IN 1829, DON FRANCISCO LAFORET CAME TO THIS AREA AND TRIED TO SETTLE ALONG THE RED RIVER, BUT INDIAN ATTACKS EVENTUALLY FORCED HIM TO A MORE PROTECTED SITE UP ON A RIDGE AND THAT IS WHAT QUESTA MEANS, RIDGE OR SLOPE. THE COMMUNITY'S FORMAL NAME, THROUGHOUT IT'S HISTORY, IS SAN ANTONIO DEL RIO COLORADO. THE NAME QUESTA IS NOW IN COMMON USE AND THE POST OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1883. THE VILLAGE HAS BEEN A FARMING AND TRADING CENTER. IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY, MOLYBDENUM MINING HAS DOMINATED THE ECONOMY BUT HOWEVER, JUST RECENTLY, THE MINE IS CLOSED.
IF YOU LOOK EAST, ACROSS THE HOUSE WITH THE RED ROOF, YOU CAN SEE ANOTHER CEMETERY ON THE HILL. THERE IS NO EASY ROAD AND THE GATE IS LOCKED A LONG WAYS FROM THE CEMETERY.
REFERENCE MATERIAL IS FROM THE BOOK BY ROBERT JULYAN, THE PLACE NAMES OF NEW MEXICO.
SPIRIT CACHES ARE A SERIES PLACED AT OR NEAR NM CEMETERIES IN HOPES OF PAYING RESPECT TO THE PIONEER ANCESTORS HAVING "GONE" ON BEFORE US, AND, POSSIBLY PICKING UP A BIT 0F HISTORY ON THE AREA.