Fenton Lake State Park

Fenton Lake State Park lies in New Mexico’s Jemez Mountains, about 33 miles north of San Ysidro, and centers on 37-acre Fenton Lake, long valued as a popular fishing destination. The park’s land was first acquired in 1940, when the State Game Commission bought 80 acres from Elijah McClean Fenton Sr. for $2,176 using Wildlife Restoration funds, giving the park its family name. Along with its recreational importance, the lake holds a minor place in film history: in 1976 it served as a location for The Man Who Fell to Earth, in the scene of an alien spacecraft’s splash-landing. Today it remains prized for its mountain setting and fishing access.

New Mexico · United States