Candy Kitchen, New Mexico: Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
In a remote spot between Indian reservations, former bootlegging town Candy Kitchen is home to an animal sanctuary that conducts daily tours of their wolf enclosures.
- Address:
- 378 Candy Kitchen Rd, Candy Kitchen, NM
- Directions:
- From Albuquerque, I-40 to Grants Exit 81, left onto Hwy 53, 50 miles and about 2 miles past El Morro, look for a sign for Mountainview & Pine Hill, turn left onto BIA 125, for 8 miles. Turn right onto gravel road BIA 120. Sanctuary is 4 miles on the left.
- Hours:
- Tu-Su tours 11 am, 12:30, 2, 3:30 pm. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 505-775-3304
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Aside from the colorful cast of 2-legged characters -- the director of the place is a long haired, tattooed mountain man who calls himself the "Wolf Daddy" - not to mention Road Grader Ed and the wild bunch of misfits who hang at the trading post across the "street" -- there are over 50 wolves permanently housed at this rescue operation nestled in the high desert of New Mexico. A hilarious red fox and several more canines also live here.
The gift shop sells all manner of wolfy gift items, not the least are chrismas tree ornaments filled with wolf hair and 3 wolf moon t shirts. The Howling Wolf grill offers burgers and hot dogs for purchase.
It's a terribly interesting operation and beautiful locale. The Candy Kitchen was a known bootlegging community in decades past and sits between three Indian reservations. Expect about 4 miles of washboard dirt road to get there, and follow the speed limits (15 mph in one place) when driving through reservation land.
[Darren Collins, 07/23/2011]Nearby Offbeat Places
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