Welcome to Capitan
Surrounded by the tall pines of the Lincoln National Forest, Capitan is ideally located in the heart of historic Lincoln County. The Village is situated between the Capitan and Sacramento Mountains at an elevation of 6,530 feet. Smokey Bear, Capitan's most famous resident is buried on the grounds of the Smokey Bear Historical Park. Smokey Bear, often incorrectly referred to as Smokey the Bear, was the badly singed black bear cub that was rescued from a 17,000 acre fire in the Capitan Mountains in 1950. Each year the residents celebrate his memory with the Smokey Bear Stampede, 4 days of festivities, including a fun run marathon, parade, barbeque, western dance, music festival and rodeo events commencing over the 4th of July weekend.