[6] The tribe also operates the Inn of the Mountain Gods resort in the area, which includes a casino, hotel, arcade room and golf course.

In recent years the village is contending with serious questions about the adequacy of the local water supply[8] and zoning enforcement.

The village received its name from the Rio Ruidoso (Spanish for "Noisy River"), a small stream that weaves through the city.

[citation needed] In December 2006, seven percent of eligible voters approved a $12.6 million bond issue to finance the expansion and modernization of the local wastewater treatment plant which was built in 1982.

Hundreds of tourists, campers and residents were evacuated[10] and the storm caused damage at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track.

[12] In March 2016, the village of Ruidoso entered into a Sister City relationship with Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico.

In April 2022, large parts of Ruidoso were threatened by the McBride Fire; over 200 structures were destroyed and 2 people were killed by the blaze, fueled by intense dryness and strong winds.

[13] The Christmas Classic (2023), with Malin Akerman and Ryan Hansen, was filmed at Ski Apache, Alto, and Rio Ruidoso.

[17] Following the fires, floods led to further evacuations, but members of the village have begun to return in order to rebuild the community.

U.S. Route 70 passes through the southeast part of the village, following the valley of Carrizo Creek upstream from the Rio Ruidoso.

New Mexico State Road 48 passes through the center of Ruidoso on Sudderth Drive, the village's main street, and leads north 18 miles (29 km) to Capitan.

Starting in 1954, the library developed from the Woman's Club, Beta Sigma Phi with only a small collection of books.

In 1966, under the director Ruth McGuire Spiegel the library was moved to an old airport terminal and now had the bonus of local and state funding.

In 1997 the current library was designed and built by ASA Architectures, the two-story building with vaulted windows is 14,600 square feet.

Also, the library offers the New Mexico FamilyPass which provides free admission to fifteen museums and historical sites across the state.

[29] Ruidoso Free Press is a Lincoln County newspaper, delivered by direct mail to 7100 addresses.

[36][37] In Oct 2021, Lincoln County News shut, with the death of publisher Jose Peter Aguilar, closing the weekly newspaper.

There were no lights on the team's home field, meaning games were played at 4:30 p.m. Additionally, alcohol could not be sold at White Mountain Park because it was owned by Ruidoso Municipal Schools.