Eyes are drawn daily to the clear blue skies over Alamogordo, where F-16 Falcons and other fighter planes roar over the city. Holloman Air Force Base is just to the west, and pilot training exercises are conducted regularly. “The weather and wind here are optimal for planes,” says Jessica Cole, a Realtor with RE/MAX of Alamogordo who has 8 years of experience in the area. Its culture leans heavily toward its ties to the military and its history as an early base for space exploration. The city is home to 30,000, and the population turns over frequently as military assignments rotate. But some stay or return and make Alamogordo their permanent home. “If they’re not coming for the military, they’re coming for White Sands,” says Cole.
Diverse natural wonders surround the high desert city at the foot of the Sacramento Mountains. White Sands National Park is just beyond the military base—a vast, windy landscape that, by all appearances, belongs on another planet. To the east, the mountains rise 10,000 feet. Outdoor recreation is a big draw, and the environment provides a full range of flavors. “There are all kinds of things to do outdoors,” says Jake Roberts, also a Realtor with RE/MAX of Alamogordo and lead of the J2 Real Estate Team. “You can ski on the slopes, drive down the mountain, and put your bathing suit on the same day.”
Home to Holloman Air Force Base and the The Museum of Space History, Alamogordo's culture leans heavily toward its ties to the military and its history as an early base for space exploration.
Diverse natural wonders surround the high desert city of Alamogordo including White Sands National Park; a vast, windy landscape that, by all appearances, belongs on another planet.
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White Dunes and Pistachioland in the Great Outdoors
Alamogordo has a dozen city parks, a zoo and a recreation center, but the most spectacular recreational opportunities are in the surrounding areas. White Sands National Park is 200 acres of white gypsum sand, blown into dunes by the wind. White Dunes is also the location of the historic Trinity site, a national landmark marking where the first atomic bomb was tested in 1945. The site is only open to the public occasionally. Just northeast of the city is The Tunnel, popular with rock climbers. “I’ve never known another place where you can be in the desert, drive through a tunnel and be in beautiful mountains,” says Cole. Lincoln National Forest, is spread over three mountain ranges and is the home of Smokey the Bear. Oliver Lee State Park, south of the city, is a historic site commemorating battles between the Union and the Apache Indians. All parks allow for camping, hiking and biking.
Community events are also typically set in the great outdoors. Favorites include the White Sands Ballon Invitational in September and the Corks and Shells Wine and Pistachio Festival in October. Alamogordo has a climate similar to some regions of Turkey and Iran, and it turns out the area is favorable for pistachio farming. McGinn’s PistachioLand allows visitors to walk through the nut-growing process on tours of its farm and winery.
Alamogordo is located just minutes away from White Sands National Park and its 200 acres of white gypsum sand, blown into dunes by the wind.
Lincoln National Forest, home of Smokey the Bear, is located nearby to the east of Alamogordo, and spreads across three mountain ranges.
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International Space Hall of Fame headlines cultural attractions
The city’s attractions are centered around its history in aeronautics. The Museum of Space History and International Space Hall of Fame are affiliated with the Smithsonian. They present artifacts from early space exploration, celebrating New Mexico’s role in that history. The campus includes an air and space park and a planetarium. A tradition of shooting fireworks from atop the Space Hall had to be skipped in 2024 due to wildfire risk. Other area events include the Otero County Fair and Rodeo in September, the annual Cottonwood Art Festival in October and The Lady of the Mountain Run in November, which raises funds for area college students.
The Museum of Space History and International Space Hall of Fame present artifacts from early space exploration, celebrating Alamogordo's role in that history.
A visitor admires the spacesuits on display at the Museum of Space History and International Space Hall of Fame located in Alamogordo.
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Spanish Revival style touches many Alamogordo homes
Most of residential Alamogordo is gridded, with wide, flat streets laid out in its early days as a railroad town. Given the arid climate and open space, desert landscaping surrounds the homes; they sit on generous lots of sand and cacti. Many of the ranch-style homes and bungalows feature thick adobe walls to keep the oppressive heat out, protruding beams called vigas, and tile roofs common to Spanish Revival architecture. The median home price is about $200,000. There are many fixer-uppers under $150,000, and homes in good condition range from about $200,000 to $550,000. “The housing market is cyclical,” says Cole. “The military assignment rotations are in December and June, and a lot of people come and go. There’s a lot of churn.”
Alamogordo boasts a wide style of homes, including Spanish revival, ranch, bungalows and even many victorian homes like the one pictured here.
Alamogordo's east side has many newer, ranch-style homes that often feature stucco exteriors and xeriscaped front yards.
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New York Avenue hosts hot spots for food and shopping
A number of restaurants and shops surround New York Avenue, considered Alamogordo’s main downtown drag. Some have live music and patio dining on cool nights. The south end of the avenue bleeds into White Sands Boulevard, where chain restaurants line the road. Cloudcroft, 20 miles into the hills, has more food options.
The south end of the New York Avenue bleeds into White Sands Boulevard, where Alamogordo locals can enjoy a delicious lunch with friends at Catalina's Cafe.
A number of restaurants and shops surround New York Avenue, including La Cocinita, considered Alamogordo’s main downtown drag.
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Schools produced discoverer of Hale-Bopp comet
The Alamogordo Public School District is graded B-minus on Niche. Alamogordo High School was first built in 1919 with thirteen classrooms. Alan Hale, co-discoverer of the Hale-Bopp comet, graduated from the high school, later discovering the comet from his driveway in Cloudcroft. He credits his interest in astronomy in part to the clear night skies in Alamogordo. The neighborhood is also home to a campus of New Mexico State University, a community college offering certificates and associate degrees.
Alamogordo High School was first built in 1919 with thirteen classrooms and is graded B-minus on Niche.
Alamogordo is home to a campus of New Mexico State University, a community college offering certificates and associate degrees.
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Highway 54 and Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center
Highway 54 cuts through the city and connects to El Paso, Texas, which is 90 miles away. The El Paso International Airport is the biggest transportation hub nearby. Albuquerque is 200 miles north via Highway 380 and Interstate 25. Alamogordo is served by Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, which is a military and civilian hospital.
Environmental conditions and crime rates
The summers are hot and the winters are mild in the semi-arid climate of Alamogordo. There is occasional flooding from the arroyos that come down from the Sacramento Mountains, and there is moderate wildfire risk. According to FBI data, violent crime decreased in Alamogordo by 31% from 2020 to 2023, however property crime increased by 402%.
Written By
Carol Parish
Photography Contributed By
Nate Myers
Video By
Melinda Anselmo
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