Chapter 4
Community, Campfires & Small-Town Fun
More Than Just a Campground
By our third day at Burro Mountain Homestead, something had become very clear.
People don’t return here year after year simply because of the mountain views.
They come back because of the people.
Throughout the campground, neighbors waved as they drove past in their side-by-sides.
Complete strangers stopped to chat.
Campfires seemed to grow a little larger every evening as more chairs appeared around them.
It reminded me of camping years ago, before everyone became so busy with schedules and cell phones.
There was a genuine sense of community here.
Everyone belonged.
Even if you’d just arrived.
A Morning Ride Through the Mountains
Saturday morning brought another opportunity to explore the trails.
This time, there was a little more excitement in the air.
The campground’s annual Poker Run was about to begin.
If you’ve never participated in one, the concept is simple.
Campers travel to several checkpoints scattered throughout the mountain trails, collecting a playing card at each stop. At the end of the ride, the best poker hand wins.
Simple.
Fun.
And a perfect excuse to spend the day exploring.
Even those who weren’t especially interested in winning couldn’t help but enjoy the adventure.
The ride itself was the prize.
Every turn revealed another beautiful view of the Gila National Forest.
Towering pines stretched toward the sky.
Wildflowers added splashes of color along the trails.
The crisp mountain air was a welcome break from the Arizona heat we’d left behind.
It reminded us once again why we keep returning to this little corner of New Mexico.
Friendly Competition
Back at camp, everyone gathered to compare poker hands.
Some celebrated.
Others laughed about the cards they’d drawn.
No one seemed overly concerned about winning.
The event wasn’t really about the prizes.
It was another reason to spend the day together.
That’s one thing Burro Mountain Homestead does remarkably well.
It creates opportunities for people to connect.
Whether you’re exploring trails, sharing dinner, or participating in campground activities, friendships seem to happen naturally here.
The Silent Auction Surprise
One of the weekend’s biggest fundraisers was the silent auction.
Tables were filled with donated items ranging from handcrafted decorations and camping gear to homemade baked goods.
As everyone wandered through placing bids, one item quickly became the center of attention.
A homemade German chocolate cake.
Not just any cake.
The cake.
The bidding climbed.
And climbed.
And climbed some more.
By the time the auction closed, that beautiful cake had sold for nearly $400.
We all stood there laughing in disbelief.
Tracey looked over at me with mock disappointment.
“I guess we’re not having cake tonight.”
Not unless we planned on refinancing the motorhome.
It was one of those moments that perfectly illustrated the generosity of the camping community.
People weren’t bidding because they desperately needed dessert.
They were supporting a place they genuinely loved.
Dancing Like Nobody Was Watching
That evening everyone gathered once again for live music.
Campers pulled lawn chairs into a large circle while others made their way to the dance floor.
The band played everything from classic country favorites to old rock-and-roll songs that had everyone tapping their feet.
As I watched from our table, I noticed an elderly woman sitting quietly by herself.
She smiled as she watched others dance but never stood up.
Without saying a word, Tracey walked over and held out his hand.
“Would you like to dance?”
Her face lit up.
She accepted with a smile.
The two of them slowly made their way across the dance floor while nearly everyone nearby stopped to watch.
When the song ended, she thanked him with a hug before returning to her seat.
As Tracey sat back down beside me, I smiled and asked,
“Well…did you enjoy yourself?”
He grinned.
“I think she did.”
Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness leave the biggest impression.
That simple dance became one of my favorite memories of the entire trip.
Why Places Like This Matter
As the evening came to a close and campers slowly drifted back toward their RVs, I found myself looking around at everything happening nearby.
Children riding bicycles.
Neighbors laughing around campfires.
Friends lingering in conversation because no one was quite ready for the night to end.
It struck me that Burro Mountain Homestead offers something that’s becoming increasingly rare.
A chance to slow down.
To disconnect from the busyness of everyday life.
To meet people you’ll probably never forget.
We’ve camped in beautiful places all across the Southwest.
Many had nicer amenities.
Some had larger campsites.
Others offered more activities.
But very few have created the same sense of community we experienced here.
That’s something you can’t build with bigger clubhouses or luxury facilities.
It comes from the people.
And that’s exactly what makes Burro Mountain Homestead so special.
As we headed back to the motorhome under a sky filled with stars, I couldn’t help but think…
Tomorrow we’d be packing up.
But the memories we’d made here would last much longer than the weekend itself.