GRANTS, N.M. - This past Saturday, September 26, 2026, was our 4th Annual Zuni Mt. / Mt. Taylor Willys Jeep Roundup. The old Willys wagon seemed to be trail worthy, or perhaps just road ready. No leaks, no oil drips, and only need to touch up the duct tape covering holes in the floorboard and an angel on the Jeeps dash, I headed to the drivethru on Santa Fe Ave, to start the event. There I was surprised by 4 Jeeps waiting there for the cruise start. Directly one more showed up and one more until 10 jeeps I introduced myself and welcomed everyone and started our games. Here cards were drawn for a high card poker hand and I handed out both 2” and 3” crafted foam rubber dice with “I did it…in my ...J...E...E...P” lettered on the faces to be rolled in hopes of completing the phrase by the cruise end and win a prize, as well as high poker hand. Score cards and stickers featuring Randy and LJ’s CJ7 were handed out.
We then took pictures of all Jeeps and owners. Jeff, Liz and Jason; John and Susan; Terry; were there again this year. New cruisers introduced themselves and after pictures at the drivethrough we headed down Zuni Canyon road past the old KMIN radio station building to the turn-off to Ojo Redondo where Randy, L.J., their son, and daughterin- law and grandson waited for us in vintage Willys Jeeps along with friends Larry and Candy. This year we had 15 Jeeps in the group. No dust this year as we had monsoon rains earlier in the week.
We caught up the dice roll and poker card draw, and discussed the trail we would travel this year, deciding to spend more time visiting and playing games we agreed to go to the Ojo Redondo Campground. The trees were confusing in Zuni Canyon due to the long drought earlier, lots of orange dried trees, especially on the sunny side.
At the campground Jeff headed up the game events including a horseshoe toss for “closest to the post”, and darts at the dartboard hung on a tree. The fog had lifted and some shed their sweatshirts and jackets. The dart game went well and after round two we had a winner. We did our final poker draw and kept tossing our dice until we had winners. Prizes included hand-made ornate metal frog and hummingbird, Jeep hats and beautiful mugs compliments of our niece Brenda.
We chatted about things from last year to date and family events and we all shared lunches and talked about the next year cruise. We talked about the history of the Zuni Mountains; of timbering, railroads, and of mining in the 40’s by families including the Griego, Valencia, and Vigil families in the Section 27 Fluorspar mines about 10 miles from here. Ironically two Jeeps were sporting the New Mexico State “Miners Heritage” license plate, with its pick and shovel design. As we wound down the day’s event, the talked about the upcoming Oct. 3rd Pink Ribbon event at Grants Corley Ford and welcomed all to participate.
Handshakes and hugs topped the event as we fired up the old (and new) Jeeps and headed home.