Why is the village called Ruidoso?

Ruidoso got its name from the Spanish word “ruido,” meaning noisy. This refers to the Río Ruidoso, a river that cascades down from Sierra Blanca to the Hondo Valley, making a raucous noise as it courses over river pebbles.

What’s the correct pronunciation for Ruidoso?

The widely accepted pronunciation of Ruidoso is ROO-EE-DOH-SO, though you might hear some say REE-OH-DOH-SO, and Texans often add an ‘a’ instead of an ‘o’ at the end. No matter how you say it, you’re likely to be greeted warmly in this laid-back mountain town.