Akela Flats Trading Post

Bowlin's Akela Flats Trading Post is located on the north side of Interstate 10 (Exit 102) in southern New Mexico. It is about 20 miles east of Deming (the Duck Race Capital Of The World) and about 30 miles west of Las Cruces (home of New Mexico State University main campus). From the moment you step foot into our store, the enticing aroma of fresh, homemade cookies will cause you to want to pick up a dozen of the fresh baked goodness...or try some of our homemade fudge! While you are snacking on these delicious goodies, enjoy browsing through the tremendous selection of merchandise such as southwest souvenirs, Native American handcrafted jewelry, Minnetonka Moccasins, or even the huge selection of fireworks offered at this store!  Exxon® fuel is also available with 24hr pay at the pump service.

The next time you are headin' our way, stop on in Akela Flats where we can show you true Southwestern hospitality!

Handmade Inlay Jewelry

Step 1: Wax Molds

Step 2: Silver just out of the kiln

Step 3: Silversmith linking the silver                               

Step 4: Shaving and placing the stones in the silver moldings

Step 5: Polishing the piece

There is no other jewelry quite like Inlay.  First, the silver molds are created from wax moldings and melted silver.  After the silver has been hardened, it is linked by a silversmith.  Next, each stone is shaved down by hand to fit perfectly in the silver moldings.  Each color you see is a different stone, and these stones come from all over the world- Brazil, India, Afghanistan, China, and even right here in the United States.  Finally, the inlay piece is polished and is ready for you to wear!  Every inlay piece you will find in our store has been diligently and tirelessly handmade, using exact precision.  When you purchase one of these inlay pieces, know that no one else will have an inlay piece like yours, for no two are alike. Make sure to check the back...there you will find the initials of the Native American artist responsible for crafting your piece.
We do offer a 90-day warranty on all of our jewelry items.  Upon purchasing a piece of inlay, you will receive a certificate of authenticity with our warranty information attached. 

Bluewater Travel Center & Dairy Queen

Our newly renovated Bluewater Travel Center is located on Interstate 40 (Exit 72) about 10 miles west of Grants, New Mexico.This store has the huge selection of gifts, Native American jewelry, and  souvenir items that you will find at any of our 10 Bowlin Stores. But, here at Bluewater, you have to stop to see the tremendous display of fireworks that are for sale year-round! Whether you are simply looking for sparklers or a big BANG with the huge 500 Gram fireworks, you are sure to find all of these and more!

All that shopping can make you tired, hungry, and thirsty, so why not go rest your legs and feed that appetite with a nice, juicy burger, some ice cream, and an ice cold soda to wash it all down?! Attached to our Travel Center is our Dairy Queen which gives you the opportunity to get an Ultimate Burger with french fries, or even one of the other DQ Brazier items such as a Chocolate Dipped Cone, Dilly Bar, or even a Blizzard.

Pay at the pump EXXON® fuel is available to you 24 hours a day. If you are need Diesel, go ahead and fill 'er up here! 

Stay around this part of our great state and visit the area attractions such as El Malpais National Monument. If you time your trip correctly, you can travel west about 50 miles to Gallup, New Mexico and participate in the festivities at the annual Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. There are many other interesting and historical places to visit in this part of northern New Mexico and Arizona. 

So on your next trip through Interstate 40, plan to make Bluewater Travel Center your place to stop where we can serve you right!

Civil War Re-Enactment

We have 2 stores located on Interstate 10 (Exit 219) between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.  Our Picacho Peak store not only offers souvenirs, Indian Handmade Jewelry, and other fine gifts, but the Dairy Queen (attached to our store) serves a full selection of Brazier items and DQ Treats all day long. It is a welcome oasis as you travel in the southern Arizona desert. Why not sit for a spell and look out the huge picture windows while you lunch on an Ultimate Burger or cool off with a DQ Blizzard. Scenic Picacho Peak sits directly in front of you, its towering chimney-like presence dotted with Saguro cactus that have lived in this area for hundreds of years. 

Our second store, Picacho Peak Plaza,  is right across the street. Picacho Peak Plaza is the newer, state-of-the-art Travel Center, added to the list of Bowlin stores serving the southwest. It is located directly across from its sister location on Interstate 10 (Exit 219), the Picacho Peak Dairy Queen Travel Center. This beautifully designed store is stunning...and it's stocked full of your favorite Bowlin merchandise as well as a few new surprises. We carry an enormous selection of southwestern gifts and souvenirs. We also have Native American handcrafted jewelry, Mexican Imports, and much much more. When you stop in you will be amazed by our life sized grizzly bear and our homage to John Wayne on his horse. We even have a nice Convenience Store section with tables and chairs for relaxin'.  Bowlin Travel Centers have been a part of the Picacho Peak landscape since 1985 and serve the traveling public for both the north and southbound traffic.

These stores are a perfect place to stop if you plan on attending the 2012 Civil War Re-Enactment on March 9-11. Each year, for the past 150 years, visitors travel from around the country to experience historic battle re-enactments complete with lifestyles of the soldiers in the southwest during the 1860s. Be a part of this exciting event...and make sure to stop and enjoy our beautiful jewelry, Mexican pottery, or souvenir items. Our staff at Picacho Peak Dairy Queen Travel Center and Picacho Peak Plaza will be sure to show you true southwestern hospitality!

Western Boots Just In!

We are very excited to introduce our addition of western boots sold exclusively online! These men and women boots are made by Montana Boots USA.  For over 70 years, the workers and artisans of Montana Boots have used the finest leather and boot making skills to create comfortable, durable and fashionable western boots. These boots are made using exotic leathers from around the world, some with the most intricate inlays, others out of rugged leathers for cowboys riding the range. Montana Boots are authentic in quality, style, and construction. Each boot is hand lasted, hand stitched, and hand cut. The leather soles are cut from leather bends at the factory and genuine leather heels are crafted layer-by-layer. The three-quarter welt boots are hand-pegged with 44 wood pegs, and each boot is hand finished by expert finishers. Each stage of construction is an example of the best possible methods in boot making.  Head to our online store at www.bowlinonline.com to check out our wide variety of western boots!
 Montana Boots USA - The Authentic Western Boot Still Handmade Since 1938

Flying C Ranch

 

Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc. has 10 store locations and 5 Dairy Queens across New Mexico and Arizona.  Most of our stores are along Interstate 10 and Interstate 40.  Our featured store this month is Flying C Ranch, located on Interstate 40, close to the middle of New Mexico.  

Flying C Ranch is not a real "working" ranch, but it is a tremendous place to stop for a while when traveling through the vast expanse of New Mexico.  This store is located approximately 70 miles east of Albuquerque and 40 miles west of Santa Rosa. Flying C Ranch has the original, large selection of merchandise that is offered at all of our Bowlin Stores, but this store has a better than average selection of T-shirts, bajas, Indian and Mexican made blankets, and Native American Handcrafted Jewelry. Exxon® fuel is available along with 24 hr. pay at the pump service. 

In addition to the store, we also feature a Dairy Queen located here. This Dairy Queen® has a large menu of Brazier® items and DQ Treats® available for you any time of the day.  Before you head on down the road, you will want to be sure to fill yourself up too. So on your next trip through New Mexico, why not stop at the Flying C Ranch and let us show you some true southern hospitality!

Hand Painted Ornaments

Christmas is here, and that means many of us are decorating our Christmas trees!  If you want bright, colorful ornaments, visit us online at www.bowlinonline.com.  We offer a wonderful assortment of hand painted ornaments. All of these ornaments are hand painted from the inside!  Each ornament is hand-painted by a skilled artisan using special narrow brushes and pointed sticks. 

The painting begins with the artist carefully outlining the design for the ornament inside the globe.  Next comes the more difficult step of slowly filling in the colors that brings these designs to life using the reverse glass painting technique.

This entire process in creating these ornaments requires several days to complete, and since each ornament is hand painted, no two are alike.  Each ornament is a unique collectible (that comes in its own gift box)!  These beautiful ornaments are the perfect addition to any Christmas tree!