Have you ever heard of Smokey the Bear? Did you know he has some history right here in New Mexico? If you’re looking for things to do in Ruidoso, you won’t want to miss this! Learn all about Smokey and his backstory before you head to our Ruidoso cabin rentals.
History of Smokey Bear
The history of Smokey the Bear is not for the faint of heart. As you may already know, Smokey is the proud mascot of the Local Forest Service, but you might not know he’s from New Mexico! He is loved by everyone here, especially new visitors, and he’s also got somewhat of a rich history, which we’ll touch on in a moment.
As he is depicted, Smokey is a fictional brown bear wearing a typical light tan hat ranger hat, with red letters that say “Smokey.” He has a cute black nose, light brown eyes, and a kind smile. Corey Schumann painted the first live illustration of Smokey the Bear back in 1944, and in that first image, you can see him standing next to numerous other forest animals. The idea in the painting is to show him standing alongside nature and his other animal buddies as they fight together to protect all that is green and good in the name of environmental purity.
Smokey’s catchphrase started to make its way into the hearts of proud Americans all over: “Remember—only you can prevent forest fires.” Since then, both that saying and Smokey himself has remained and gotten stronger in the hearts of many.
But did you know that there was a real-life Smokey Bear as well? In 1950, a bear cub named Smokey was born in the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. When humans found him, they noticed a nearby forest fire badly burned him. He was nursed back to health in New Mexico and was later transferred to the Smithsonian. He found his permanent home in the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., where he lived out the rest of his days.
Smokey Bear Historical Park & Visitor’s Center
The Smokey Bear Historical Park is well over 40 years old, starting back in 1976. What many don’t know, though is that Smokey was actually the son of the Captain Ranger there. While Smokey the “Bear” is named after a human being, much to the surprise of many, it does not end there.
There are more great details to note here about this whole park and visitor center, starting with their very own “park song.” They call it the Smokey the Bear Song, and when you visit, they can teach it to you in a matter of minutes. It is fun and admittedly catchy, and it is likely what you and your crew will be singing along to on the car ride home!
When you come into the visitor’s center, you’ll get to learn all about the forest health of the area, how you can help prevent wildfires, and how the efforts of the locals have paid off in protecting the area over the years. You’ll also find outdoor exhibits, an amphitheater, a playground, a picnic area, and more! Whether you want to stop in for a quick visit or spend the entire day here, you’ll find plenty to do with a little bit of education thrown in as well.
To visit Smokey Bear Historical Park, head to 118 Smokey Bear Boulevard in Capitan, NM. The park is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For admission fees, they only take cash — it’s $1 for kids 7 to 12, $2 for adults, and of course, free admission for anyone less than seven years of age.
Smokey Bear Museum
While you are in the nice village of Capitan, you might as well check out Smokey’s museum. Just head to 102 Smokey Bear Boulevard in Capitan to get there.
The museum itself was dedicated in 1958, and in 1961, it officially opened up for business and exploration. It was made entirely by volunteers, men, and women who chose to devote their time and efforts to make a nice home for all things Smokey and teach visitors the history of the area. That’s what makes this museum so fascinating and truly unique on so many levels. This building fits loads of photos, statues, and much more… all within a single room.
If you have ever been interested in Smokey, you can’t visit the area without coming here. This museum should be at the top of the list! Artists such as Harold Walter and Rudy Wendelin have some of their best paintings in this building. The museum also includes photos of Smokey’s entire life history, depicting from when he was just a small cub through to the end of his old adult days. You can’t miss this; some images may even strike a chord. Smokey was a good bear, and to many, he is still missed.
You’ll want to note that it has a lovely little gift shop attached to it. The museum and gift shop open up to the public from 10 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. If you like good merchandise, you can find so much more of this at the gift shop. They even sell Viewmasters with reels that depict the local area, as well as Smokey himself. You can additionally buy mugs, rugs, plates, cups, thermals, hoodies, tin cans, drinking glasses, hats, shirts, socks, the Smokey Bear Game (by Milton Bradley, of course), dolls, watches, pencils or pens, scarves, gloves, canteens, books, rulers, shovels, comics, coins, badges, slates and so much else. It’s never a bad time to be a fan of the Smokey!
Empty journals and scrapbooks are sold there as well. Check it all out. The staff can help answer any further questions about Smokey, too!
Your Ruidoso Cabin Rental
What about Ruidoso cabins, you ask? There are plenty in the area, but Mountain Air Cabins is easily the best place to find them. You can get a Ruidoso cabin rental to suit your crew no matter how many people you have or when you want to visit. You’ll always have access to convenient amenities such as high-speed internet, flat-screen TVs, large living and dining rooms, beautiful nature views, and so much more.
At the end of a long day of sightseeing and learning about Smokey, head back to our Ruidoso cabin rental and make yourself at home in Ruidoso, NM. Our team is always available to you throughout your stay, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands. Contact us today to learn more and book your stay in our Ruidoso cabins!
