White Oaks, New Mexico: The Annual Miner’s Day Festival and a visit to the “No Scum Allowed Saloon”

Updated August 2026

A few years ago, I read that there was going to be a Miner’s Day festival in a New Mexico ghost town I’d never heard of. I knew I had to put that on my calendar. So, on a warm August afternoon, I found myself arriving in White Oaks, New Mexico, to explore the old mining town, spend a Friday night at the No Scum Allowed Saloon, and experience the White Oaks Miner’s Day for myself.

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History of White Oaks

The Gold Rush

Named after two nearby springs, White Oaks is a “ghost town” located about 15 minutes northeast of Carrizozo, New Mexico. I put “ghost town” in quotes since an estimated 15 to 20 people still call White Oaks home today. Back in its heyday in the late 1800s, White Oaks was home to around 2,500 people, making it one of the largest towns in New Mexico at the time. The residents were primarily focused on one thing. Gold.

Around 1870, a California ’49er named John J. Baxter arrived in White Oaks after hearing rumors of gold in the area. Those rumors turned out to be worth following. Baxter eventually struck it rich and sold his claim for $300,000, which in 1890 was a massive amount of money … roughly $10 million today.

The discovery of gold in White Oaks attracted all kinds of interesting characters. The town grew rapidly to support the miners with the typical frontier industries of taverns, gambling, and brothels. I’ve read that White Oaks was one of Billy the Kid’s favorite places to visit. But White Oaks had one big problem. The railroad never came. Residents wanted a railroad connection to their town, but the railroad ultimately passed White Oaks by, helping spur the development of nearby Carrizozo instead.

The Cattle Queen of New Mexico

One interesting character associated with White Oaks was Susan McSween Barber, known as the “Cattle Queen of New Mexico.” Originally from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Susan Hummer married a lawyer from Prince Edward Island, Canada, named Alexander McSween. Alexander had chronic asthma, and the couple thought that a move to the Southwest might help. During their journey west, a traveling companion suggested they check out Lincoln in New Mexico Territory. And that’s what they did, arriving in Lincoln in 1875.

History buffs who’ve read about the Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid might recognize the name Alexander McSween. McSween was the lawyer who partnered with cattleman John Tunstall to create a business that would rival the powerful operation of Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan. That rivalry helped spark the Lincoln County War. Tunstall also happens to be the guy who hired a young cattle guard named Henry McCarty, aka “Billy the Kid.” You can read more about the Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid in my post about Lincoln, New Mexico and the Billy the Kid Pageant.

Toward the end of the Lincoln County War, the McSween home became the scene of a five-day battle between Billy the Kid and other McSween-aligned fighters and forces aligned with Murphy and Dolan. The house was eventually set on fire, and Alexander McSween was shot and killed while trying to escape. Left with little, Susan decided to fight back in a different way. With funds from her husband’s estate, she purchased land near Three Rivers and established the Three Rivers Ranch. She managed the construction of the ranch and oversaw the cowboys, masons, farmhands, and carpenters who worked there. Susan eventually had more than 5,000 cattle, and she also prospected for silver on her property. Her success earned her the nickname “Cattle Queen of New Mexico.” In 1915, Susan sold her ranch to Albert Bacon Fall, a politician who later became infamous for his role in the Teapot Dome Scandal that I wrote about in my post about Carrizozo.

Once the gold ran out, the population of White Oaks plummeted. Many of the town’s historic buildings still stand today, along with the Cedarvale Cemetery and the No Scum Allowed Saloon, which was named one of the top cowboy bars in the West by American Cowboy magazine in 2011.

The No Scum Allowed Saloon

The No Scum Allowed Saloon building has worn many hats over the years. It started out as an attorney’s office in 1880. Then it became a print shop that published one of the White Oaks newspapers. Eventually, it became a saloon. As late as the 1980s, the bar operated on the honor system. Thirsty customers would locate a key stored under a rock, pour themselves a drink, leave money at the bar, lock up, and return the key to its hiding spot.

Today, the No Scum Allowed Saloon is particularly popular with bikers, which makes sense given that the saloon makes for a great stop during a scenic ride through the area.

With a name like No Scum Allowed Saloon, I couldn’t resist seeing what it was all about. So, on a Friday night before Miner’s Day, I drove to White Oaks and walked in. The front part of the saloon is cozy, with plenty of fun things to look at on the walls, such as dollar bills, patches, and interesting posters.

There were probably a dozen people there, and all of them seemed to be local. In a place like this, there’s no hope of trying to blend in as a local. Everybody knows everybody, except you. So, I stood at the bar and had some good conversations with the bartender and a few of the locals. Everyone was very friendly.

It turned out that the bartender, Karen, used to live in Sandia Park, the small town where I live. We had a laugh about that and traded some stories. Karen had been at the bar for about six years when I visited, and she seemed to know everyone and everything about White Oaks. I also met Doug, a lead guitar player in a local band, who told me about the Cleveland Millfest in Cleveland, New Mexico, that I should check out if it’s ever held again. Noted! I also had a long conversation with Mital, who happened to own the motel in Carrizozo where I was staying. I wrote about Mital in my previous post about Carrizozo.

The saloon has a much bigger back room, and an even bigger outdoor area with additional seating, a cement dance floor, and an outdoor stage. When I visited, I learned that the No Scum Allowed Saloon hosted live music on many Saturday nights from March through October. The place could get packed when bands like local favorite The Graham Brothers played classic country dance tunes, attracting visitors from as far away as Santa Fe and El Paso.

The Annual White Oaks Miner’s Day Festival

Origin of White Oaks Miner’s Day

White Oaks Miner’s Day (which I’ve seen written as “Miner’s Day” on the event Facebook page and “Miners’ Day” on the schedule … so you get to choose!) started out as a tribute to a beloved member of the community named Dave Jackson. Dave lived in White Oaks for over 60 years, until he died on May 9, 1963, at the age of 94. Arriving in White Oaks in 1897, Dave worked in the mines and eventually became a partner in two of the mines in town. He also helped establish the first electric power plant in Lincoln County, helped bring the first electric lights to Carrizozo, and was known for teaching Sunday School to the children in White Oaks.

Dave saw many of his friends die over the years, and that inspired him to volunteer as caretaker of the Cedarvale Cemetery. In Dave’s words, “Thunderation! Those folks were my personal friends – someone has to take care of them.” I suppose I didn’t need to clarify that those weren’t my words, as I’m pretty sure I’ve never used “thunderation” in a sentence, and I’m guessing there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of that word either.

Cedarvale Cemetery serves as the burial ground for notable White Oaks figures such as Susan McSween Barber (the “Cattle Queen of New Mexico” I wrote about above) and William C. McDonald, who became New Mexico’s first governor when New Mexico officially became a state on January 6, 1912. Of course, Dave is now buried there too, along with his equally beloved wife.

White Oaks held an annual event known as “Dave Jackson Day” to honor Dave’s concern for others and everything he did for the community. The event eventually evolved into the annual White Oaks Miner’s Day celebration.

Attending White Oaks Miner’s Day

The Miner’s Day Parade

The morning after my visit to the No Scum Allowed Saloon, I woke up early to do a quick hike at Valley of Fires State Park in Carrizozo, New Mexico, before driving to White Oaks to see what the Miner’s Day festival was all about. As soon as I parked my car along the side of the road at 10am, I could see the parade starting in the distance.

I quickly hopped out of my car and walked up the road to get some photos. I recognized quite a few people in the parade from my night at the No Scum Allowed Saloon, and a few of them even recognized me and said hello. Life in a small town.

White Oaks Schoolhouse Museum

After the parade, I decided to visit the White Oaks Schoolhouse Museum, as I’d heard there was some live music there. By the time I got to the schoolhouse, most of the seats were full and the band Countrified was well underway. I listened to a few tunes and then went upstairs to tour the old school. Like many of the buildings in White Oaks, the schoolhouse’s architecture was influenced by settlers from the East, so it looks a bit different from what you’ll find in many other old towns in New Mexico. I should also mention that the school is solely a museum today, not a functioning school.

Live music and other Miner’s Day attractions

After visiting the schoolhouse museum, I walked along the main road to see what else was going on. Here’s some of what I found.

I’m guessing the two T-shirts in the photos above, “Come and Take It” and “These Colors Don’t Run, They Reload,” aren’t hot sellers in Santa Fe. But that’s one of the things I like most about New Mexico, the wide variety of people and perspectives.

Along the way, I also paid a visit to the White Oaks Veterans Memorial.

Hoyle’s Folly

Watt Hoyle was a co-owner of one of the largest mines in White Oaks, known as the Old Abe Mine. With his newfound riches, Watt decided to build a two-story Victorian mansion for his fiancée back home in Ohio. The home was estimated to cost between $40,000 and $70,000 when it was constructed in 1887, which is equivalent to over $2 million today.

Apparently, Watt thought such a lavish home would seal the deal with his fiancée. However, when she came out to White Oaks to live with him, she found the area too rugged and told Watt that she wouldn’t be staying. She left, and Watt never saw her again. Ouch.

Heartbroken, Watt never finished the interior of his mansion, which became known as “Hoyle’s Folly.” After living there for a few more years with his older brother and his brother’s wife, Watt sold the house and moved to Denver.

More live music at the saloon and along the street

About this time, the No Scum Allowed Saloon opened its doors to more than a few thirsty visitors who’d been eagerly waiting for that moment. And thirty minutes later, the live music began.

After staying for a few songs, it was time for me to hit the road. On my way back to my car, I came across more live music, this time in the form of a brass quintet.

White Oaks Church

I also stopped by the White Oaks Church and took an immediate liking to the greeter, pictured in the second photo below.

Unfortunately, I had another commitment back in Albuquerque later that day, so I couldn’t stick around for the rest of the festivities. But here’s the full schedule from 2023 to give you an idea of what I missed.

Apparently at noon, you either saw a saloon girl or a gunfight. Welcome to New Mexico, where you never know what you’re going to get.

If you’ve never been to White Oaks Miner’s Day, the 2026 event is coming up on Saturday, August 22. And if you want to stick around after the daytime festivities, the music continues at the No Scum Allowed Saloon until 10:00 p.m.

📚 Want to Learn More?

White Oaks has a lot more history than you might expect from a town with fewer than two dozen residents. If you’d like to dig a little deeper, here are a few books worth checking out:

• Gold-Mining Boomtown: People of White Oaks, Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory by Roberta Key Haldane. This is the place to start if White Oaks itself interests you. Haldane tells the story of the town through more than 40 of the people and families who lived there during the gold-mining years, accompanied by hundreds of historic photographs.
• In the Shadow of Billy the Kid: Susan McSween and the Lincoln County War by Kathleen P. Chamberlain. Most accounts of the Lincoln County War focus on men like Billy the Kid, John Tunstall, and Pat Garrett. This book tells the story from a different perspective, focusing on Susan McSween and the life she built after the war, when she became one of New Mexico’s most successful cattle ranchers and earned the nickname the “Cattle Queen of New Mexico.”
• Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of New Mexico by James E. Sherman and Barbara H. Sherman. If White Oaks has you wondering what other nearly forgotten mining towns are scattered around New Mexico, this book will give you plenty of ideas. Just don’t blame me when your weekend driving plans start getting more complicated.
• Towns of Lincoln County by John LeMay. White Oaks is only one piece of Lincoln County’s history. This book uses historic photographs to explore communities throughout the county, including Lincoln, Carrizozo, Capitan, White Oaks, and others.

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Thought for the Week

In the spirit of the miners who came to White Oaks searching for gold, this week’s thought comes from Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Tolstoy was one of the most influential writers of the 19th century and is best known for novels such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina. His later works, including A Confession and The Kingdom of God Is Within You, explored faith, morality, and what it means to live a meaningful life.

Tolstoy used gold mining as a metaphor for finding truth. Gold doesn’t become more valuable by adding something to it. The trick is separating the gold from everything that isn’t gold. Tolstoy thought truth worked much the same way.

It’s an interesting idea. We often think of finding truth as discovering something new, when sometimes it may be more about removing the assumptions, distractions, and other things that get in the way.

Which brings us to this week’s quote:

“Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.”
— Leo Tolstoy

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Thanks for reading and happy travels!

Mark (The New Mexico Travel Guy)

Mark Aspelin, The New Mexico Travel Guy (www.newmexicotravelguy.com), is a travel writer, conservation biologist, project manager, and author of two books. He’s currently working on his third book, the upcoming Moon New Mexico travel guide (Fall 2027), published by Moon Travel Guides, and wrote the Northeastern New Mexico chapter for the 2026 edition of Fodor’s New Mexico. Mark has visited over 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states, just enough to land in the Travelers’ Century Club and make choosing a favorite place nearly impossible. He’s currently on a questionable mission to visit every town in New Mexico (there are over 500) and write a story about each one, with plans to wrap it up sometime before his early to mid 100s. Mark balances his writing with conservation and project work from his home base in the East Mountains near Albuquerque, New Mexico.