McKelligon Canyon in El Paso has a wild uranium rumor in its past, plus springs, cattle history, and a canyon the whole city shares.
Uranium is a pretty valuable, naturally occurring metal that’s about as common as tin. A lot of tin has been found in our area so, it’s not exactly unthinkable that there might be some uranium around here. Finding a nice stash of this under your yard could work out very well for you. (Unless you’re Iran.)
McKelligon Canyon sits pretty much smack dab in the middle of El Paso and is visited by El Pasoans for jogging, hiking, animal/nature watching, picnics and amazing shows in its beautiful amphitheater among other things.
Uranium In McKelligon Canyon
There isn’t any, it’s a total rumor. Back in the 50’s though, a lot of people really believed it was there though. Seriously.
Apparently, Uranium in West Texas … except for McKelligon Canyon … really is a thing though. I don’t know where exactly because I didn’t want to read this whole thing but you can if you want to. Let me know where they’re finding it in the comments or in the app chat … unless you plan on being a uranium hog.
Who The Hell Was McKelligon & Why Did He Get His Own Canyon?
M.J. McKelligon was a realtor, sheriff and cattle rancher who used to graze his cattle in the canyon and, for years, there were arguments about who really owned it. That was settled once and for all in 1931 when the city bought it. Who they bought it from I couldn’t tell you.
The canyon almost got a river once.
There is a natural spring within the canyon and a series of dams was once envisioned to channel that small flow and captured rain water into a small river that would flow through the canyon, allowing grasses, cottonwood trees and more to thrive…