October 23, 2025, Wednesday, Silver Piglets Ride to Hatch Pepper Pot or Sparky’s (your choice) 

Meet at Circle K, US 54 & Loop 375 in front of Lowes 

Meet at 0800, Safety Brief at 0815, KSU at 0830 

Route: US 54 north, exit MLK, left on MLK, left on Hwy 404, right on Hwy 460 (Anthony Dr), Vado roundabout left, right on Hwy 478, (stop Circle K for break) left on Valley to Hatch 

Return: Valley rd., right on Hwy 28, (stop at Murphys) Hwy 28 to Canutillo, to Four 80’s, Last stop/End of ride. 

https://sparkysburgers.com/menus/ 

Hatch, New Mexico—the self-proclaimed “Chile Capital of the World“—is a town off Highway 25, between Albuquerque and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Here, the Nunn family operates Sparky’s, a restaurant surrounded by their collection of retro roadside statuary. A robot alien, Sparky’s namesake mascot, welcomes customers from a lineup of noteworthy characters. 30-foot-tall Uncle Sam heralds hungry road trippers from afar. The A&W burger family occupies rooftop real estate, and Colonel Sanders, Ronald McDonald, Yogi Bear, and Robin Hood all stand across the street. The inside is no different. Sparky’s is practically bursting with Americana, from signage to collectibles. Proprietors Teako and Josie Nunn opened up shop in 2008. They specialize in “Burgers, Barbecue, & Espresso,” but most people line up for their award-winning green chile cheeseburger, which is often touted as one of the best renditions in the state. Teako oversees the meat department, while Josie handles the restaurant design and barista service (using local coffee roasted in the nearby city of Las Cruces). Hatch’s namesake crop, the Hatch chile, appears on burgers, in burritos, and piled up at the condiment bar, but it also graces Sparky’s dessert and drink menus. Spice fanatics love the kick it adds to thick milkshakes and tangy, iced lemonades.  The Nunn’s started their acquisition of gargantuan pop culture figures from bygone decades in 2006. Teako purchased a Muffler Man bought to draw attention to their RV dealership. When the family opened Sparky’s two years later, the property became a museum for their historic stockpile. 

The Pepper Pot is owned and operated by sisters Melva Aguirre and Rosaria Varela who prepare all dishes from scratch. Their restaurant is open only for breakfast and lunch. Their chile is obtained locally from the Lytle family, generations of which have farmed in the Hatch Valley since the late 1800s.