CHAPERITO

NAME: CHAPERITO
COUNTY: SAN MIGUEL
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 3
CLIMATE: SHOULD BE NO WORRY
BEST TIME TO VISIT: ANY TIME 		COMMENTS: CHAPERITO. POST OFFICE 1875/1957. My first recollections as a child were with my Grandparents in the community of Chaperito NM. It was a small ranching and farming community about 30 miles east of Las Vegas. I had to come to live in Las Vegas with my parents and the rest of my family when I was six years-old because the school in Chaperito had been closed for lack of a teacher. I realize now, as an adult, what a treasure we lost when Chaperito was sold, and its inhabitants were forced to give up their homes and their history along with it. My children will never experience life as I did in that beautiful place where the roots of many Las Vegans originated. I can tell them about it, but it's not the same. I can't even take them there to show them what is left of the community. I would love to hear from anyone else who has roots there so we can share.”
REMAINS: It resides on the property of Park Springs Ranch Mine (a.k.a. Hatch’s Ranch).

CHAPERITO. SPAN. 'LITTLE HAT'. 25 MI SE OF LAS VEGAS. THIS P9LACE NAME PRESERVES A SPANISH ARCHAISM OF CHAPERO, RELATED TO FRENCH 'CHAPEAU' 'HAT'. CHAPERITO IS OF COURSE , A DIMINUTIVE. Submitted by: Samuel W McWhorter

The buildings (~10?) were fairly complete the last time I went (c. 1980).  There was a fence enclosing the area, and the last time we were there (~25 years ago), a caretaker [brandishing a gun!] was on the property.  One side of a building was ruined and you could see the claw foot bathtub inside!  I’d guess late 1800s/turn of the century. - Submitted by Bruce Grinstead.

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