Candy Kitchen is an unincorporated community in Cibola County, New Mexico, United States, in the northwestern part of the state. It is located at 34°54′51″N 108°29′9″W (34.9142058, -108.4859053), at an altitude of 7,388 feet (2,252 m).[1]

About

The name Candy Kitchen originated with a rancher who made moonshine liquor during the prohibition era in the United States. As a front for purchasing large amounts of sugar to produce his liquor, he manufactured pinon nut candy. People would come to his ranch to purchase candy over the counter and illegal liquor under the counter.^{[citation needed]}

The isolated and rustic nature of the area has attracted a colorful array of individualists. The area is home to a very diverse and intimate community that includes artists, ranchers, and homesteaders. It is roughly 60 miles from the nearest grocery store. The diversity of Candy Kitchen attracts people who are not worried about sex, religion, origin, sexuality (about 35% LGBTQ), and any other modern-day concerns with regard to culture.

Rumored history includes a hiding place for Butch Cassidy, Geronimo, and Prohibition distilleries.^{[citation needed]}

In modern days, Candy Kitchen is home to many homesteader families, regular folks, hippies, Radical Faeries, Ramah Navajos, Zuni Puebloans, people who like their privacy, and people who enjoy living simply.

Candy Kitchen is mostly off-grid, with no sewer or city services and very few homesteads electric lines. It is all dirt roads that can be difficult when wet or snow-packed. The lure is inexpensive land with many buying sight unseen the results can be mixed. There is no city water so water is obtained by drilling a well (extremely expensive), water catchment, or via Jacobs Well on the Ramah Navajo Reservation. There is no community well there is a well share but you must purchase a property with that share intact (there were only 25 shares available). The local job market is slim to none.

Development Of Candy Kitchen Ranch

Candy Kitchen Ranch is located 60 miles south of Gallup and consists of 18 sections of land, each section being 1 square mile. It is interspersed with sections of Indian lands, state lands, and BLM federal lands. In the 1970s, Candy Kitchen Ranch began to attract developers and it changed ownership several times. Dick Pitchford was the main developer and created his own company "Pitchford Properties" separating the land into subdivisions. He built a small airport in the mid-1970s, using it to fly in clientele from Tucson, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and other nearby cities. He made the properties very affordable offering customers 0 down payment and owner financing. By the end of the 1980s, all of the properties were sold and properties were only available on the secondary market. Today, companies are active in selling land, homes, and cabin properties in Candy Kitchen Ranch, people buying these properties should do their due diligence before purchasing.

Attractions

Candy Kitchen is currently the home of the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary which provides shelter for wolves and wolf-dog crosses who have been raised by people who could no longer provide care for them.

References

External links

• Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
• Living Along The Ancient Way - Candy Kitchen & El Morro Valley, NM