2026 Western Lever Gun Championship

This looks like something worth attending even as a spectator. This will be held at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico.

For more information, go here.

Zayra's Café In Springer, New Mexico

Above, Zayra's Café in Springer, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last week was the first time I drove from Colorado to Albuquerque on Interstate 25.

After entering New Mexico, the highway takes drivers through Raton, New Mexico. Raton is the home of the NRA Whittington Center.

According to Wikipedia:

The NRA Whittington Center is one of the largest and most comprehensive shooting facilities in the United States. Owned and operated by the National Rifle Association of America, the centre is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colfax County, New Mexico.

I didn't see any signs along the highway for the NRA Whittington Center. 

Anyway, Interstate 25 is a long stretch of road between Raton to Albuquerque. At least there's a few towns sprinkled here and there along the route. It mainly is in cattle ranch country.

One such town is Springer. There isn't too much there, but at least there's Zayra's Café.

Zayra's Café is a small family-run restaurant with a western motif inside. Thankfully, when we stopped there for a food break, the food was good. I had chicken enchiladas.

Snow & Ice In Raton, New Mexico

It is interesting that it is sunny and dry here, but Interstate 25 at Raton Pass near the Colorado border has snowy and icy conditions.

The New Mexico Road and Weather Conditions Reports at Facebook administrator posted several New Mexico Department of Transportation photos, including this one, of the current conditions at Raton Pass.

 

The NRA Whittington Center is located at Raton, New Mexico. I doubt that anyone will be target shooting there today.

No precipitation is forecast for the Gallup/Jamestown, New Mexico this week.

NRA Whittington Center

Above, this year's sticker for donating. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Even though we're six days away from Christmas, our group in Jamestown has been discussing a possible spring or summer trek to the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico for some target shooting.

The NRA Whittington Center is 350 miles from Jamestown. 

According to the NRA Whittington Center website:

The NRA Whittington Center is unlike any place on earth. More than 33,300 acres and 25 ranges are devoted to shooting for any kind of discipline. Plus, we offer exceptional guided and unguided hunts, expert firearms training, lodging, cabins and camping, youth programs, a museum, a Pro Shop, and much more.

Those of us who have RVs (three of us do), we can camp in their campground. Those who don't have an RV, they have cabins available. It looks to be a great place to spend a few days and do some shooting.

I will be contacting them for more information. I have been a donor to the NRA Whittington Center for the past two years. 

For more information, go here.