The “Only in America” Tour—Part 8

Pie Town, U.S.A.

If you bake it, they will come.

Nowhere is this truer than in Pie Town, New Mexico.  My friend Thea had heard about this place ten years ago and thought it sounded interesting.  So when we planned our trip, we decided it was worthwhile to drive a few hundred extra miles just to sample this slice of Americana.

Pie Town is located in the middle of nowhere—just west of the Continental Divide, about a 2½ hours’ drive southwest of Albuquerque.   It sits at 7,800 feet (about 2,377 meters) above sea-level.  According to the latest census records, it boasts a population of 176; however, one would be hard-pressed to spot that many people.  There are no hotels, but there is a free hostel for mountain bikers and hikers that is called “The Toaster House” because it is decorated with… you guessed it… toasters.

Pie Town got its name in the 1920s when a baker set up a roadside stall selling apple pies.  The baking tradition has continued over the years.  Currently, there are two “made from scratch” pie sellers in town: the Pie-O-Neer and the Gathering Place II.  We sampled and enjoyed pies from both (of course).  But since the Pie-O-Neer has better ambiance—and I’m a fan of puns—it is the location featured in my photos.

Left: Mona poses in front of the famous Pie-O-Neer Restaurant. Right: The décor inside the Pie-o-Neer was homey and welcoming.
The pie bar offered many delicious choices.
Left: Mona enjoys a slice of coconut cream pie, her favorite. Of course, she’s never met a pie she didn’t like. Right: Only in America would you find a house decorated with toasters. It now serves as a free hostel for mountain bikers and hikers who are passing thru.

Here are Some Fun Facts about Pie:

  • Ancient Egyptians were the first to invent a dish close to what we know as pie today. It had a honey filling covered in a crusty cake made from oats, wheat, rye, or barley.
  • The first pie recipe was published by the Romans. It was for a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie.
  • Pumpkin pie was first introduced to the American holiday table at the pilgrims’ second Thanksgiving in 1623. Nowadays 50 million pumpkin pies are eaten each November.
  • Apple is the most popular pie in the U.S., followed by pumpkin, pecan, cherry, and lemon meringue.
  • 1 in 5 Americans have eaten an entire pie by themselves.
  • Writer Mark Twain loved pies so much that he often ate half a pie for lunch and finished it off for dinner.
  • 90% of Americans agree that a slice of pie represents one of the simple pleasures of life.

If you bake it, they will come.  People from all across the U.S.—and the world—come to Pie Town to sample one of life’s greatest pleasures.  Would you like a scoop of ice cream with yours?

 

 

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