Dawson

Dawson is a ghost town in Colfax County, New Mexico, sitting roughly 17 miles northeast of Cimarron. Its story is defined by coal mining — and by tragedy. Two separate mining disasters struck the community, one in 1913 and another in 1923, making Dawson the site of two of the deadliest industrial accidents in the region's history.

The coal mines that built Dawson were shut down in 1950, and the departure of residents followed quickly. By 1954 the post office had closed and the town was effectively abandoned, leaving behind a place that time bypassed rather than erased.

Visitors today encounter a quiet, largely open landscape where a functioning town once stood. Little infrastructure remains, and the site is best approached with realistic expectations — this is a place for reflection and photography rather than developed recreation. Access follows rural roads near Cimarron, and conditions on those roads can deteriorate in winter months, making warmer seasons the practical window for a visit.