Welcome Visitors!
Founded in 1898, Portales is a charming university town closely linked with a picturesque late 19th century story of New Mexico. Named for a nearby campsite where spring waters gushed from a series of cave-like porches across a pueblo style house, Portales or "Porches" in Spanish, is a gateway into New Mexico on the eastern border.
Discover the secrets of Roosevelt County history, back to the days when homesteaders settled raw, untamed land where only Indians and a handful of cowboys roamed.
- Stay in one of our motels or charming Bed and Breakfast.
- Stroll along our sparkling, revamped Town Square and window shop along the many store fronts.
- Play golf in view of some of New Mexico's breathtaking sunsets.
- Spend the weekend camping and fishing at Oasis State Park.
Portales is ...
- Home of the third largest University in New Mexico--Eastern New Mexico University. ENMU offers a multitude of activities to attend ranging from sporting events such as football, basketball, baseball and rodeo to performing arts events such as plays, musicals, symphonies and recitals.
- Recreational offerings include public parks including baseball fields, swimming pool, tennis courts, golf, jogging trail, softball complex, a two screen movie theater, and a youth recreation center.
- Oasis State Park is a wonderful outdoor refuge located just four miles from Portales offering picnic areas, campsites, hiking trails and fishing.
- Historical Downtown offering retail shopping and restaurants.
- Five museums including the Black Water Draw Museum and the Roosevelt County Museum which contain a diverse collection of articles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- The Roosevelt General Hospital built in 2001 is a modern, attractive facility fully equipped with the most technologically sophisticated equipment available and staffed by well trained personnel.
- Special events throughout the year including: The Peanut Valley Festival, Heritage Days Celebration, New Mexico Ag Expo and Eastern New Mexico University Homecoming events to name a few.
- Portales is famous for its Valencia Peanuts. Local peanut processing plants are Sunland Peanuts, Hampton Farms and Borden Peanut Company.
- Portales offers a very high quality of life with excellent educational facilities, low cost of living, low crime rate, and an authentic small town atmosphere.
Fun for the Whole Family!
- Golfing
- Work on your golf game at the Portales Country Club, just west of the city.
- Fishing
- Bait your hook and catch a few. Oasis State Park is just minutes away for some great family camping and fishing.
- Other Recreation
- Our local parks provide the opportunity for softball, basketball, tennis, swimming and more.