Make the Most of Socorro
Grace O'Leary
The first time you visited New Mexico Tech’s campus were you starstruck by this seemingly two mile ‘stretch’ of a town? Probably not. Let’s be honest, a first glance at Socorro and you won’t get too much. I remember automatically thinking, “there’s going to be nothing to do here.” That statement holds some truth, and it is both a blessing and a curse since most techies rarely have time to do anything outside of school anyways. However, there are still some pretty cool things here in Socorro, so let me give you some ideas in case you get the itch to go exploring off campus.
Firstly we have Loma Theater, the only movie theater around for about 40 miles. The theater first opened its doors in 1937 and has gone through many different owners and renovations since then. To date the theater is technically owned by tech but it is also family owned and operated. Although the theater only has one screen, it is a great place to go to catch a movie and even better because tech students get cheaper pricing! Throughout the school year tech has been known to host student events through the theater where on the occasional Friday all tech students get in for free. All you have to do is give them your student ID number at the door, so keep an eye out for those emails and posters. Melissa and her family (owners) said that they missed us over the summer, are happy to have us back, and can’t wait to entertain us this year!
Next let's check out the thrift shops in Socorro. If you are someone who loves to go thrifting/junk shopping, Socorro
actually offers three great options. The Forget Me Not thrift store is closest to campus and within walking distance right there on Neel St. They are open Mon-Fri 10am to 5pm, and Saturday 10am to 3pm. The second one, Safe Harbor SecondHand Store, is located on California St. almost right across from Loma theater, and is open Mon-Sat 9am to 5pm. Last but not least, the third one is Tienda De Segunda thrift store located on Spring St. This one is open Tues-Thurs 9am to 4pm and offers a 10 cent deal the last week of the month where clothes, books, and most other items are all 10 cents!
Interestingly enough Socorro has a Farmer’s Market in the town square plaza Tuesdays from 5pm to 7pm and Saturdays from 9am to 11am. They have a variety of stands set up with people selling
their goods. Anything from homemade pastries and honey, to jewelry and garden grown herbs and veggies, there is even live music sometimes. If you are a coffee fan, an older man named Brewster Bird sets up shop and makes a mean cup of coffee on Saturday mornings with various fancy blends. So if you’re feeling up to it, head over to the farmer’s market and take a dive into the Socorro Community!
Among the more outdoorsy activities that Socorro offers, one of them is the river, the Rio Grande to be precise. The river runs alongside the town and offers a great spot to get in touch with nature. Whether it's walking through the Bosque, offroading on the dirt roads, having a picnic, or even doing homework, this is a great place to get some fresh air. The easiest way to get there is to
head east on Otero Ave and head straight back until you hit it, which isn’t too far considering the size of the town. Two other popular outdoor spots include Box Canyon and Water Canyon. Although they are a bit further away, these spots are perfect for hiking, camping, and stargazing. Box Canyon (Box) is also widely known as a quality place to rock climb! Box is about 10 miles out on US-60 and Water Canyon is about 20 miles out on US-60.
If you are over 21, Socorro has just the place for you! The Capitol Bar, also commonly known as “The Cap” is an old-fashioned bar/saloon in the town square plaza. With it’s old fashioned interior and outdoor seating, The
Cap is a nice place to grab your drink of choice and wind down with some live music and some good vibes. They also have some food options, and will welcome Tech students with open arms!
If you're looking for something to do that's a little more down to earth, Socorro has a wide range of beautiful public parks that are kept very up to date in maintenance. The Socorro public library also hosts community meditation and yoga classes in the morning during weekdays. Check the city of Socorro website for more information. Even if you can't make it to the bar or the farmer's market, the town plaza is still a sweet place to check out, it has a couple different touristy shops. As
well as one named World Tree Games where they have dice, magic cards, diorama supplies, and other fantasy games.
Hopefully this article gave you a few ideas. There is definitely more to Socorro than meets the eye. So, even if it doesn’t look like much, if you give it a chance it just might surprise you. You’re most likely going to be here for a couple years anyway so there is no time like the present to make this tiny desert town your home for a little while.
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-Grace O'Leary