DURAN
County: Torrance
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Year Established: 1902
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Year Abandoned: Semi-ghost town
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Population: 44 (As of 2020)
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Location: Located on US Highway 54, 52 miles south of Santa Rosa, and 19 miles north of Corona, about 14 miles southwest of Vaughn. Unlike many "true" ghost towns that have vanished, Duran’s main street still feels like a time capsule of the early 20th century.
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About: Duran, New Mexico, is often described as a "semi-ghost town" in Torrance County. While it still has a small population of about 17 to 44 residents, it is famous for its remarkably preserved abandoned buildings that tell a story of railroad glory and frontier tragedy.
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Established in 1902, Duran was named after the Durán brothers (Blas and Espiridón), who owned local wells. Because the railroad needed a reliable water source for its steam engines, they built a roundhouse and repair shops there.
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At its peak, the town had roughly 300 residents and served as a vital supply hub for local ranches. The town began to fade in 1921 when the railroad moved its operations south to Carrizozo. Later, the construction of Interstate 25 in the 1960s diverted traffic away from US Highway 54, which had been the town's lifeblood.
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Duran is home to some of the most photographed abandoned structures in New Mexico, including:
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The Coury General Store & Hotel: This two-story sandstone building was the site of a famous 1921 robbery and murder. Anton J. Coury was killed while resisting five robbers. Legend says his wife survived a gunshot because the bullet hit her corset's metal clasp. The robbers were eventually caught and became part of one of the last legal hangings in New Mexico.
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The Hindi Store: Opened in 1908 by William Hindi, this beautiful cut-stone building still stands today. The Hindi family was known for being successful merchants and famous breeders of Arabian horses.
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San Juan Bautista Catholic Church: Built in 1910, this church is still a centerpiece of the community.
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The Red Brick School: This school closed in 1955 but has since been repurposed as a community center.
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​​​Remains: Tons to see! Worth the trip!
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TIMELINE
Duran Mercantile Company, later became the Wm. Hindi Store
The Hindi Store in Duran, New Mexico, is a historic cut-stone building that remains one of the town's most prominent standing structures. The store was opened in 1908 by William Hindi. The family was recognized as successful local merchants. Beyond their mercantile business, they were renowned for being famous breeders of Arabian horses. It is noted for its beautiful cut-stone construction and has been remarkably well-preserved compared to many other structures in the semi-ghost town. The store operated during Duran's peak as a railroad hub for the Southern Pacific Railroad. While the town's population dwindled after the railroad moved its operations in 1921, the Hindi Store stands as a time capsule of the early 20th-century frontier life in Torrance County.
General Store and Hotel
This was a general store and hotel. Badly faded lettering above the doors reads: “dry goods furniture hardware grocery & feed’s”The building was owned by Anton J. Coury, a man of Lebanese descent, who lived with his wife, Raffa, and children, Fred, Anna, and Emma, in the upstairs hotel. On September 3, 1921, the store was robbed by five men and Mr. Coury was shot and killed while resisting. Raffa was also shot and severely wounded, reportedly surviving only because a potentially lethal bullet struck the metal clasps of her corset and was deflected. Young Freddy then bravely intervened, driving away the thieves by relentlessly pelting them with canned goods when their gun jammed. I don’t know if the store ever opened for business again. Courtesy https://cityofdust.blogspot.com
Abandoned House
Abandoned House
Remnants of abandoned structure
San Juan Bautista Catholic Church
The San Juan Bautista Catholic Church is a centerpiece of the semi-ghost town of Duran, New Mexico. Built in 1910, this historic mission church stands as a testament to the community's enduring spirit despite the town's dwindling population over the last century.
Red Brick School
