Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
327
Fun Facts
Next Stop: Space
Fasten your seat belt and settle back for an orbit or two of Earth—that's what
space-minded folks, such as New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and British
tycoon Richard Branson foresee as a reality soon. Space tourists would take off
from the proposed $225-million Airport America near Truth or Consequences. In
its embryonic stages now, the spaceport will include one or more runways, han-
gars, a control building, and launch pads. The first test flights took place in 2007,
while the completion date for some facilities at the spaceport is 2010.
When it's complete, Branson plans to headquarter Virgin Galactic here. Cur-
rently Virgin is selling tickets for $200,000 apiece for a 2
1
/
2
-hour flight, including
5 minutes of weightlessness. The first of these flights will likely fly out of the
Mojave Airport in California, where SpaceShipOne became the first privately
manned rocket to reach space in 2004. Virgin Galactic has contracted to build a
fleet of rockets called SpaceShipTwo, with hopes of initiating tourist flights in the
upcoming years. For updates, log onto www.virgingalactic.com or www.edd.
state.nm.us.
in 2005. Another popular annual festival is
Geronimo Days,
the second weekend of
October. Despite its festive roots, T or C seems to have an identity crisis—perhaps a
consequence of giving up your name for the fame and fortune of television. The city
displays a forlorn quality, possibly due to the struggling economy. However, in recent
years, a few of the bathhouses have undergone renovation, and a number of galleries and
restaurants have opened up, bringing new life to the town.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
From Albuquerque, take I-25 south (2
1
/
2
hr.). From Las Cruces,
take I-25 north (1
1
/
4
hr.). Though no commercial flight service exists, those who fly
themselves may contact the
Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport,
Old North
Hwy. 85 (
&
575/894-6199
).
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
visitor information center
is at the corner of Main
(Business Loop 25) and Foch streets in downtown Truth or Consequences. Also there is
the
Truth or Consequences & Sierra County Chamber of Commerce,
P.O. Box 31,
Truth or Consequences, NM 87901 (
&
575/894-3536;
www.truthorconsequencesnm.
net).
CITY LAYOUT
This year-round resort town and retirement community of 7,500 is
spread along the Rio Grande, between the Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs, two of
the three largest bodies of water in the state. Business Loop 25 branches off from I-25 to
wind through the city, splitting into Main Street (one-way west) and South Broadway
(one-way east) in the downtown area. Third Avenue connects T or C with the Elephant
Butte resort community, 5 miles east.
11
TAKING THE WATERS AT THE HISTORIC HOT SPRINGS
The town's “original” attraction is its hot springs. The entire downtown area is located
over a table of odorless hot mineral water, 98° to 115°F (37°-46°C), that bubbles to the
surface through wells or pools. The first bathhouse was built in the 1880s; most of the
