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New Mexico April 2009 E-Newsletter Articles

Welcome.

Springtime in New Mexico, with its cool mountain temperatures, incredible colors and deep-blue sky, is an outdoor-lover’s paradise, highlighted by unique festivals and cultural activities that beg for attention. As Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, I welcome you to New Mexico, a place like no other.

Michael Cerletti

Fort Sumner Hosts World's Richest Billy the Kid Tombstone Race

The Billy the Kid Tombstone Race is June 13, 2009, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Fort Sumner High School
football Field.

The tombstone, which marks Billy the Kid’s grave at Fort Sumner, has almost as much history as the famous outlaw himself. The stone has been stolen three times since placement by a historical society in the 1940s, and once spent 27 years under a boxcar in Texas following a theft. After its most recent disappearance, the tombstone’s recovery in California was shown on national television.

The World’s Richest Tombstone Race - with $4,800 in cash prizes - has gained national recognition, featured in the Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and the Today Show. It is run over a simple, but grueling, 25 yard course. In the open division, two hurdles (4 and 5 feet) must be scaled while carrying an 80-pound stone during two laps of the four-lap race. In the women’s division and the over-age-35 division, contestants carry a 20-pound stone and women only have a step at the five-foot barrier.

Enter by 5:30 p.m. race day, and the entry fee is $20. All contestants must be on the field by that time. Great cash prizes for winners and T-shirts for all race survivors. For more information call 575-355-7705

Also scheduled June 13 are activities associated with the annual Old Fort Days Rodeo, Arts & Crafts Show at the fairgrounds. The rodeo is 8 p.m., followed by a dance at 9 p.m.

For more information visit http://www.ftsumnerchamber.com

New Mexico History: Get Into It May 24 in Santa Fe

If you think history is boring, the New Mexico History Museum, opening in historic downtown Santa Fe on Memorial Day Weekend 2009 will have you shelving that notion right alongside the dust-covered history textbooks banished to the attic.

On Sunday, May 24, 2009, the 96,000-square-foot, world-class cultural institution will open its doors to the public to unveil a state-of-the-art, immersive interactive exhibition set to cast new light on how history can be learned. It also will redefine the modern history museum. The multi-media environment will bring to life the complex, colorful and legendary stories of the 47th state in the Union, stories that began long before the Pilgrims set sail on the Mayflower for American shores.

Odds are you won’t have to drag an unwilling child here for the benefit of his or her education. Adults, too—from New Mexican residents understanding their roots to first-time tourists to the most ardent Southwest history buffs—will find the museum equally compelling.

“New Mexico’s long tradition of cultural diversity is a powerful inspiration to all Americans as we work together to shape the 21st century,” said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. “The New Mexico History Museum will be the starting place for the New Mexico cultural experience—for every New Mexican from every corner of our state and for our many guests who visit the Land of Enchantment.”

Under construction since 2006, the New Mexico History Museum is located behind the venerable Palace of the Governors on the Santa Fe Plaza—the nation’s oldest continuously occupied government building since 1609—which will be incorporated into the new museum as its signature and most important artifact. Built by the Spanish, the Palace symbolizes 400 years of encounters among Native Americans, Spanish, Mexicans and Europeans. It will provide the primary historical reference point throughout the exhibitions.

In addition to the exhibition galleries, the new museum features an auditorium; the Discovery Center, a gathering space for families to engage in hands-on, self-paced activities; and a terrace café that overlooks the Palace of the Governors Courtyard. It also includes a 12,000-square-foot, climate-controlled storage vault to house the museum’s collections and artifacts and a 2,000-square-foot gift shop.

The New Mexico History Museum will serve as the anchor of a campus that encompasses existing state history museum resources—the Palace of the Governors, the Native American Artisans Program, the Palace Press, the Fray Angélico Chávez History Library and the Photo Archives.

Visit http://www.nmhistorymuseum.org/

Roswell Hosts World’s Largest Annual Flag Football Tournament

An estimated 25,000 players and spectators will gather over Memorial Day Weekend to watch flag-football teams from across the country battle it out on 25 fields at the Cielo Grande Recreation Area in Roswell, New Mexico.

The annual Roswell "Hike It & Spike It” is May 22-24, 2009. A charity event, proceeds will benefit the United Way of Chaves County.

"When public-private partnerships are formed, good things can happen," said Michael Cerletti, secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department. "The ‘Hike It & Spike It’ tournament is a prime example, directly impacting the Roswell economy by more than $2 million each year, while benefiting a very worthy cause. New Mexico is its people, doing positive things for their communities, for their friends and for themselves. The folks in Roswell are to be commended for coming together to create a memorable experience for everyone."

Presentingsponsors for this year's tournament areDesert Sun Roswell, Powerade, Dr Pepper, Bank of the Southwest, Eastern New Mexico Medical Center, Roswell Chamber of Commerce and Roswell Lodger’s Tax fund. Other major sponsors include Xcel Energy, New Mexico Tourism Department, Roswell Parks & Recreation, New Mexico Sports Authority, Chaves County, Southwest Dairy Farmers, and PrimeSource Mortgage.

Visit roswellgridiron.com

National Atomic Museum Reopens in Albuquerque

The new National Museum of Nuclear Science & History opened its doors April 4, 2009. This “new” museum has served as a national resource through its collections and programming for 40 years. Formerly the National Atomic Museum, which opened in 1969 and was chartered by Congress in 1991, the new museum will continue to serve as a repository and steward of nuclear-related historical items and remain a Smithsonian affiliate.

The new location at 601 Eubank Blvd. SE in Albuquerque includes a newly constructed 30,000-square-foot building and 12 acres of exterior space. For the first time in more than seven years, the public will be able to view the historic aircraft, nuclear missiles, and other large artifacts belonging to the museum, as those items have been moved from their location on Kirtland Air Force Base to the new site.

The interior space will continue to present nuclear history, power, medicine, weapons, uranium mining, energy and radiation in its major exhibits. Also included is Little Albert’s Lab, complete with an animatronic Little Albert, where children of all ages can learn the fundamentals of Albert Einstein’s famous formula of E=mc^².

The museum started out in 1969 as the Sandia Base Weapons Museum at its location on Kirtland Air Force Base. After September 11, 2001, the museum was forced to seek an alternative site that would allow visitors from other countries to continue to visit. Space was then rented in Albuquerque’s Old Town, a tourist destination.

The museum’s artifacts range from a minute sample of ekanite, an uncommon gemstone with a high Thorium content, to a B52-B bomber airplane, an item regulated in the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty to this day. The museum’s best-known artifacts are casings used for the Fat Man and Little Boy atomic bombs of World War II.

The Museum has a thriving education effort, designed for life-long learning. The museum's educational programs include docent-led school tours, summer camps, visits to schools by the “Up n Atom Mobile” and lectures for the public.

The museum is open 361 days a year.
Visit http://nuclearmuseum.org or call 505-245-2137.

Wildlife West Nature Park Offers Family Fun, Education

Mountain Lion image courtesy Pat O'Brian

Wildlife West Nature Park, located just 20 minutes east of Albuquerque in Edgewood, is 122 acres dedicated to native wildlife and ecology.

Wildlife West Nature Park began in 1992 as a not-for-profit all volunteer effort to create a new approach to combining habitat restoration, recreation, and environmental education for children and adults. After 30,000 hours of volunteer labor, it opened in August of 1994 with a functioning wetlands project and several nature trails for bird watching. Major new habitat has been added nearly every year throughout the park's history.

The park is home to approximately 30 wildlife exhibits connected by two miles of trail; and nearly 40 "permanent residents," including black bear, mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, bobcat, elk, deer, javelina, fox, pronghorn antelope, raccoon, and a wide variety of birds of prey - although the total varies depending on new additions. Many of the animals take part in their educational programs and a variety of shows and other entertainment activities. The preserve also plays host to a variety of wild species and migratory birds, so every visit is unique.

The habitat designs are based on state-of-the-art concepts that are used to provide the best possible viewing opportunities while incorporating the specific needs of the residents. Every species has specific requirements with respect to refuge, view (for example, some animals are uneasy if they cannot see the area surrounding their cages, while others are not), living "surfaces," and land cover. Using natural landscaping inside the habitats wherever possible requires more maintenance, but provides a superior environment for residents and visitors alike.

From Albuquerque, take Interstate 40 to exit 187 (Edgewood). At the end of the exit ramp, turn north. Turn left at the Conoco station heading west on the North Frontage Road. Continue until you see the entrance to the park on the right.

Visit http://www.wildlifewest.org

Summer Recreational Opportunities Are Promising
Based on Winter Snowpack and Runoff

As a result of average winter snowpack in our northern and Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and the predicted average runoff from those regions, reservoir levels are projected to be good in much of New Mexico for the Memorial Day and Independence Day holidays.

“Elephant Butte, Navajo, Heron, El Vado, Abiquiu, Caballo, and Ute Reservoirs are anticipated to hold water volumes similar to if not higher than last year,” said Interstate Stream Commission Director Estevan López. “Rafting on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama should be good into early June, if not longer. Water recreation in those areas should be great for much of the summer. At the same time, moderate drought conditions are developing in the southern and far eastern parts of New Mexico and more rain is needed to bring the area reservoir levels up.”

A La Nina weather pattern began affecting New Mexico in January and is expected to continue doing so into April or May. In some parts of New Mexico, little or no precipitation has occurred since September, especially as one heads south. The state received significant snowfall in the west central and northern mountains in
December 2008.

New Mexico State Parks are the perfect 'staycation' destination in 2009," said State Parks Division Director David Simon. “Most State Park lakes will be in excellent shape, but lake recreation is just a part of the picture. State parks offer so much to discover and are the best family recreation value in New Mexico. “New Mexico State Parks is a vibrant system of 35 parks serving more than 4 million people each year. In 2009, State Parks will offer a growing program of special events (including an expanded 'Reach for the Stars' astronomy program as part of the International Year of Astronomy) and many new visitor facility improvements, including:

• the newly-opened Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park visitor complex
• a new visitor center at Eagle Nest Lake State Park slated to open this fall
• comfort station improvements at Percha Dam State Park
• a new astronomy observatory at Heron Lake State Park, and
• a completely redesigned main entrance at Elephant Butte Lake State Park.

White water rafting

“While we are optimistic New Mexico’s water recreational opportunities will remain a mainstay of our spring and summer seasons,” said Jennifer Hoffman, Deputy Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, “we must also remember that the Land of Enchantment is 22 million acres of prairies, plains and forests, offering every recreational pursuit imaginable. Inspired moments are inevitable in New Mexico, whether on a morning hike, the back nine or deep in Carlsbad Caverns. The horizons fill with possibilities. New Mexicans annually welcome nearly 12 million domestic visitors, who contribute more than $5 billion to the state’s economy. This is accomplished through partnerships - public and private - dedicated to overcoming challenges like higher prices at the pump and dry winter seasons, and working to expand tourism opportunities to every corner of the state.”

While New Mexicans and other visitors are enjoying the state’s natural resources, the New Mexico State Forestry Division would like them to remember to be safe when using campfire sites and open cooking areas. Because high fire danger exists in many parts of the state, all precautions should be taken when it comes to things like pulling over to the side of the road, preparing campfire or outdoor grill areas and smoking in areas with thick vegetation.

American Eagle Daily Flights Dallas/Santa Fe begin June 11

American Eagle will begin new service between Dallas and Santa Fe beginning June 11, 2009. American Airlines had been considering air service between the cities ever since the Santa Fe airport was upgraded to accept regional jets last year. The new route will be available for booking through American's SABRE global distribution system starting on March 15, 2009.

Tentative Schedule:

Flight 3551, departs Dallas/Forth Worth 10:55 a.m., arrives Santa Fe 11:45 a.m.
Flight 3544, departs Santa Fe 12:10 p.m., arrives Dallas/Forth Worth 2:50 p.m.

American Eagle will operate the non-stop service using 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140 jets. The $20 million aircraft cruises at 500+ mph and 40,000 feet. It is, "one of the newest and most modern planes in the fleet," according to American Eagle's Managing Director of Sales, Brian Coutts. "We're starting with one flight and pricing it competitively with a mid-day schedule that works well with connecting flights out of Dallas," he continued.

The Santa Fe Municipal Airport is located on the southwestern edge of the city and is a 15-minute shuttle ride into historic downtown.

Visit http://www.aa.com/aa/homePage.do

Don’t forget to mark your calendar:

May 2009 Events

16 Vintage Valley Car Club Show, Roswell - 575-622-3991

22-24 Riverfest, Farmington – 800-448-1240
22-25 Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally, Red River – redriver.org
23 Ruidoso Downs Racetrack opens – www.ruidownsracing.com

June 2009 Events

1-6     Pioneer Days & PRCA Rodeo, Clovis – clovisnm.org
12      Carrizozo Cowboy Days – townofcarrizzo.org
12-14 Summerfest, Los Lunas – 505-352-3596
13      Pueblo Feast Days, Ohkay Owingeh, Sandia, Santo Domingo, and Taos pueblos – indianpueblo.org
          Elephant Butte Chili Challenge – 575-894-3264
19-20 Chama Music Festival – www.newmexico.org
20      Albuquerque Folk Festival – www.abqfolkfest.org
          Juneteenth Celebration, Clovis – www.clovisnm.org
20-21 Heritage Days, Portales – 800-635-8036 or www.portales.com
23-24 Pueblo Feast Days, Ohkay Owingeh, Santa Ana, Santo Domingo and Taos pueblos – indianpueblo.org
25-27 Raton Rodeo – 575-445-3689
26-27 Tatum 100-Year Celebration – 505-398-2011