Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Big Basin Prarie Preservr

    5.0 (1 review)

    Big Basin Prarie Preservr Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Big Basin Prarie Preservr

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration
    Photo of Tony R.
    154
    843
    2781

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Town of Springer - Lots of empty storefronts

    Town of Springer

    3.0(3 reviews)
    51.0 mi

    Small town of less than 1,000 people with many boarded-up storefronts. Three restaurants that have…read morebreakfast and lunch. The truck stop at the edge of town is the only one not headlining burritos. The two motels in town are family-owned, clean with a bar. Otherwise there is not much to speak of except that they can't seem to keep police or firefighters on staff and the tenor of most of the place is unwelcoming. Dozens of stray dogs and cats roaming with no public intervention or interest in spay/neuter. Go north to Raton or south to Santa Fe for bigger. Cimmaron is nearby, small and friendly and close to the national Boy Scouts center.

    Full transparency, I live in Springer. I want to dispute what some reviews said about feeling like…read moreSpringer wants you to "move on along". I moved here 15 years ago, and have never felt more welcomed by a community. Over a period of 40 years, my husband's job took us to 9 different towns in New Mexico. Many, were as small or smaller than Springer. The people here welcomed us from day one, where as some we lived in for 5+ years and still didn't feel welcome. Yes, we are a small town. Depending on what you want to do, there is a lot for some, nothing for others. If you are looking for bright lights and city life, head south to Albuquerque, or north to Denver. If you are looking for hunting, fishing, beautiful landscapes, viewing wildlife or just peaceful rest, stop here or anywhere in Colfax County. Our restaurants advertise burritos because that is the type of food most people around here want. Remember, we are the "red or green" state for our chili. We have landmarks around, one just has to look or pay attention to the road signs. I give it 4 stars, because we don't have everything you may ever need. For that, you will have to live in a bigger city. But, for me, and most of the residents of Springer, that peacefulness is well worth having to drive out of town once in a while.

    Photos
    Town of Springer
    Town of Springer
    Town of Springer

    See all

    Meade State Park

    Meade State Park

    4.5(2 reviews)
    24.8 mi

    Great place for some rest and relaxation!! The staff is friendly and quick to respond to calls…read more They have a snack bar with all of the necessities and they sell bagged ice. The swimming area is great for kids and families alike. There were a lot of fishermen and it looked like some pretty good fish were being caught.

    This is a mere 10 miles north of the Oklahoma-Kansas border on the rolling plains. It's stunning…read morecountry, and as you drive north you begin to cross small creeks and rivers. Even on the Oklahoma side there are some historical markers. The Santa Fe Trail is not far from here. The park is a marvelous oasis with a small man-made lake and surrounded with huge cottonwood trees. There are lots of juniper. This pears as a large slash of green against the rolling grassy plains. There are campsites pretty much all around the lake. The campsite I stayed at the first night, Cottonwood, was pleasant enough but very "public" in in full view of a very busy camp road. It was terribly crowded Sunday and there was back and forth traffic pretty much until 11 PM. I only saw law enforcement once. They stopped at a site near mine (Cottonwood #1) and spent a long time talking to some people in a small and very old trailer. It looked like they were living there semi-permanently with a huge woodpile, BBQ, etc. The truck belonging to the site was on its last legs. They (a couple?) seemed to be slowly patrolling by my camper van again and again, looking closely. Since I was the only other van in the campground I started locking my travel-all. I don't usually do that. There were enough large family groups in run down trailers and trucks, that I thought some casual theft wasn't out of the question. I couldn't figure out where all of the muscle cars with their loud music were coming from. Meade is the next nearest town and it's a good 10 miles north. Well, this is the place to cruise on a pretty day, it seems. There were just lots of cars and trucks, cruising around. On Monday it was much quieter. You can really see what an oasis this is. I moved to Cedar #2. I had no trouble, as the park is only 10% occupied now. A pair of flickers is cavorting above my head in the trees. Site #2 has great shade. All I have to do is turn around and see the lake. There are lots of playgrounds and cool, green places for people to walk to. It's a fishing lake, so no powerboats. It's quiet because of that. The bathroom and shower house that serves the whole park apparently is rudimentary at best. There are two shower stalls for women with no curtains. It is all open air. Just like girl scout camp you can see trees and sky when you shower. The water is warm and you can choose only one temp. There is no door into the shower house/bathroom itself. You just jog to the right of a brick wall and there you are. ZERO privacy.

    Big Basin Prarie Preservr - landmarks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...