There are more than a few abandoned ghost towns that were once thriving destinations in New Mexico, and each place has a unique history that makes it special — Golden is one such town. After gold was discovered here back in 1825 the community began to grow as the mining industry expanded. What started as two small mining camps transformed into a bustling mining hotspot, and by 1880, Golden had a post office and eventually enough people to support a saloon, a school, and other businesses.
But once mining dried up in the nearby mountains, the town couldn’t support a workforce, and residents moved elsewhere. By 1928, there weren’t enough people living here to support its post office, and when that closed for good, Golden officially became a ghost town. In 2020, there were a recorded 0 residents in Golden, but according to World Population Review, the town’s resident count has jumped to 21 in 2026.
Surrounded by the San Pedro Mountain range on one side and the Placer Mountain range on the other, there’s no shortage of mountain scenery anywhere in Golden. The town sits off Highway 14 along the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, which intersects Interstate 25 near Santa Fe and Interstate 40 near Albuquerque, giving you a more relaxed way to explore Golden, the desert countryside, and expansive mountain views.
What you’ll see in Golden, New Mexico
Golden’s rich history is still alive within the walls of some of the old structures you’ll see here. As you wander through town, you’ll find the remains of houses no longer lived in, large structures no one’s used in decades, and ruins from the town’s gold mining heritage. One of the most photographed buildings in Golden is the San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church, which stands out amidst the town’s buildings that haven’t aged as well. Miners built the Catholic church in early 1830, and today, visitors are welcome to explore the building and its grounds, and attend service if there is one that day. Even when the church is closed, visitors can walk through the old cemetery that the desert is slowly reclaiming. One visitor’s Google review says, “…this is a small church and cemetery that shares a history through its graveyard. Very old headstones.”…