• About Us
  • US Maps
  • US Camping
    • CAMPING MAP
    • MT
    • AL
    • NC
    • AZ
    • ND
    • CA
    • NE
    • CO
    • NJ
    • FL
    • NM
    • GA
    • NV
    • IA
    • NY
    • ID
    • OR
    • IL
    • PA
    • KY
    • SC
    • LA
    • SD
    • MA
    • TN
    • MD
    • TX
    • ME
    • UT
    • MI
    • VA
    • MN
    • WA
    • MO
    • WY
  • US Travel Tales
    • Travel Map
    • MO
    • AL
    • NC
    • AZ
    • ND
    • CA
    • NE
    • CO
    • NM
    • FL
    • NV
    • GA
    • NY
    • IA
    • OR
    • ID
    • PA
    • IL
    • SC
    • KY
    • SD
    • LA
    • TN
    • MA
    • TX
    • MD
    • UT
    • ME
    • VA
    • MI
    • WA
    • MN
    • WY
  • Boondocking
    • Boondocking How To
    • Boondocking Sites
  • US RVing Tips
    • Overview (All Topics)
    • RVing With Pets
    • RV Lifestyle Tips
    • Volunteering & Hosting
    • Solar Power
    • Health Care
    • RV Mods & Upgrades
    • US Blog Links & Resources

Wheeling It: Tales From a Nomadic Life

On the Road Since 2010, Traveling Across USA & Europe With Pets

  • Europe Tips
  • Europe Travel Maps
  • Europe Travel Tales
    • Denmark
    • Spain
    • France
    • Sweden
    • Germany
    • UK
    • Portugal
  • Europe Blog Links & Resources
  • Privacy Policy

Freedom and Apple Pie – Pie Town, NM

May 15, 2011 by libertatemamo 19 Comments

The long, lonely road to the West
Leads to more than just one kind of open space.
This is not just a different town,
It’s the kind of place where
A whole different kind of person settles down.
You either love it or you hate it,
And if you stay long enough,
You may just stay for life.
Nina Fussing, May 2011

Freedom and space

Rather poetic, is it not?

I have to admit inspiration is just the kind of thing that happens around here. We’re deep in the midst of 8,000-foot mountains in the dead center of a very remote part of New Mexico. Here the wild open views and western land roll ad infinitum to the horizon, and you can literally feel the spirit of freedom ooze through your body. This place is the reason people went West and it still attracts the same kind of folks. People looking to stake their claim to the land and live a different life on their own terms.

And, of course…those who like to bake.

Blink and you might miss it - Pie Town Cafe

It all started with a Texan named Clyde Norman. He was a man’s man with an interesting side-penchant for making pie. So, in the 1920’s he settled a little rocky ridge in New Mexico and did what he did best. Word got around, the pies became famous and a town got its name. Pie Town hasn’t changed much since Clyde’s day. It’s still a sleepy little western town, small enough that you might miss it if you blink, and it’s still famous for its pies.

It's ALLLL about the pie here!

This, of course, was something we couldn’t miss. We took a day-trip to the original spot, the Pie Town Cafe to meet with the locals and sample the fare. The cafe draws a regular crowd with people from 40 miles away coming together for a slice and a chat. And it did not disappoint. The lunch was great, the pies sumptuously delicious (we went for the New Mexican Apple…highly recommended) and the local color was just as bright. We met the artist who moved from civilization to write a book, the couple from San Diego who were now building a house in the boonies, and the sheriff, a great big burly fellow (with an equally impressive gun) who was probably the most social of them all.

This is beautiful, wild country

It’s rather a romantic tale, but nonetheless true and I’m not the only one to have been drawn in by this place. Russell Lee photographed over 600 shots of the town just after the depression, and the Smithsonian wrote a brilliant article on the place in 2005 (a must-read before you go).

So, to those who take the different path in life our bellies thank you for the meal and our minds thank you for the spirit. This is most definitely the kind of place I could end up staying for a very, very long time.

Post Edit Note: While enjoying ourselves out here in the boonies we’ve increased our camping budget by a whopping 25% to stay in a gorgeous BLM site near the VLA and Pie Town. Costs have thus exploded from $4/night to $5/night. Despite the strain to our wallets and the risk of budget cuts, we’ve resolved to bear the burden and will review this wonderful spot next on the blog….stay tuned…

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

« Eyes to the Heavens – The Very Large Array, NM
BLM Campground Review – Datil Well, NM »

We LOooVE Comments, So Please Do

  1. Sue Malone says

    May 15, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    I love New Mexico, but I am seeing so many new parts of the area I had no clue existed thanks to your wonderful blog. Definitely going to have to check out Pie town! Although I’m not sure I can handle the expense. 🙂

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 16, 2011 at 5:40 pm

      Sue,
      We’re hanging around NM a lot longer than we originally planned, so it’s
      allowing us to see so many more interesting spots. So happy
      I can show some new ones to the experts out there.
      But…the expense is heavy indeed 🙂
      Nina

      Reply
  2. Elsa says

    May 15, 2011 at 10:36 pm

    Love it, Nina! Paul definitely looks like he’s enjoying the pie–but wait–is it gluten free? Busting the budget in more ways than one!

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 16, 2011 at 5:41 pm

      Elsa,
      Indeed it was not…and we paid for it dearly later that evening (I won’t
      give details). It was sacrifice for a good cause, at least for a day 🙂
      Nina

      Reply
  3. Marsha says

    May 15, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    Another place we just didn’t have time to hit. Next time for sure.
    You better start cutting back…$4 to $5 is getting out of hand…LOL

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 16, 2011 at 5:45 pm

      Marsha,
      It’s definitely getting rough out here..hehe
      Nina

      Reply
  4. jil mohr says

    May 15, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    someone else just told us about pie town so I have put it on my list…we had to race through NM this year…just left Clovis this am and now in Amarillo…but it is a state I want to explore more of next year hopefully…..glad you are enjoying it..

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 16, 2011 at 5:44 pm

      Jil,
      You guys ARE motoring! Pie Town is definitely worth a stop when you come back.
      I think you’d both enjoy the place and the local characters.
      Nina

      Reply
  5. Mark says

    May 16, 2011 at 12:48 am

    Loved the article, thanks. Just added Pie Town to my bucket list but I’ll probably have to sleep in my truck. $5 is getting out of line and besides, I’m thinking it’ll be better spent on more pie.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 16, 2011 at 5:43 pm

      Mark,
      Indeed you’ll need all the savings you have to sample those pies.
      Enough flavors to keep you busy for days…perhaps even weeks 🙂
      Nina

      Reply
  6. Jerry and Suzy LeRoy says

    May 16, 2011 at 11:18 am

    Pie Town? Never heard of it until today. Gotta go there and try the apple pie, then go back and try two or three other pies until I burst!

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 16, 2011 at 5:47 pm

      Oh there are SOOOO many good flavors…Apple, Berry, Fudge, Peanut-Butter, Pecan
      Drooool….
      Nina

      Reply
  7. Brent says

    May 16, 2011 at 10:52 am

    Can’t wait to get back to NM to try this spot out!

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 16, 2011 at 5:49 pm

      Definitely the kind of stop you guys would enjoy, no doubt.
      Nina

      Reply
  8. Christy @ Technosyncratic says

    May 16, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    Pie Town would be the death of me. But at least it would be death by over-consumption of too much delicious pie! I think that’s an okay way to go, personally.

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 18, 2011 at 5:44 pm

      A very tasty way to go, indeed 🙂 Nina

      Reply
  9. Mark S says

    May 18, 2011 at 12:08 pm

    Love the B&W shot with the pie color splash!

    Reply
    • libertatemamo says

      May 19, 2011 at 11:10 am

      Cheers. I had alot of fun with that one 🙂
      Nina

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. BLM Campground Review – Datil Well, NM | Wheeling It says:
    May 17, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    […] Boondocking ← Freedom and Apple Pie – Pie Town, NM […]

    Reply

A Comment For Your Thoughts? Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Where Are We Today?

Home Base, SW France

About Us

Europe Travel Maps

Top Blog Posts

  • Moving To Europe V - Pet Transport Options (By Sea, By Air, Pet Carriers & More)
  • SP Campground Review - Bahia Honda State Park, Bahia Honda, FL
  • SP Campground Review - Skidaway Island State Park, Savannah, GA
  • CP Campground Review - Rincon Parkway, Ventura, CA
  • Re-Visiting New York City (With The RV)

Archives

Subscribe Via Email

Disclosure Notice: WheelingIt is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Wheelingit US Camping Map

Reviews of every place we camped 2010-2018. Click to explore and enjoy!

Connect With Us

Want more Wheelingit? Connect with us by subscribing to one of our feeds!
 
Twitter Instagram
RSS YouTube

Tip The Beer Fund

Feeling the love? Share it with a contribution towards the Wheelingit beer fund (or rum fund, depending on weather & other random factors). We'll be sure to raise a glass to your health!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
COPYRIGHT INFO © 2024 Wheeling It. Share and enjoy, but please don't swipe it. All material, text and pictures in this blog are copyrighted. Should you be interested in using them please feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to talk about it!

© 2025 · Wheelingit · Built on the Genesis Framework

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience Got It!
To find out more, or learn how to change your cookie settings, click here Read more
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d