American RV Resort

Our pool and hot tub are open for the season! 💦Hello Summer ☀️

Albuquerque’s Downtown exists because a train skipped Old Town in April 1880.

When the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway reached Albuquerque, it deliberately bypassed the 1706 Spanish plaza settlement (Old Town) by about a mile—choosing flatter ground for the tracks. That one decision sparked a brand-new “New Town” along the rail line, laid out on a modern grid that became today’s Downtown.

Almost overnight, hotels, saloons, warehouses, and shops clustered around the depot to serve travelers and railroad workers. The city boomed from roughly 2,000 residents around 1880 to well over 10,000 by the early 1900s—powered by rail jobs, new businesses, and people arriving from across the country.

The railroad made Albuquerque a division point and service hub (think yards and repair work), linking the city east toward Kansas and the Midwest and west toward Arizona and California—pulling Albuquerque into national markets and changing its future.

Want a “then vs. now” moment? Look for the contrast between Old Town’s plaza layout and Downtown’s railroad-era street grid. And if you’ve heard of the Alvarado Hotel (built in 1902, demolished in 1970), today’s Alvarado Transportation Center stands on that historic rail-gateway site.

Staying at American RV Resort soon? What would you explore first: Old Town’s plaza or the Downtown rail corridor?

Marshmallow keep catching fire? It’s the sugar scorching in direct flame—use steady, even heat instead.

Two ways to get that perfect toast:
1) Edge-of-the-flame slow rotate (fastest)
- Hold it just outside the flame where you feel strong heat
- Roll the stick between your fingers for a smooth, constant turn

2) Over-coals method (most even)
- Wait for glowing coals with a light ash coat
- Hold it about 6–10 inches above and rotate slowly for a golden shell

Quick s’mores upgrade:
- Warm your chocolate on the graham for 10–20 seconds first
- Build it, then wait 10–15 seconds before the first bite (less ooze, more melt)

Rescue plan if it ignites: don’t wave it—blow it out like a candle, let it cool a beat, and keep going.

Now settle the debate: what’s your trick for keeping marshmallows from catching fire—slow rotate at the edge or toast over coals?

If Albuquerque is on your route, consider American RV Resort as your easy home base near I-40/Route 66 with pull-through and back-in full-hookup sites (large-rig friendly up to ~70 ft.), a dog park, playground, and a seasonal heated pool + hot tub. Share your method—American RV Resort wants to hear it.

Campsite pancake poll: are you Team Squeeze Bottle or Team Bowl? 🥞

Team Squeeze Bottle (the fast, low-mess crew): load dry mix at home, add water at camp, shake, and pour. Pro tip: add about 80–90% of the water first, shake hard, rest 3–5 minutes, then splash in the rest to get your perfect thickness.

Team Bowl (the fluffy-perfection crew): easier texture control and mix-ins for a bigger group. Pro tip: don’t overmix—tiny lumps are fine. Sprinkle blueberries or chocolate chips on top after you pour so they don’t sink and scorch.

Bonus hack if you’re feeling clever: use a freezer zip-top bag as the “bowl,” add water, knead, then snip a corner and pipe batter like frosting. Minimal dishes, easy cleanup.

Which team are you—squeeze bottle or bowl? Tell us why, and we’ll add your tip to our camp-breakfast idea list at American RV Resort.