Deer Canyon residents maintain an ongoing involvement in community projects, education, and local national centers that attract visitors to the Estancia Valley. The historic town of Mountainair, established in 1903 and once the “Pinto Bean Capital of the World,” is now home to a ranching, business, and arts community.

• The Manzano Mountain Arts Council supports local artists and community enrichment through school programs, cultural events, and entertainment.
• iCreate empowers under-served individuals of all ages to reach their full human and social potential through personal creativity in the arts and sustainable community development.

In addition, residents enjoy living close to several national wildlife preserves and interesting historic sites.

• The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument includes three nearby ancient pueblo/mission historic sites for archaeology and visitor education.  Headquartered at the Mountainair Visitors’ Center, these interesting sites are within easy driving distance.  https://www.nps.gov/sapu/index.htm
• The world-famous, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located 1.5 hrs. from Deer Canyon and includes the designated wilderness areas: Chupadera Peak, Indian Wells, and Little San Pasqual Wilderness Area.  The park is known for its hosting of migratory birds with related daily tours and programs, including the Festival of the Sandhill Cranes. http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bosque_del_Apache/
• The Ancient Estancia Salt Lakes, about 30 minutes away, are an important part of the area’s history and once provided important economic support for the native pueblo people.  http://www.elpalacio.org/articles/winter12/salttrade-v82-no1.pdf
• The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, encompassing the Rio Grande River as a vital source of water, is one of the country’s largest wildlife refuges and only thirty minutes away from Deer Canyon.  http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Sevilleta/
• Berrenda Creek Ranch, a sister preservation community, is located in the foothills of the Mimbres and Black Ranges of Central New Mexico and protects close to 7,500 acres under a conservation easement.

Five mountain ranges surround the preserve, providing spectacular sunsets, sunrises, views, and dark-sky vistas that never grow commonplace.  Deer Canyon also maintains internal “dark sky” standards through covenants that permit only down-facing, covered lighting in keeping with International Dark Sky Association standards (http://darksky.org/impact-of-lampshade/).  This makes our community a haven for serious astronomers and also for those who delight in seeing the night sky ablaze with stars.  Our recreational access is available in all four seasons for hikers, bikers, birders, naturalists, or horse enthusiasts.  In addition, there are several excellent ski areas within 1.5-3 hours’ drive.

Residents also have easy access (1.5 hrs.) to the vibrant, urban community of Albuquerque, its Sunport International Airport, and farther north (2 hrs.), the historical/artistic world of Santa Fe.