A small New Mexico town is drawing some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Madrid is a popular spot for filming, but people there say after the cameras are turned off, celebrities often come back to hang out.
“I’m not sure if she’s filming here or she came for a good time,” said Melinda Bonewell.
Decked out in turquoise, actress Drew Barrymore stopped by the Mine Shaft Tavern in Madrid last week.
“She was here to have a good time,” Bonewell said.
According to Mine Shaft Tavern owner Melinda Bonewell, Barrymore and a friend stopped by the tavern for a drink, then posed for a selfie with some of the staff before doing some shopping around town.
“I know that she bought a squash blossom at a local jewelry store, and then [at] Cowgirl Red, a cute vintage boot shop, she bought some boots there too,” Bonewell said.
Barrymore isn’t the only star who has been spotted at the tavern. Last summer Ethan Hawke stopped by while filming “The Kid,” which was released last month.
Bonewell said the town is getting accustomed to celebrities dropping in.
“It’s kind of a hidden little gem here people stop through on the way to Santa Fe or the Land of Enchantment,” Bonewell said.
Bonewell said Madrid is known for its history as a coal mining town and a ghost town, but with such high profile attention, “There is really an opportunity to talk about the movies and films of New Mexico.”
The town is working to revamp its museum and guided tours to focus more on the town’s movie history. “Madrid is special. It has a magic that’s all its own,” said Lou French.
It’s something they want everyone to experience. Those guided tours around Madrid will startup on the weekends in the next few weeks. The cost is $5
