and Fort Selden, full of years of history and memories, produced a legacy worthy of preservation.

Dona Ana County, NM Attractions & Activities

Bataan Death March Memorial Monument
The Bataan Death March Memorial Monument is the only federally funded monument dedicated to the victims of the Bataan Death March during WWII. The monument was dedicated in April 2001 and was designed and sculpted by Las Cruces artist Kelly Hester. Memorial is located in Veterans Park along Roadrunner Parkway. For this and more details on the Bataan Death March Memorial Monument, please visit: http://www.mustseelc.org/getdoc/6d653de7-2b8f-4757-a200-6f8544ca47ec/Battaan-Death-March-memorial.aspx

Organ Mountains
The Organ Mountains offer two main recreational areas, Aguirre Springs and Dripping Springs/La Cueva and are a haven for hikers and adventure seekers alike. Aguirre Springs features hiking, mountain biking, picnicking and camping at one of the most scenic areas in southern New Mexico. From the campsites there are two trails; Baylor Pass and Pine Tree Trail, both listed as part of the National Recreation Trail System. From the top of the scenic Baylor Pass trail, you can see the Rio Grande Valley to the west and the shimmering dunes of White Sands National Monument to the east. Dripping Springs and La Cueva Campground allows hikers to choose between the trail leading to the ruins of the old Dripping Springs Resort and the trail leading to La Cueva, a mountain cave believed to be a shelter for prehistoric Mogollon Indians. Discover all this and more by visiting the Organ Mountains website at: http://www.mustseelc.org/getdoc/a22a6fd1-b56d-4594-8147-fcf69efcd3ef/Organ-Mountains.aspx

Rio Grande Vineyard and Winery
The Rio Grande Vineyard and Winery is the only functional winery in Las Cruces. The Rio Grande Vineyard and Winery also acts as a tasting room where visitors and residents alike can tastes the wines made on site and tour the winery. For more details, please click here: http://www.mustseelc.org/getdoc/6c6a8f3b-1e70-40f2-85c0-87f78111a050/Wineries.aspx

Spaceport America
Spaceport America is the nation’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. The spaceport building is designed to convey the thrill of space travel and is a careful balance between accessibility and privacy. Please visit Spaceport America’s official website for more details on what awaits you!

For a detailed list of Area Attractions, please visit: http://www.mustseelc.org/Visiting.aspx

Parks and Facilities

The Facilities and Parks Department is proud to maintain all the county buildings, parks, ballparks, and community centers in Dona Ana County. The department is also responsible for administering state-approved facility grants throughout Dona Ana County and overseeing grant-related facility construction projects. The Facilities and Parks Department is also responsible for all county-building utilities, including electricity, propane, natural gas, water, sewer and sanitation. For this and more information on the Facilities and Parks Department, please visit their official website at: http://www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/facilities/.