You’ll find Kenna, New Mexico along the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line, where it once thrived as a crucial shipping hub with 2,000 residents. The town flourished in the early 1900s through cattle ranching and railroad commerce until drought, the Great Depression, and World War II led to its decline. Today, the 1939 Midway Service Station stands as the last commercial building, while the cemetery and scattered ruins tell stories of frontier ambition and resilience.
Key Takeaways
- Kenna was established as a railroad town on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, reaching a peak population of 2,000 residents.
- The town’s decline began with the 1912 drought and worsened during the Great Depression, leading many settlers to abandon their homesteads.
- The 1939 Midway Service Station remains as the last standing commercial building, serving as both a gas station and bank.
- World War II accelerated Kenna’s transformation into a ghost town by depleting the population and local resources.
- Biennial “Kenna Day” celebrations preserve the town’s history, while the Kenna Cemetery and scattered foundations mark its physical remains.
A Railroad Town’s Rise to Glory (1880s-1909)
Three key developments shaped Kenna’s emergence as a thriving railroad town in the 1880s.
First, you’ll find the railroad influence began when a contractor named Kenna camped in nearby Urton during construction, leading to the town’s establishment as a crucial shipping point. The nearby Gadsden Purchase had secured vital territory for rail expansion through the region.
Second, Kenna’s strategic position on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line spurred remarkable economic expansion, as the town became integrated into the growing regional rail network that stretched from Colorado to Texas. The town flourished during the era of intense railroad rate wars that drove ticket prices down dramatically and boosted regional commerce.
Kenna flourished economically by connecting Colorado and Texas through its vital position on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.
Third, you can trace how Kenna’s population swelled to 2,000 residents as cattle ranchers and merchants capitalized on the new transportation opportunities.
The town’s rise paralleled the Santa Fe Railroad’s aggressive expansion across New Mexico, transforming Kenna into a bustling hub of commerce and connectivity.
Life in Early Kenna: Community and Commerce
While the railroad brought economic opportunity to Kenna, it was the tight-knit community institutions that gave the town its vibrant social character in the early 1900s.
Just ten miles northwest, Spelman’s Chapel served the spiritual needs of surrounding settler families.
The Kenna Record newspaper, established in 1902, strengthened community connections by keeping residents informed about local affairs and fostering a shared identity among ranchers and settlers.
You’d find these pillars of economic resilience and social life:
- The Midway Service Station, doubling as both a Phillips 66 outlet and the town’s bank
- A bustling railroad depot that served as the hub for cattle shipping and commerce
- The weekly Kenna Record newspaper, run by local families like the Cowgills
- Churches and chapels that provided spiritual guidance and social cohesion
Despite tensions between ranchers and homesteaders over land use, these institutions kept the community’s spirit alive through challenging times.
The Perfect Storm: Drought, Depression, and War
A devastating combination of natural disaster, economic collapse, and global conflict dealt Kenna a series of blows from which it would never recover.
The drought consequences of 1912 forced many settlers to abandon their homesteads as water became scarce, triggering widespread economic decline in farming and ranching operations.
You’ll find the Great Depression intensified Kenna’s struggles, as plummeting agricultural prices crippled the region’s remaining producers.
Local businesses couldn’t sustain themselves as customers dwindled. The once-bustling store and drugstore closed their doors forever.
The town’s connection to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway had once made it a thriving cattle shipping point, but those glory days were gone.
While the discovery of an aquifer briefly revived hopes in the 1930s and ’40s, World War II delivered the final blow.
The war pulled young men away for military service and redirected resources to urban centers.
Community institutions shuttered as families permanently relocated, effectively transforming Kenna into a ghost town.
Legacy of the Llano Estacado Frontier
Before settlers like those in Kenna arrived, the Llano Estacado frontier served as a dynamic crossroads of indigenous cultures, European exploration, and complex trading networks. You can trace this rich Indigenous Heritage through the shifting control of the region, from Apache to Comanche dominance, and the emergence of crucial Trade Networks through the Comancheros.
- The vast tableland’s unique geography created a natural fortress for Comanche power, extending their influence across multiple territories.
- Comanchero trading routes crisscrossed the plains, connecting diverse cultures and economies from Nebraska to Mexico.
- Spanish explorer Coronado’s 1541 journey marked the beginning of European documentation of this remarkable landscape.
- The region’s isolation and distinctive ecology shaped centuries of human adaptation and cultural exchange.
The cold semiarid climate and limited rainfall presented significant challenges for both indigenous peoples and early settlers attempting to navigate and survive in this unforgiving terrain. The landscape’s defining feature was its high mesa formation, gradually sloping ten feet per mile toward the southeast.
These frontier patterns laid the foundation for later settlement patterns, including towns like Kenna.
What Remains: Historic Buildings and Memories
You’ll find just a handful of historic structures still standing in Kenna today, with the 1939 Midway Service Station serving as the town’s last commercial building and current community hub.
The station’s “House with Canopy” design reflects the architectural trends of the 1920s, featuring distinctive elements like gables and parapets alongside contrasting buff and red brick. Much like Lake Valley’s Keller Miller store, which once thrived during the mining boom, these buildings tell stories of past prosperity.
While the original railroad depot, three churches, and most other buildings have vanished, the old schoolhouse and Midway Station remain as tangible links to Kenna’s more prosperous past. The town’s decline came as improved road systems reduced the importance of rail transportation.
Standing Structures Today
While many New Mexico ghost towns retain numerous historic structures, Kenna’s architectural legacy now centers primarily on the 1939 Midway Service Station, the last standing commercial building in town.
Despite minimal historic preservation efforts, this brick building served as a crucial community hub and post office until 2012, keeping local memory alive through gatherings and social exchange. Similar to the abandoned speedway discovered along New Mexico Road 9, time has taken its toll on the remaining structures.
Beyond the station, you’ll find:
- The relocated railroad depot, now converted to a private residence elsewhere
- Kenna Cemetery, maintaining physical traces of the town’s past off US-70
- Scattered foundations and rubble where other structures once stood
- Raw, undeveloped landscape still reminiscent of early 20th-century Kenna
The semi-arid environment continues to shape the remaining structures, with desert vegetation slowly reclaiming the minimal ruins that persist.
Midway Service Station Legacy
Since its construction in 1938, the Midway Service Station has emerged as Kenna’s most significant architectural landmark, combining both historical importance and cultural resonance.
You’ll find this Mission Revival-style building, with its distinctive tan and red brick façade and stepped parapets, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005.
Beyond its architectural significance, Midway nostalgia runs deep through the community’s identity.
As Kenna’s last standing commercial building, it’s served multiple roles – from gas station and bank to post office and community hub.
Even after ceasing gas sales, it remained an essential gathering space where you’d find residents sharing stories at Bible studies or helping stranded motorists with emergency fuel.
The building’s preservation stands as a reflection of Roosevelt County’s enduring cultural heritage along historic U.S. 70.
Fading Town Landmarks
The fading landmarks of Kenna tell a poignant story of architectural loss and preservation. As you explore this ghost town‘s remains, you’ll encounter ghostly echoes of its once-thriving community life, where structures have largely vanished but memories endure.
- The 1904 adobe schoolhouse stands transformed as a museum, complete with its historic cupola and classroom displays.
- Three churches that once filled the air with hymns have disappeared, leaving only fading memories of spiritual gatherings.
- The resilient Midway Service Station, built in 1938-39, survives as the town’s most intact commercial structure.
- The relocated railroad depot, though no longer in its original location, preserves a piece of Kenna’s railway heritage.
The 2000 fire claimed many wooden buildings, but the remaining landmarks continue to anchor the community’s historical narrative, even as they slowly yield to time.
Preserving the Spirit of Old New Mexico
Preserving Kenna’s pioneering spirit requires a delicate balance between physical conservation and cultural memory.
You’ll find this cultural heritage alive in the biennial “Kenna Day” celebrations, where descendants return to honor their roots and share stories of ranch life, feuds between homesteaders and cattlemen, and the rhythm of daily life in old New Mexico.
The town’s historical preservation focuses on landmarks like the Midway Service Station, while nearby ghost towns like Acme and the Frazier School House create a broader context of early 20th-century settlement.
When you visit these sites, you’re walking through layers of history – from buffalo-roamed prairies to bustling railroad days.
Local arts, including Wayne Crume’s regional songs, help keep alive the memories of church hymns, cowbells, and children’s laughter that once filled Kenna’s streets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Documented Paranormal Activities or Ghost Stories From Kenna?
You won’t find officially documented ghostly encounters or spectral sightings here. While local folklore hints at ambient sounds like children’s laughter and hymns, there’s no verified paranormal activity in historical records.
What Happened to the Original Railroad Tracks That Ran Through Kenna?
You’ll find the original tracks were dismantled during rail consolidation after World War II. Railroad history shows they were likely salvaged for materials, though no detailed track preservation records document their exact removal date.
Did Any Notable Outlaws or Gunfights Occur in Early Kenna?
While storms of outlaw violence swept the broader region through Kinney’s gang, you won’t find concrete evidence of notable gunfights or famous outlaws specifically within Kenna’s town limits during its early years.
Can Visitors Legally Explore and Photograph the Remaining Structures Today?
You’ll need to verify exploration regulations and photography permissions before visiting, as legal access isn’t clearly documented. Contact local authorities first to avoid trespassing on potentially private property.
What Indigenous Tribes Inhabited the Kenna Area Before European Settlement?
You’ll find that Ancestral Puebloans first inhabited this region until around 1300 AD. Later, the Navajo Nation established their presence here, along with Apache tribes who roamed these high desert lands.
References
- https://www.1881.com/kenna.htm
- https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/0f95e39b-b0ff-4713-ad58-0478e6643fa2
- https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nm/kenna.html
- https://www.loc.gov/item/sn93061371/
- http://www.theroadjunkies.com/2016/12/alien-nation.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLwZ4nk_jWk
- https://newmexicohistoryblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/24/santa-fe-railroad-in-new-mexico-1878-1908/
- https://www.indigenousmexico.org/articles/the-railroad-as-a-catalyst-for-mexican-immigration
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-santafetrailrailroad/
- https://www.nmhistoricpreservation.org/assets/files/markers/2017 – Historic Markers Database_web.pdf
