Re: Kelly's Campground

Greg Scholl Wrote:
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> Kelly's campground was just north of Chama as
> you go out of town. There's a bend in the highway
> to the right and then you cross the railroad tracks.
> But before you do cross the tracks, near the bend
> in the road was a turn off {down} to the left. The
> campground was down there near the river to the
> west of the Railroad. I think the place was named
> after the Kelly that owned the Cafe in town at one
> time.

IIRC, Mr. Kelly built the Shamrock Hotel in the 1930's and also owned Kelly's Cafe 3 or 4 doors to the west in the same block.

> As I recall {the campground} was free. It didn't
> have a whole lot except some picnic tables,
> and places to park for campers. I do not think
> there was electric and no running water for
> toilets. I believe there was an outhouse, and
> maybe some water for campers from a pump
> or faucet.


I camped out there with some railfan friends in 1966, '67 and '68, Greg -

And vaguely remember it as you describe — roughly across the highway from the current campground on the north side of town, and not much there except a few campsites with picnic tables, a couple of outhouses, and a faucet or two providing water.  IIRC, we just spread our sleeping bags out in the open, and if it rained during the night it wasn't much.

- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender