Baldy Town is a now-abandoned, formerly bustling town located at the base of Baldy Mountain. Baldy Town, which served as the base of gold mining operations on the mountain, figured prominently in Old West culture and folklore, but was completely abandoned when mining in the area ceased. In 1963, this area was purchased through the generosity of Norton Clapp, vice-president of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America and added to the Philmont Scout Ranch. This added 10,098 acres (41 km²) to the property which had been donated to the Boy Scouts of America by oil magnate Waite Phillips.