The Hottest Town in New Mexico

The Hottest Town in New Mexico - Still exploring New Mexico, we discover an unusual town off Interstate 25 with some of the hottest sights in the Southwest. Billed as the Chile Capital of the World, this is one New Mexico town you won't forget! Even Smithsonian Magazine & Only in Your State say Hatch is one of the best small towns in America to visit. Find out why in this episode of SightseeingSally.
About me: I grew up in a small town the Midwest. Now I drive America's backroads exploring small towns, forgotten places, local history and more!
Don't miss out on another SightseeingSally adventure, SUBSCRIBE and start watching today: / @sightseeingsally
Like my videos? Buy some gas & get a shoutout as one of our Fellow Sightseers in a future vid! www.paypal.me/...
Or become a Fellow Sightseer on Patreon:
/ sightseeingsally
Some pictures used in the video were taken from WikiMedia Commons according to the following usage terms:
commons.wikime...
vxla, CC BY 2.0 creativecommon... via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikime...
Joni-Pekka Luomala, CC BY 2.0 creativecommon... via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikime...
John W. Schulze from Tejas, CC BY 2.0 creativecommon... via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikime...
Karen and Brad Emerson, CC BY 2.0 creativecommon... via Wikimedia Commons
#newmexico #smalltowns #roadsideattractions #sparkys #forgottenhistory

[@teakonunn3682]

Marty told me how to clean up the plastic on an Old Arcade Lords Prayer Penny Smasher…. You couldn’t see through it to play the machine. I did what he told me and it now looks Brand New…. Thanks Marty:-)…..

[@SightseeingSally]

Awesome! See, Marty knows everything lol 😂 Glad we stopped by, we enjoyed chatting with you and checking out all the cool stuff. The free ice cream was an added bonus, too.

[@MeanderingMarty]

No problem, I’m glad I could help.

[@UncleDoug]

Teako and his family have single-handedly converted Hatch, NM from a dying town to a vibrant, tourist destination. As you can tell from the restored antiques in their shops and businesses, they are deeply involved in the preservation of the past, and it shows in the town of Hatch......their best "restoration" project ever.

[@robertcolpitts4534]

Hatch gets all the attention, but chiles are grown up and down the Rio Grande and even around Pueblo CO. Some of the best-flavored chiles came from Socorro and Chimayo up river from Hatch. Thanks for sharing!

[@justnerdystuff]

You are just down the street from Las Cruces - You should really also check out Mesilla - that's a little town next to Las Cruces that has a lot of cool history as well. I just moved to Las Cruces in 21 and I love it here. PS If you should like to visit Mesilla or Las Cruces I would love to meet up with you there - they've got some cool coffee shops as well. I'll even buy you guys lunch

[@raymondflowers2167]

A big HELLO to Teako, Josie, and the gang! Known Teako and Josie since the mid to late 70's. Thanks to The Getaway in El Paso!

[@richardbeee]

I stayed at my sisters house in Illinois and about 4 blocks from her house was the "Rocket Man", Wilmington IL. root 66. In college i worked at the last "Bob's Big Boy" in Mesa, AZ. In NM, we'd always go to the "Hatch" to get our peppers. Memories........................Thanks!

[@YamIa3gypsy]

That town looks like fun!

[@JohnShinn1960]

It took me awhile to get through this one with all my pausin and zoomin. Google Earth, here I come! Thanks you two! 😍

[@pamelafinch9880]

You're right up the street, Sally & Marty!! I hope you're headed to Mesilla, we're cool 😎 over here! Ooh...I could really use some Sparky's Green Chile cheese fries right now! 😋 I love the history you find!! Thanks!

[@TimothyFrench]

I Love quirky towns like this. Thanks for then tour.

[@bonniekaye]

Awesome video!! 🙂👍

[@hhawg1]

Another great video Sally. Thanks.

[@duanelogan9633]

That sure was a nice looking 56 Buick and I agree with Marty that neon cactus sign look pretty neat thanks for another great video 🏆👍✌️

[@SightseeingSally]

You’re welcome Duane! I thought the old Miser automaton was really nifty, too. We had a lot of fun browsing through Teako’s collection.

[@MeanderingMarty]

Thanks for watching. 😊

[@master.of.reality]

Ya’ll are darn entertaining and very informative. . Great video

[@garybryant6148]

Another outstanding video Sally. Y'all be careful on your travels. Thank you.

[@Materialworld4]

Hey Marty, when I was three years old our neighbor Mr. Nichols had a 1939 Pontiac Four Door that was a dark oxidized blue. The grille and teardrop headlights on that car mesmerized me back in late 1956.

[@MeanderingMarty]

Sounds like some great memories. Thanks again for watching.

[@badgerpa9]

Cool town Sally and Marty. There is a Camp Sherwood forest by Mille Lacs Lake in MN and they have a Robin Hood and a couple miles away there are Paul Bunyan and Babe. I think there used to be a camp Sherwood forest campground by the Dells. Jellystone may have had a Robin Hood also. Hope it is warmer down there for you guys than up here. Stay safe and healthy.

[@dougsmith417]

I had a girlfriend from Hatch. She's the only person I ever met from there, and I was born in NM. Lived here most of my life, love green chili!

[@SightseeingSally]

Very cool Doug!

[@JSB1882]

I gotta say I really like when Marty is along for the trip!

[@MeanderingMarty]

Me too! 😂😂😂

[@SoteroDiaz]

Particularly excellent content Sally! Love my Hatch history.

[@sumgai2585]

At a Moth's funeral everyone tells him: Go to the Light! Go to the Light!

[@joep9667]

at the top of your game!

[@tomiskind]

Got to ck out rest of your stuff, a cousin just shared this to me. Started out as a shortcut (Hatch to Demming instead of down to Las Cruses en route to AZ/CA to see kids/grandkids/friends) for us. But this cook cannot drive through without at least shopping some chile to blend in with my home grown jalapenos (with an enyay). We must check out the park and that mercantile at a minimum. It is an annual trip from home in MN. This year our oldest grandchild/Matthew is graduating HS so going a bit later. Well done, best to you guys, thanks and Keep Smiling. 🙂

[@juliogonzales5441]

A hot 🔥 video...thanks Sally and Marty

[@MeanderingMarty]

👍

[@Seabeejim133]

Thank you Sally and Marty!!! I've always wanted to see what the town looked like. I buy Hatch Salsa just because it's got my name on it and it tastes pretty good. Hot but good. What really made the video complete was showing the Jim's Supermarket sign, in Hatch NM. I have a supermarket and didn't even know it!!!

[@MeanderingMarty]

Thanks for watching. 😊

[@travelobs57]

Thanks for another great video.

[@MeanderingMarty]

Thanks you for watching our adventures.

[@128titanic]

Thank you for sharing the video.❤.

[@MeanderingMarty]

Thanks you for watching.

[@roymichel1856]

The best yet! Who would have thought the Chile capital of the world would be a small town in New Mexico! Thank you both for bringing this small corner of the world into my life.

[@michaelroucoulet3294]

that place is really cool!!

[@galvaautovued.i.8460]

One of your better videos...and so much to see/not enough time! I can't find pics right now but a park in East Moline, IL once had playground equipment with clown faces like those featured. The paint had faded by the time I had seen them so they gave off an evil vibe. The park district has since upgraded and updated and the eerie clowns are no more! ;)

[@christinatweet6580]

coulrophobia=fear of clowns 👽🤡👽

[@chiefamylee]

Enjoyed this, thank you!

[@dtatting1555]

Sally....I'm 100% hooked on these videos. Can't believe over 40 years of traveling to New Mexico and NEVER saw so many of these places. Well, that's going to end. We'll be traveling to NM in a few weeks and everyday will be packed with some of your adventures.

[@arthurpeterson246]

Enjoyed it 😊

[@danielwaggoner1782]

Enjoying your NM adventures, my home state.

[@David-vh8ij]

That was fun!

[@joanniemusselman5468]

Hatch has the chili festival the first weekend in September best time to visit. I’ll take 25 pounds medium roasted please yummmm😂🎉

[@panchamama]

My go to chile, yumm Thanks

[@sapper_1825]

Sally - you are thinking about Sherwood Forest RV Park, Wisconsin Dells

[@WildKatProspecting]

I can't believe you didn't film you guys eating some GOOD AUTHENTIC Hatch Chile New Mexican food!??? Hatches Chile season is even a BIG deal here in West Texas (Wolfforth). Love watching ya'll!

[@phunlovin72]

Hi Sally and Marty! In regards to the Big Boy statue, Marty asked if any were still in business. I can tell you YES! I know of one still in business in Manistique, MI in the U.P.

[@gregelliott5016]

You and Marty get anything at that Mercantile? Marty would probably love living in a place like Hatch

[@MeanderingMarty]

Unfortunately I wanted stuff but living in a camper puts the end to that. Thanks you for watching our videos.

[@muzing1]

Happy 👣 Trails ❤ Be safe out there

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks, will do Christina 😊

[@MeanderingMarty]

Thanks. 😊

[@orionwarren4244]

I like the 'A&W Burger family' atop Sparky's 7:23 Papa Burger, Teen Burger, Mama Burger and Baby Burger!

[@SightseeingSally]

I didn’t realize the burger family was originally from A&W. How interesting!

[@marthawelch4289]

I really miss A&W Drive In! My dad ordered the Papa burger and my mom, grandmother, and I each ordered a Mama burger. We added a couple of orders of their "extruded" fries along with a quart each of their draft root beer. Then for dessert - ice cream. Now that's living.

[@christinatweet6580]

Near Racine, WI along I-94, there was an A & W that featured the burger family! We loved it; not sure if it's gone,??? ☺️

[@bqkmg2037]

A&W burger family originated from California A&W Root beer/hamburger car hop drive in they were located pretty much everywhere in California and they're still around til this day.

[@bobowrathsovine.]

In July 2001 I was working for a moving company and we moved a Chinese family from Midland Michigan to Las Cruces NM which is just a little south of there. It was over 100 degrees and the wife and daughter hated it. I told them it was worse in Phoenix AZ where I lived from 1998-2000 and the lady was like "worse than this?" like she found that impossible

[@bp5439]

Hatch Chile festival every year Labor day weekend. Can't compete with the Chile from Hatch. The soil and water give the Chile the best flavor due to the trace minerals.

[@backcountryboondockers]

Crack me up. You guys are great

[@terriquotskuyva4594]

Awesome!! But what was up with all the chairs lineup in front of the Mercantile

[@MeanderingMarty]

I think they got them from a old theater if I would guess.

[@yolisurich4025]

I think that Robin hood was from a place called Robin hoods on north 4th st in Albuquerque.

[@johnfortes2171]

Great video! I enjoyed the Chile Fest when I visited .

[@charausten5242]

You said, "Hatch was born." How about, "Hatch was hatched?" (Snicker 😂)

[@SightseeingSally]

Why do I hear sad trumpet sounds in the background (hahaha)

[@santyago4]

Thanks Sally, its always nice to go back.

[@v300-f8v]

I love Wisconsin dells

[@jamesrockford6700]

Any town Sightseeing Sally enters immediately becomes the hottest town in America

[@amigo216]

I dig it 😎

[@TomTobin67]

Sally. I think you've made an error. You said that Hatch only has about 1500 people in it but the Hatch town sign says 4050 population count.

[@SueUTube]

2500 died from eating chiles. 50 are on life support.

[@SightseeingSally]

I believe that’s the elevation and not the population on the sign

[@rickl696]

4050 is the elevation

[@griswald7156]

They hadnt got fibreglass muffler Robin Hoods in Sherwood Forest..when i visited in 2022..

[@donben3802]

I hope to be the man half Marty is he looks like a guy with alot of historical and handy man to advice ha and his calmness👍😎🤙laid back marry 😅give man a lemonade 😎

[@MeanderingMarty]

😊

[@Materialworld4]

All right you two, damn if you didn't get me thinking about growing Hatch Chiles this year. Yes they are easy to grow, one hell of a chili, and they are wonderful when freshly picked. Great video bye the way, and it was great to see you both having a good time. Now you gone an done it, I have to high tail it down to Hatch, New Mexico this year. Have a Great Week!

[@charausten5242]

There's still a Big Boy in Manistique, MI, not sure if it's a Bob's or a Marc's

[@doingitwithnothing]

Yep been there love lit town

[@SightseeingSally]

Awesome Wayne!

[@1954shadow]

M-A-R-T-Y!

[@MeanderingMarty]

👍

[@bonniekaye]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@musicloverg123]

What was the weather like on that day?

[@francisebbecke2727]

Hatch is a must stop for my wife and I when we travel in south New Mexico. Sparky's is great food but not a good place to go while on a diet. The men's restroom has an old advertisement by a lawyer for a $75.00 divorce.

[@conniewojahn6445]

Is there such thing as Hatch Chile milkshake or ice cream? With 30,000 visitors descending on this town, it seems there'd be just about everything chile to purchase from creative residents who want a share of tourist dollars. I'd try chile milkshake. Small size of course, with a chaser of two quarts of whole milk, ice cold. Oh my! There'd better be a long line of porta-potties available!

[@slavetomasterjim]

Ice cream would be good especially with apple pie. Apple pies with red or green chili are pretty good. Hot chocolate with red chili. There was a chocolate store that made truffles with chili as well as the standard chili peanut brittle and chili popcorn. I I grew up in Santa Fe in the 60-70s and we would go to Hatch for chili. Now I can even get Young Guns Chili and Bueno Chili in a Wallmart and a couple of supermarkets in Las Vegas (Nevada, not the Las Vegas NM which I guess would be roasting fresh chili during chili season. ) Going down Cerrillos Road (once route 66) in Santa Fe in August the whole street smells of roasted chili with roasters set up in every parking lot.

[@debbrawn5898]

Tell Marty there is a Big Boy restaurant in Germantown WI.

[@MeanderingMarty]

Have to check it out! Thanks for watching. 😊

[@LuisSanchez-qk6hc]

NM became a state in 1912 Lady the Chile was here already

[@bettyflores2863]

Been buying Big Jim at Hot Damn chili for years. The best!

[@tplugnickel]

It was called Bob's BIG Boy in Calif.

[@slavetomasterjim]

And Vips Big Boy in Santa Fe in the 60's and 70's. Sadly now a McDonalds.

[@miguelprieto2186]

That town is so small even if you blink you will not see it I was raised there

[@kevincondit79]

Go to sparkys and try the number one with a mango red chile shake This is a must have.

[@SherriLennox]

Wonderful place to eat.

[@johnlarkin5814]

While in New Mexico you can also order "Christmas" which is red and green sauce!

[@bryantint1339]

I may visit. I was planning to visit Taos, New Mexico.

[@garybryant6148]

Good morning Sally. It is March 9th. I am wondering when will you are Monty post another video?

[@SightseeingSally]

Hopefully soon, in the next day or so. I’m still editing it. We ran into some production issues so I’m behind this week.

[@TerraPruett]

The "Muffler Man" was displayed along SR I-17 into the Town of Flagstaff Arizona right along the sidewalk near the entrance to Northern Arizona University (NAU) whose mascot was "The Lumber Jacks". He held an axe in is hands. Dressed in a flannel shirt and work pants. This was there from the 50's into the 2000's. (until mother nature destroyed it.)

[@lisasmith9311]

Mufflerman the rooster and the burger family was made by my dad Bill Swan at international fiberglass

[@pigoff123]

No chili for me. I would be in the ER with heartburn and acid reflux. Been there done that.

[@stanleyjohnson2860]

the dells!

[@SightseeingSally]

You know that place!

[@bigtex4058]

I found out the hard way that New Mexican food is a lot hotter than Tex-Mex.🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@val271]

Going this year

[@bobcatnm]

But Sparky’s it the best restaurant in New Mexico!!!!!! ❤❤

[@michaelroucoulet3294]

that,s what happens when you eat the breakfast of champs!!

[@michaelroucoulet3294]

56 buick special i think

[@MeanderingMarty]

I think your right.

[@jimmylujan1457]

I didn't see you Gringos eat any chile ! You should there's Ice Cream parlors around!.

[@abstractdaddy1747]

Nothing quite like hatch green chile

[@michaelhumphries5853]

you know where savanna, Il is don't you.

[@1954shadow]

This town was a, gas!

[@jeffburbank489]

No sound!!!

[@1954shadow]

@@jeffburbank489 Silent but Deadly?

[@christinatweet6580]

D***, Gen'l E. Hatch looks like GBP Aaron Rodgers!...Guess "our hero" is LEAVING Green Bay.... Oh well........

[@bryantint1339]

That should scare Donald Trump. He is not scared of Democrats, he is scared of spice. I am no party.

[@letruesdale756]

It's nasty😢

[@ozzyfan7299]

Those big statues and billboards are sooo tacky. Just a major eye sore.