Discover the Tiny Ghost Town of Mogollon in Calamity Canyon

Book Review: Calamity Canyon

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Summary:

When Fred Fredericksen first visited the ghost town of Mogollon New Mexico he had no idea it would be the first of thirteen trips he’d take over the next thirty-one years, during which time he’d learn more than he ever wanted about mineral and water rights… and what it took to go to the bathroom.

Based on a true story, this portrayal of modern life in the mining ghost town of Mogollon features verifiably accurate historical details and a swath of valuable information about land use issues and struggles faced by conservationists in rural New Mexico and across the country.

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First Paragraphs:

If you’re heading west across the United States and you take a left turn in Albuquerque followed by a series of rights and lefts and ups and downs, maybe, just maybe, you’ll find yourself in the mining ghost town of Mogollon, on the edge of the Gila National Forest and Wilderness Area.

If you’re lucky a business will be open, and if you’re even luckier they’ll have a public restroom, for while a bear might poop in the woods your kids probably aren’t so adept at it, and in any case there’s nowhere to wash your hands beside Silver Creek—and if you think the locals aren’t going to notice you sending your kids into the woods and directing them to the creek to clean themselves off, you’re probably not going to make it very long in the rugged Southwest.

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My Thoughts:

Calamity Canyon is a relaxing little novel about life in the sleepy town of Mogollon, New Mexico. It’s a wonderful look into what it’s like to live away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities and cookie-cutter suburbia. I had never heard of Mogollon until I picked up this book. Now, I have added it to my list of places I would love to visit before I die.

Fred Fredericksen first visits the town of Mogollon in 1993 at the age of 17, while on a road trip with his parents. His parents fall in love with the tiny ghost town and end up purchasing a home there, which leads to Fred visiting Mogollon 13 times in a 31 year time span.

Calamity Canyon is an enjoyable break from the typical story in that there’s no crazy drama or villains in the story. There’s no big conflict or revelation in the climax. There is, however, calamity, as the title suggests. By the time the calamity hit, I found that I had become so attached to the little tiny town of Mogollon; it broke my heart to read it.

The drive up the mountain road to get to Mogollon is so narrow that you can look down from your window and see over the ledge. As I was reading those parts where Fred would drive up and down the road to Mogollon, my fear of heights kicked in and the imagery in my head of actually being in his car and seeing the scenery made me feel queasy. Any writer that can construct a scene in such a way that the reader has that sort of physical reaction is golden and has earned my full respect.

In all, I learned a lot from this book! The history of Mogollon is a rich one! I learned about water rights and the importance of conservation. Bo Mandoe did a beautiful job of painting a vividly colorful picture of what it would be like to actually live in a small ghost town out in the middle of nowhere.

I kept asking myself from the very beginning, ‘could I actually live in a place like that and be happy?’ I mulled over that question quite a bit, but in the end, as much I love being out in nature, and as much as I get sick of the crowds of the modern cities and suburbs, I’m not sure if I could live that far away from a hospital or grocery store. And the drive up the narrow mountain ledge… that’s what made me conclude that while it would be a great place to visit and get away from the stresses of life for a month or so, I’m not sure if I could live there long term.

I think this book would be a brilliant book to include in high school curriculum. Not just because of the valuable lessons on water rights and land usage and conservation, but also the effects of big mining operations and what happens when the rich take a special interest in the resources of the land.  

It shows us a completely different part of modern-day American life. Make no mistake, the little town of Mogollon is the closest thing to an old cowboy western movie you can get nowadays (and it was in fact used as a western movie set at one point).

It’s crazy how a little place like that can change so much before and throughout the 31 years that Fred visits, and yet at the same time, stay exactly the same. It’s as though the town itself was the main character, and Fred was just an observer of a town that was its own living entity.

Overall, a splendid book! I loved the town and the characters. I loved the things that I took away from this novel and I’m so happy that it left an open ending for a sequel! Bo Mandoe is an outstanding writer and I can’t wait to check out more of his work!

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*Note* While I do earn a small commission if you buy Calamity Canyon from my Amazon link, I would highly recommend that you buy it instead from Bo Mandoe’s TikTok page! If you get it there, Bo himself will not only sign your copy, but he will also include a cool wooden bookmark that he made himself! I’ll take my commission losses on this one! Follow his TikTok and order Calamity Canyon from his shop! You won’t regret it! You might even get a coupon for it, like I did!

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