Want to go into orbit? The countdown has already begun in southern New Mexico, and the area is already worth a reconnaissance mission.
The ultimate jetsetter, Sir Richard Branson, has already begun promoting his ventures at New Mexico’s Spaceport America. It is only a matter of time before tourists can book a sub-orbital flight. For more information on booking your flight to infinity and beyond, check out the Virgin Galactic site.
There have already been twenty rocket launches at this somewhat remote site off Interstate 25 between Las Cruces and Truth or Consequences, (yes, that is the real name of the town, it’s a long story). The spaceport itself is open for preview tours of the launch area, but they don’t involve leaving the earth. There is still plenty to do in the area before tourist launches begin in earnest.
The quaint town of Truth or Consequences (T or C) is a small village near the Elephant Butte reservoir which has many boating and fishing opportunities. The town has a few art galleries and coffee shops and is worth an afternoon’s stroll.
While the lake is massive, the town does not have the lodging or recreational opportunities of a Lake Havasu and perhaps that might be a good thing for those looking for a place to relax in an oasis in the desert.
Another billionaire, Ted Turner, has already left his mark on the area. He recently purchased the Sierra Grande lodge after a delightful weekend stay. The lodge in the heart of the old downtown and feels like a small Palm Springs resort with its healing mineral waters and massages. The lodge’s restaurant has recently re-opened under the direction of famed chef Tatsu Miyuzaki. The restaurant boasts “seasonal contemporary American dishes with southwestern fare and global influences” and feels more Scottsdale than Santa Fe.
There are a few other notable restaurants in the area, most notably the Los Arcos steakhouse which also boasts a colorful bar scene with real cowboys.
The best green chile in the world is grown just south of T or C in the village of Hatch, New Mexico. You can buy it anywhere in town. Those craving the best green chile cheeseburgers on earth might want to drive an hour in the other direction to the little hamlet of San Antonio, New Mexico and dine at either the Buckhorn or the Owl Café.
The official hotel for the Spaceport is the Hotel Encanto in the growing city of Las Cruces, about an hour south. You might want to check out the hotel for a night, before it gets too mobbed with astronauts and their families in a few years.
The city of Juarez, Mexico is less than two hours from the spaceport, and only an hour from the Hotel Encanto. While it is certainly safer than a few years ago, it is not Cabo and the careful tourist might avoid it for the meantime.
You can already book your flight into space, even if the actual launch won’t be for a few years. Still, there’s plenty to see on earth while orbiting Spaceport America.
Spaceportamerica.com