Twining

New Mexico's ghost towns layer Spanish-era villages, railroad creations, and coal camps across a single stark landscape.

Twining is a ghost town in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. Originally called Amizette, this was a small mining district with copper, gold and silver lodes, established in 1893 but abandoned by 1895. About 1902, Prospector William Frazer discovered further copper and gold in the canyon east of the townsite, and persuaded New Jersey banker Albert C. Twining to invest $300,000 in a smelter. On its first firing, molten ore froze to the sides of the furnace, making it unusable. Bankruptcy followed, and the townsite was abandoned by 1910.

The on-the-ground condition of Twining is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Twining is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Twining is roughly 36.5947, -105.4503 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.