The Horse Capital of NM: a village with strong rural character
The Village of Corrales is among the close-knit rural communities outside Albuquerque that still strongly embody the old Southwest's spirit. It's about 15 miles north of downtown. While Albuquerque, New Mexico's biggest city, has a population of about 559,000, Corrales has about 8,600 residents. Neighboring Rio Rancho, one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in the state, has close to 113,000. The state capital, Santa Fe, is about 55 miles to the northeast.
Corrales is one of greater Albuquerque's sought-after locations. "It's an incredible place to live. The landscape is beautiful, there are extraordinary views of the Sandia Mountains, and everything's in a very natural state," says Angela Aragon-Schriber, an associate broker with Weichert Realtors Image. "It's not city life at all, so if that's what you're looking for, this isn't the place. You're going to have land; you can have horses." Corrales, which is named after the Spanish word for corrals, is considered the horse capital of New Mexico.
Corrales is a unique village with natural beauty and a unique lifestyle.
Corrales is a beautiful village known being the horse capital and their art and dining.
The farm land and beautiful views in Corrales make it a great place to lay down roots.
A man a woman take a photo opportunity on a horse in Corrales.
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From the North Valley, through the village and to Rio Rancho
Corrales Road, or state Route 448, is the main route in or out. The road passes through the old-style village, agricultural land, equestrian businesses and wineries. The heart of Corrales has vintage buildings, shops and restaurants, most of which are quite close to the road. Most people drive, though cycling is also popular, and there are some bike lanes. Local organizations are collaborating on safety initiatives to combat increased traffic.
South of the village is Albuquerque's North Valley; adjacent on the north and west is the City of Rio Rancho. Commuters might head 5 miles to the Northwest Transit Center, which provides Park & Ride amenities, including ABQ Ride bus service. Albuquerque International Sunport, the region's airport, is about 20 miles from Corrales.
Lots of an acre or more, adobe Pueblo-style homes
As in much of the region, Spanish Colonial and adobe Pueblo-style homes are common. "People have done a lot to preserve and protect Corrales," Aragon-Schriber says. One way the village has avoided overcrowding and retained its rural feel is through land use ordinances. Depending on the zoning location, a lot may be required to be 1 acre or more. "My dad had the foresight to portion off acres of land for me and my siblings. If he hadn't, I probably wouldn't have been able to afford living here with the price of land now, plus the cost of building a new home," says Tony Pedroncelli, an IT professional who grew up in the village and moved back to live on Pedroncelli Road.
The median home price for Corrales in late 2024 was $680,000, more than double that of Albuquerque. Homes of 1,000 square feet to 1,600 square feet start in the $300,000s. Most of the homes that are $1 million to $3 million are custom builds from the 1990s through the 2020s and typically 3,400 square feet to 6,000 square feet. Some are set aside on large, secluded lots; others are in gated communities.
Adobe styled homes are some of the most common styles in Corrales.
Single story homes are the most common style in Corrales.
Corrales provides residents with open space and room to grow.
While Corrales does have historic homes it also has pockets of homes with a more upscale feel.
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Locally owned shops on Corrales Road, other retail nearby
Along Corrales Road are locally owned businesses, including a tea and chocolates shop, a cigar shop, a thrift store, and wellness services. "Nightlife has gotten better in the last 10 to 15 years," Pedroncelli says. Among the establishments with entertainment or event offerings are Casa Vieja and Ex Novo Brewery. Perea's Tequila Bar and Restaurant serves authentic Southwestern dishes in a building that is over 200 years old. "We're on the 400-year plan. We're not going anywhere," says co-owner John Perea, a member of the family that opened the establishment in 1936. Jane Butel, a renowned cookbook author and a top authority on Southwest cuisine, also lives in Corrales. "Corrales is a fountainhead for history buffs, and it has a unique place in culinary culture. We've been around a long time, and we don't hurry about anything."
Other standouts include Corrales Teas & Chocolates, Hannah & Nate's, Village Pizza and the Indigo Crow. For conveniences and essentials, there's FrontierMart. "It's the place to go if you need something quick. Everybody around here calls it "the Little Store,'" Pedroncelli says. For more shopping, people may head toward Albuquerque. On the way, there's Corrales Shopping Center with Sprouts Farmers Market and other stores. Close by is Cottonwood Mall, the second-largest mall in the state, an Albertsons, Walmart and Costco.
Corrales Tea and Chocolates is a a local favorite in the Corrales neighborhood.
Individuals head to local staple Ex Novo Brewing Company in Corrales for a brew and ambience.
Residents of Corrales adore Village Pizza's quaint patio.
Sprouts Farmers Market offers a great selection of fresh foods and grocieries.
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History including pueblos, the Old San Ysidro Church and hippies
The region has been home to Native American communities for thousands of years and ruins and artifacts from pueblo settlements have been found in Corrales. The closest existing pueblo, Sandia Pueblo, is just a few miles to the east, but since the Rio Grande River is between them, getting around it requires a drive of roughly 12 miles. "There are a lot of rules and guidelines when it comes to certain pueblos," says Anthony Tekala, cultural events coordinator at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. He strongly recommends contacting pueblo visitor centers before making a trip.
Corrales, incorporated as a village in 1971, has a history that includes 18th-century Spanish land grants and rancho settlements. By the 1860s, it was a farming community. The historic Old San Ysidro Church, dedicated to the patron saint of farmers, dates to this era. It's on Old Church Road, across from the Casa San Ysidro museum. The Fiesta de San Ysidro in May commemorates the history and multicultural influences that formed Corrales. In December, the church hosts Las Posadas, a processional reenactment of the Nativity journey.
Hippie culture came to town in the 1960s, bringing a creative vibe. Art remains a significant part of the culture here, as Corrales is known for its galleries and events like monthly Arts in the Village, the Old Church Fine Arts Show in October and Art in the Park in July in October. The Corrales Art & Studio Tour (CAST) in May is one of the Southwest's largest art studio tours
Corrales sits right along the Rio Grande, locals love to take walks along the paths nearby.
The Old San Ysidro Church was built in the Corrales neighborhood in 1868.
Casa San Ysidro is one of the historic buildings around Corrales showing the deep history.
Many art studios can be found all around Corrales with art in many different mediums.
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Kids may attend Corrales Elementary, Taylor Middle and Cibola High
The public schools here are part of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), which earns an overall B-plus grade from Niche. It's the biggest district in the state, serving over 70,000 students, though only a small share live in Corrales. "In the late 1980s to early '90s, 500 or more students went to Corrales Elementary School; today it's more like 300," says Pedroncelli, who attended the school. Corrales Elementary School receives an A-minus, Taylor Middle School has a B-minus and Cibola High School has a B-plus.
Private offerings include Sandia View Christian School for preschool through eighth grade and Sandia View Academy for high school. Both are affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist church. Non-profit organization Corrales Community Education has the Pee Wees preschool-level program and before- and after-school care for kids up to the fifth grade level.
Corrales Elementary School helps students in Corrales excel in their academics.
Cibola High School received an A rating from Niche.
Taylor Middle School has a great program for students in 6th through 8th grade.
Sandia View Academy is a private school serving the are of Corrales.
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Recreational Corrales, outdoor amenities and community events
Corrales has various recreational offerings, including parks, gyms, a community center and a senior center. Sports amenities include the Robert Bell Skate Park. The Corrales Growers Market is held seasonally on Sundays and as a winter holiday market. Other community events include the Corrales Harvest Festival in September and the horse-centric Christmas de Los Caballos Parade. The world's largest ballooning event, the International Balloon Fiesta, is held in October at Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta Park, about 8 miles from Corrales.
To the north in Rio Rancho, there's access to the Bosque Preserve Trail. Additionally, Corrales plans to develop a community greenway along the Corrales Interior Drain, a part of the irrigation system. The greenway would include trails, recreational features and wildlife habitats.
A group of young people enjoy the skatepark at Corrales Parks & Recreation.
You can find items like homemade jams and jellies at Corrales Growers Market.
Corrales Harvest Festival is one of the largest events held in Corrales.
Enjoy a walk in the Bosque on the Corrales walking trails.
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Water rights, coyotes to watch for, but not a lot of crime
Water rights can be an aspect of property ownership here. Corrales has acequias, or irrigation ditches, which divert water from the Rio Grande. Initially implemented in the early 18th century, acequias affected plot shapes and sizes: long and narrow to allow contact with the ditches. Some Corrales properties may have water rights and the required sluices that control the water flow according to allotment and seasonal conditions. "Being able to flood irrigate is a benefit, but it comes with responsibility and has a cooperative aspect. It can be a pain," Pedroncelli says.
A levee in the Bosque Preserve provides some protection against flooding, which is still a concern. The lack of storm sewers means residents must practice stormwater retention methods, especially during Monsoon season. Coyotes are another issue; owners of small pets are especially cautious. Coyote fencing, often constructed from roughly hewn branches, increases security. Corrales Animal Control's management plan includes trapping.
FBI data shows no violent crime was reported in Corrales in December 2023, though two to five incidents were reported in the preceding months. Three incidents of property crime were reported at the end of 2023; during that year, the number of monthly reports ranged from one to eight. These numbers are far less than those seen in Albuquerque or at the state level.
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