While San Elizario may feel sleepy to outsiders and local El Paso residents 20 miles north who have never paid a visit to the area, the small, rural town on the U.S.-Mexico border has a remarkably rich history and today is brimming with local art galleries and restaurants. Named the "Best Historic Small Town in America” by USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2023, San Elizario still proudly celebrates its Spanish heritage.
“San Elizario provides country living outside of the city limits of El Paso,” says area resident Edgar Garcia, an agent at Revolve Realty. “It’s quiet and family-oriented, with a focus on agriculture, though there are still plenty of restaurants, coffee shops and things to do in the area, especially in the historic district.”
Breathe in the serenity of San Elizario embraced by hay fields.
San Elizario's rich heritage dates back to 1598, nestled in Lower Valley.
A San Elizario home nestled amidst the tranquil beauty of a hay field.
Socorro Road offers a scenic drive with mature trees and open fields in San Elizario.
San Elizario's scenic charm is adorned with cotton fields and pecan orchards.
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Spanish influence and stucco walls
Homes in San Elizario add to the well-maintained Spanish integrity of the area, with most being adobe-style or Spanish or Pueblo revivals with stucco walls. Manufactured homes and fixer-uppers can be found for as low as $100,000, while new construction starts at around $300,000 and ranges to $700,000, depending on square footage and lot size. adding that buyers in all price points often choose the area for its low property taxes.
While homes here can date back to the mid-20th century, the area is also experiencing a lot of new construction. “Often, people who buy here are looking for a quieter, more private way of life, with neighbors who aren’t right on top of you on all sides,” Garcia says, adding that the area’s low property taxes also attract buyers.
In San Elizario, some homes feature carports to shelter from the elements.
Spanish Revival home with striking white stucco walls and red tile roof in San Elizario.
A taste of the classic American homes in the heart of San Elizario.
A Spanish Revival home that offers a convenient carport for protection from the elements.
Stucco homes are the top choice in San Elizario.
Nestled in San Elizario, a Ranch-style gem with a Little Free Library.
Ranch Style homes define the character of San Elizario's neighborhoods.
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Branching out to El Paso
Just off Interstate 10 on the Rio Grande, San Elizario provides easy access to El Paso and surrounding areas, with the El Paso International Airport 20 miles away, and the Hospitals of Providence Horizon City Campus 12 miles away.
A smoking restaurant scene
Residents can do their grocery shopping at San Eli Supermarket, which has a large selection of produce, a bakery, and a deli. There is also a small counter service restaurant inside offering authentic Mexican breakfast and lunch with fresh homemade tortillas.
Licon Dairy is a large, locally-owned dairy farm, with a store selling fresh milk, cheeses and other handmade dairy products, as well as whey for those who want to try making their own cheese at home. There is also a petting zoo on site, as well as The Outlaw Saloon and Grill, serving burgers, steaks and appetizers made with exclusively locally sourced ingredients, including queso made at the dairy farm.
Shooter’s Smokin’ BBQ is a true, Texas-themed barbeque spot with a large, covered outdoor patio that is a popular stop for motorcycle riders passing through the area. Serving smoked barbecue, burgers, and brews, the lively establishment also regularly hosts live music. Pistoleros Del Adobe Cantina & Grill serves authentic Mexican fare and craft margaritas in an old, adobe-style building, also regularly hosting karaoke and live music — or, for casual, authentic Mexican fare in a no-fuss setting, residents can stop in to Tacos Guadalajara.
Explore Licon Dairy's petting zoo and let your family create lasting memories.
Ortiz Produce & Groceries is your one-stop shop for convenience in the San Elizario.
Licon Dairy's commitment to exceptional dairy spans over 65 years in San Elizario.
San Eli Supermarket offers fresh produce and delicious cooked meals.
Discover the essence of Mexican cuisine in San Elizario with Tacos Guadalajara.
Mendoza Grocery is your go-to spot for all your needs.
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Skating, soccer and songbirds
Residents in San Elizario can head to the local Fernie Madrid Eagle Park, which offers a basketball court, baseball diamond and an open field suitable for soccer or football, as well as a paved walking track, while Alejandra Flores and Ted Richardson parks both have a skate park and a playground. For more expansive outdoor recreation, 372- acre Rio Bosque Park is less than 10 miles north with expansive walking trails through wetlands and riverside forest along the Riverside Reservoir — two ecosystems otherwise nearly completely disappeared from the region. Bird watchers can spot over 200 different species here, and visitors flock here during the spring months to see the impressive blooms of wildflowers along the trails.
Take a leisurely stroll through the Fernie Madrid Eagle Park in San Elizario.
Honoring Fernie Madrid's three decades of selfless service to the San Elizario community.
In the heart of San Elizario, find solace and beauty at Fernie Madrid Eagle Park.
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San Elizario schooling
Students can attend schools in the San Elizario Independent district, like Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary for kindergarten through second grade, which earns a B-minus from Niche, and Lorenzo G. Alarcon Elementary for grades 3 through 6, which earns a C-minus. From there, students can attend Ann M. Garcia Enriquez Middle, earning a C, and San Elizario High, earning a C-plus. The high school enables students to enroll in the San Elizario Early College High School, with the ability to earn an associate’s degree alongside their high school diploma.
A commitment to lifelong learning at Alarcon Elementary.
Garcia-Enriquez Middle School's guiding principles for student success.
San Elizario High School's timeless commitment to education.
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Art, music and history
San Elizario has a multitude of recurring annual and monthly events, including the Mission Trail Art Market, held the third Sunday of each month from April to November, featuring local craft vendors selling pottery, jewelry, paintings and other forms of art. The event also hosts food vendors, as well as live music, and the galleries in the historical district stay open late during this time to allow residents strolling Main Street to visit after hours.
The Billy the Kid Festival is held annually in June and also features food and craft vendors as well as live music and dance performances, with historical reenactments of shootouts and Billy the Kid’s infamous break-in at the old county jail. Residents can also catch the original play, Billy the Kid: 1876, on the main stage.
At the San Elizario Historic District, Placita Madrid hosts a collection of art galleries.
Statue of Billy the Kid in San Elizario by local sculptor G. Jacquez Calderon.
The Presidio Chapel of San Elizario was built in 1877 in the central square of San Elizario.
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Take a ride through the past
Set along a point of the historic El Camino Real called Mission Trail, a commercial corridor that led from Mexico across the Rio Grande and into the U.S. as early as 1598, San Elizario once served as a strategic military site on the northern frontier of New Spain, with Spanish soldiers building a military presidio and chapel here in 1789. Today, the town center is part of the National Register of Historic Places, and includes the presidio chapel, as well as the old county jail, known for being the only jail that Billy the Kid — one of the deadliest gunmen in the West — ever broke into as part elaborate plan to free one of his friends. Residents and visitors can learn more about San Elizario’s longstanding history at the Los Portales Museum, also located in the historic district.
Discover the stories of San Elizario's past at Los Portales Museum and Information Center.
Discover history with the Mission Trail Express in San Elizario.
San Elizario's rich history comes alive with the Mission Trail.
Tales of the southwest unfold on the mural adorning San Elizario's City Hall's exterior.
Los Portales was built around 1855 by local farmer Nacenseno Garcia in San Elizario.
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