Red River may seem like Shangri-La to visitors, especially to anyone who is relying on the cool air to help them forget about the summer heat. Still, it’s a real town and there are some things that are good to know.

Town Hall is on Main Street just across from Brandenburg Park. Look for the big wooden sign with the nifty logo and the brightly colored flowers in the flower beds. As you might expect in a small town, it houses Red River municipal government, the Marshall’s Office and Red River Dispatch, Red River Fire Department and Search and Rescue, a NM Motor Vehicle branch, and the Animal Control Officer. The Red River Chamber of Commerce office and the Visitor’s Information Center are also there and have lots of visitors’ info, maps and brochures, and their Area Consultants can answer you questions. P.S. Red River is a 911 town. In the event of an emergency, don’t hesitate to call and expert help will be on the way.

Want to hold a convention, wedding or family reunion in the beautiful mountains of Northern New Mexico? The Red River Conference Center is located on the river and can fulfill your group needs. There’s wireless internet service there, too.

The Red River Public Library at “the Y” also has free wireless access, a bank of public computers, thousands of books, tapes, CDs and videos to check out -even some historic photos of the town. There are frequent book sales, too.

Like all little towns, Red River USA has public parks for your recreation. Mallette Park, named after the town’s first settler family, is a well-kept secret. Located at the mouth of Mallette Canyon on....Mallette Canyon Road, it offers picnic tables, playground equipment, a tennis court, skateboard park, volleyball court, basketball court and a disc golf course nestled snugly in a narrow canyon. Brandenburg Park is in beautiful downtown Red River and is the site of concerts, special events, a picnic pavilion and playground equipment for the wee ones. Woerndle Park is located by the river, next to the Conference Center, with a pathway for a nice stroll by the river. The Softball Field on the west side of town is the site of tournaments, the T-ball and Little League games and even some youth soccer. The parks are open during daylight and early evening hours, so use them to enjoy yourself.

Ultimed Clinic, Red River’s new medical clinic, will be open this summer. Located at the foot of the “Face,” in the Lift House building of the Red River Ski Area. Ultimed offers full clinical service. Such things as Altitude Sickness, not an uncommon occurrence here at 8,650’, don’t have to ruin you vacation.

Worship in your own fashion at the Red River Community House on Sunday throughout the summer, the First Baptist Church of Red River on the west side, across the street from Altitudes Restaurant, Faith Mountain Fellowship on Copper King Trail for non-denominational services or St. Edwin’s Catholic Church, the first genuine purpose-built church in town, on Silver Bell Trail.