Some 60 miles east of Lordsburg, halfway to Las Cruces, the dusty ranching and farming community of Deming (pop. 14,116) advertises itself as “Deming—Home of Pure Water and Fast Ducks.” This motto, which is repeated on billboard after billboard along I-10, makes more sense than it may at first seem: Deming’s water comes from the underground Mimbres River, and every year at the end of August the town hosts duck races (for living ones, not the rubber kind) with prizes of some $10,000 going to the winners.
All this is little more than a cheap ploy to get hapless (or bored stiff, or both) travelers to turn off tedious I-10 and visit their city. Fortunately, it’s not a bad place, boasting the excellent Deming-Luna-Mimbres Museum (daily; donations; 505/546-2382), at 301 S. Silver Avenue, three blocks south of Pine Street (old US-80), Deming’s main drag. Besides the usual range of old pottery, sparkling rocks, and pioneer artifacts, the museum displays an endearing collection of old toys, dolls, quilts, and dental equipment—well worth a quick look at the very least. Don’t be worried by the big tank parked out front—the museum is housed in the old Armory building.
Rooms range from local places like the neon-signed Butterfield Stage Motel (505/544-0011) at 309 W. Pine Street to the national chains. The best place to camp is southeast of town in Rockhound State Park (505/546-6182), where, besides finding nice sites with hot showers, you can collect up to 15 pounds of geodes, agates, or quartz crystals—something the rangers urge you to do.
