Walmart

While staying in Heron Lake campground(Sept 2019), I had to do business in Espanola (buy a phone that would get service in the area). Driving in, I passed a multi-agency group of LEO's grouped at a large parking lot on the main drag, in town for a drug raid, which became apparent on my drive out-they were PERFORMING the raid (guns out, running, yelling, etc. in another location!).
While waiting in the Verizon store a father-daughter (in soccer clothes and cleats) came into the store reporting the soccer game at the school was cancelled by LEO's because of a gun incident on campus!
The numbers of citizens with gang tats, particularly FACIAL tats (prison) walking around makes it apparent that this is NOT a place I would want to spend the night! The Espanola "Macarena" joke when I worked in Santa Fe involves the EXTRA dance moves of facing a wall with both HANDS ON THE WALL and, both legs spread WIDE>>LOL

This is not so much a review as a warning. This Walmart is appalling. Yes you can park for free but at about 8pm this becomes a drag race strip along with loud RV shaking bass systems. Must have been 20 cars there when I parked up on a Thursday night. This is locals with souped up cars and stereo systems. I left at 12:30 am I couldn't take it anymore and there was no sign of it abating. There was trash all over the lot and the little security car disappeared when the Walmart shut for the night. The entire area is sketchy and so is Santa Fe. Do yourself a favor and keep away from these 2 towns especially the Walmart. The danger was tangible. Don't risk it. Also judging from the reviews here all the public lands have been used as landfills so I see no reason to bother with this area. I am heading south to Albuquerque.