Clovis
Around Clovis
Photo: ArdenZ87 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · New Mexico · 65k people
Clovis
Locals say Clovis-Portales
Where the high plains meet the sky
Burnt OrangeDark RedGolden Yellow
Welcome to Clovis-Portales, where the flat horizon meets endless skies and the people are as warm as the green chile. Whether you're here for the rodeo, the hunting, or just passing through, you'll find a community that knows how to make you feel at home.
Clubs for Clovis
No clubs for Clovis yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Clovis. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Clovis. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Hillcrest Park Zoo Small community zoo in Clovis.
- Clovis Depot Historic railroad depot now a museum.
- Eastern New Mexico University Main campus in Portales.
- Blackwater Draw Museum Archaeological site and museum near Portales.
- Oasis State Park State park with fishing and camping.
- Fort Sumner State Monument Site of the Bosque Redondo and Billy the Kid's grave.
- Outdoors Fish at Oasis State Park
- Outdoors Hunt quail on the plains
- With kids Visit Hillcrest Park Zoo
- With kids Explore Blackwater Draw Museum
- Evenings Honky-tonk dancing
- Evenings Rodeo watch parties
- Locals love Peanut farms
- Locals love Hunting leases
Through the year
- Clovis Rodeo June One of the largest rodeos in the Southwest, held in June.
- Peanut Valley Festival October Celebrates the peanut harvest in Portales with food, crafts, and a parade.
- Billy the Kid Days September Fort Sumner's tribute to its Wild West history, with reenactments and a parade.
- Clovis Music Festival September Honors the legacy of Norman Petty's recording studio, featuring local bands.
- Curry County Fair August County fair with livestock shows, carnival rides, and local exhibits.
Semi-arid high plains with low humidity, big temperature swings, and constant wind. Best to be outside in April, May, September, and October. Best: Spring and fall offer mild days and clear skies.
Getaways
- Lubbock, TX Bigger city with music, dining, and Texas Tech sports.
- Amarillo, TX See the Palo Duro Canyon and the Cadillac Ranch.
- Roswell, NM UFO museums and the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
- Hereford, TX Small Texas town with a strong ranching heritage.
Local flavour
Teams
- Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds NCAA Division II
Also rooting for Dallas Cowboys (NFL), Texas Rangers (MLB)
Eat and drink
- Peanuts Portales is the 'Peanut Capital of New Mexico'
- Green chile New Mexico staple, used in stews, on burgers, and in breakfast burritos
- Breakfast burritos Egg, potato, cheese, and green chile wrapped in a tortilla
Where people go
- Peanut farms Fields around Portales
- Grain elevators Iconic structures dotting the flat landscape
- Llano Estacado The vast high plains region
- Cannon Air Force Base A major local employer and community hub
- Railroad yards Clovis is a historic railroad town
Heritage and traditions
This region is proud of its deep roots in the Old West, its role as a railroad hub, and its rich musical history—especially the recordings made at Norman Petty Studios that helped launch rock and roll.
This time of year in Clovis
- Peanut harvest Fall Harvest and Peanut Valley Festival.
- Hunting season Fall/Winter Quail and deer hunting on the plains.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — Getting ready to do something.
Festivals
- Clovis Railroad Days April Celebrates the city's railroad heritage with a parade and events.
Landmarks with a story
- Billy the Kid's Grave The final resting place of the famous outlaw, located in Fort Sumner.
- Bosque Redondo Memorial Commemorates the internment of Navajo and Mescalero Apache people at Fort Sumner in the 1860s.
Food traditions
- Green chile cheeseburgers A New Mexico staple, with roasted green chile on a burger, popular across the state.
- Sopaipillas with honey Fried pastry served with honey, a classic New Mexican dessert.
- Tamales at Christmas Families gather to make tamales during the holidays, a tradition from Hispanic culture.
- Frito pie A simple dish of chili, cheese, and Fritos, often served in the bag.
- Carne adovada Pork marinated in red chile, a slow-cooked New Mexican dish.
Music and arts
- Clovis Music Festival Annual country music event.
- Norman Petty Studios Historic recording studio that produced hits by Buddy Holly and other rock and roll pioneers.
- Western swing and country music tradition The region has a strong heritage of country and western swing music.
A little history
- 1906 Clovis founded as a railroad town on the Pecos Valley and Northern Railway.
- c. 11,000 BC Clovis culture named after artifacts found at Blackwater Draw.
- 1863–1868 Bosque Redondo internment of Navajo and Apache peoples at Fort Sumner.
- 1881 Billy the Kid killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner.
- 1930s Peanut farming becomes a major industry in the region.
Rivalries
- Clovis vs Portales Friendly high school and community rivalry.
- ENMU Greyhounds vs West Texas A&M Lone Star Conference football clash.
- Clovis vs Roswell Regional competition in sports and events.
- Game day High school football
- Game day Rodeo
- Outdoors Stargazing
- Outdoors Watching sunsets
- With kids Attending the Clovis Music Festival
- With kids Playing at Hillcrest Park
Locals speak with a blend of Texas and New Mexico accents, often using 'y'all' and occasionally Spanish words like 'bueno' or 'gracias'. The town names are pronounced 'CLO-vis' and 'por-TAL-es'.
Only here
- The Clovis culture is named after the city due to archaeological finds at Blackwater Draw.
- Norman Petty Studios recorded Buddy Holly's 'That'll Be the Day' and other hits.
- The region is known as the 'Peanut Capital of New Mexico'.
- Bosque Redondo is a significant site of Native American history.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for strong winds, especially in spring.
- Distances are vast; keep your gas tank full.
- Try a breakfast burrito with green chile.
- Learn to pronounce 'Clovis' as 'CLO-vis' and 'Portales' as 'por-TAL-es'.
- Attend a local rodeo or fair to experience the culture.
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Nearby
Every areaHerefordTexasFlat skies, hearty beef, and wide-open Texas.LittlefieldTexasBig skies, flat horizons, and Friday night lights.TucumcariNew MexicoBig skies, deep history, and the hum of the open road.TuliaTexasBig skies, warm hearts, and a horizon that never ends.PlainviewTexasWhere the wind writes on the plainsLubbockTexasFlat lands, big skies, and a whole lot of Texas heart.AmarilloTexasBig skies, big steaks, and a whole lot of Texas.RoswellNew MexicoBig skies, alien vibes, and green chile.
Clovis, NM. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.