Ruidoso Downs · US-70 · Outdoor bronze sculpture
Free Spirits at Noisy Water
Eight bronze horses gallop across a landscaped hillside off US-70, a quick roadside stop with no posted fee, even while the Hubbard Museum next door stays closed.
Opens the visitor bureau’s page on the sculptures. The Hubbard Museum next door is closed for renovations until further notice.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Outdoor sculpture
By Dave McGary, installed in 1995
Admission
No fee posted
Outdoor grounds; the museum is closed
Hours
No posted hours
Outdoor grounds; visit in daylight
Time needed
15+ min
Level path; longer with the hill trail
Parking
Shared lot off US-70
No RV rules posted
Length
255 ft long
8 horses balanced on just 9 hooves
What you’ll see
Eight bronze horses on the run
A roadside stop in Ruidoso Downs where a herd of bronze horses gallops across a landscaped hillside.
Photo: Dennis Adams, Federal Highway Administration, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Start here
The walk through the herd
A level path winds past eight bronze horses representing seven breeds: Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Appaloosa, Paint (a mare with her foal), Arabian, Morgan and Standardbred. Plaques describe each breed, and a short hill trail gives a better view of the whole 255-foot sweep.
RV tip: the sculptures share an entrance and lot with the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway Visitor Center, right off four-lane US-70. Restrooms are at the visitor center, not at the sculptures.
More to see
- The leaping StandardbredThe lead horse leaps from a man-made rock mountain, more than 36 feet in the air.
- The flying foalThe Paint foal is welded to its mother so it looks airborne, with all four hooves off the ground.
- Nine hooves for eight horsesThe 255-foot installation balances eight horses, each weighing 3,000 to 5,000 pounds, on just nine hooves.
- Billy the Kid Scenic Byway Visitor CenterNext door, with exhibits on byway attractions and trip-planning help. Its current hours aren’t posted, so call ahead.
- Hubbard Museum of the American WestThe museum behind the sculptures is closed for renovations until further notice, according to a notice updated February 3, 2026.
Why go
A signature piece for Ruidoso Downs
The Hubbard family commissioned Free Spirits at Noisy Water in 1995 for what is now the Hubbard Museum of the American West, and it was installed that July. Sculptor Dave McGary, who grew up on a ranch in Cody, Wyoming, designed and engineered both the bronzes and the landscaped park around them.
The work became the museum’s signature piece, and attendance doubled after it was unveiled. McGary, whose bronzes are in the Smithsonian and the Eiteljorg Museum, died in 2013.
The museum has been closed for years and remains closed for renovations, but the Village’s visitor bureau says the surrounding park is still open, and recent visitors report walking the grounds. It is a quick, easy stop on US-70, a few minutes from three Ruidoso-area RV parks.
Photo: Federal Highway Administration via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Why it made our list
- Eight bronze horses, seven breeds
- 255 feet long, balanced on nine hooves
- No admission fee posted
- Right off US-70 in Ruidoso Downs
- About 5 minutes from three RV parks
For RVers
A quick stop off US-70
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Pull in off US-70
The sculptures sit beside four-lane US-70 in Ruidoso Downs, and the lot is shared with the byway visitor center. No RV or trailer rules are posted. A visitor towing a trailer in 2021 found the lot empty, but take a look before you pull a big rig in.
Know what’s closed
The Hubbard Museum is closed until further notice, and Ruidoso Downs Race Track held no racing in Ruidoso in 2026; the meet moved to Albuquerque. Billy the Kid Casino at the track is also closed.
Pets
No pet policy is posted, and reviewers disagree on whether dogs are allowed on the grounds. If you bring one, keep it leashed and on the path, or leave it at camp.
Make it a byway day
The sculptures make a natural first stop on the 84-mile Billy the Kid Scenic Byway loop, about a 2-hour drive with no fees, through Lincoln and Capitan.
What visitors say about Free Spirits at Noisy Water
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 29, 2026.
one of the largest equine sculptures in the world
Dave McGary’s official site · davemcgary.com
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Tripadvisor reviews
Lifelike horsesPeaceful groundsMuseum closed
Tripadvisor shows no keyword counts for the sculptures; these themes come from its review summary and recent reviews. Checked October 29, 2026.
How close the parks are
Driving distances from our route check in October 2026. All three parks are about 5 minutes away on US-70.
Good to know
AdmissionNone posted outdoor sculptures
Horses8 seven breeds
Each horse3,000–5,000 lb bronze
The breedsThoroughbredQuarter HorseAppaloosaPaintArabianMorganStandardbred
Sculpture details from Dave McGary’s official site; museum status from hubbardmuseum.org, checked October 29, 2026. The visitor bureau lists the address as 841 Highway 70, while the museum uses 26301 US-70.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Free Spirits at Noisy Water
- Address26301 US-70, Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346
- HoursNo posted hours
Outdoor grounds; visit in daylight - Phone(575) 378-4142
- AdmissionNo fee is posted for the outdoor sculptures.
- Getting thereOn the north side of US-70 in Ruidoso Downs, just east of the race track.
- ParkingA lot shared with the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway Visitor Center. No RV rules are posted.
The grounds have no posted hours, so visit in daylight. The museum is closed for renovations until further notice.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Free Spirits at Noisy Water
These are the parks we have visited and written up nearest the sculptures, all within about 5 minutes on US-70.
Slow Play RV Park
Big, well-kept RV park on US-70 in Ruidoso Downs with long gravel pull-thrus.
Arrowhead Motel & RV Park
Retro motor-court motel on US-70, open since 1954, with about 15 full-hookup RV spaces.
Pine Ridge RV Park
Older, quiet park on a pine-covered hillside just off US-70.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Outdoor grounds · Visit in daylight
Ready to see the herd?
Pull in off US-70, walk the path, and use the restrooms at the visitor center next door.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Dennis Adams and the Federal Highway Administration, and AllenS, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain); the images were resized. The sculpture is the work of Dave McGary. Video: Wandering Out Yonder on YouTube. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Free Spirits at Noisy Water unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the Hubbard Museum’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the Hubbard Museum and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Free Spirits at Noisy Water at hubbardmuseum.org or (575) 378-4142. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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