Sunland Park is a quiet west El Paso suburb known for its low New Mexico property taxes and popular casino, but since New Mexico legalized cannabis in 2022, the city of 16,000 has found a higher calling. It’s home to over a dozen dispensaries, including the largest in the state, creating a booming economy bolstered by its proximity to Texas, where cannabis is illegal. The new industry is fueling the city’s growth, with new homes, an entertainment complex and municipal buildings all in the works.
Sunland Park offers calm just outside El Paso.
Sunland Park offers plenty of dispensary options.
1/2
Southwestern-style homes with views of the Franklin Mountains
The median home sale price in Sunland Park is around $340,000, lower than the national median. Most homes in the city have views of northern El Paso and the Franklin Mountains. In the north, new construction and 21st-century Southwestern-style homes featuring stucco exteriors and clay-tiled roofs sit close together in neighborhoods like Santa Teresa . “They’re building a lot of new homes and that’s very attractive to people,” says Hannia Rodriguez, a Realtor with Home Pros Real Estate Group who’s sold homes here for 11 years. Late 20th-century ranch-style houses sit next to manufactured homes in the south.
The water in Sunland Park has previously tested above the legal limit for arsenic. While the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority says the water is safe to drink, Rodriguez says many homebuyers add water filters to their homes.
Sunland Park features beautiful southwestern homes.
Ranch style homes in Sunland Park are family favorites.
1/2
Hiking Mount Cristo Rey
There are a few neighborhood pocket parks around Sunland Park. Sunland Park Sports Complex has a skate park, shaded playground and soccer fields. Bikers can follow the Rio Grande on the multi-purpose Rio Grande Trail. The Western Playland Amusement Park offers families a carnival atmosphere, while the Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino — a big area employer — has casino games and live music. Hikers can scale Mount Cristo Rey, which is topped by a nearly 30-foot statue of Christ. The site hosts an annual pilgrimage that can attract up to 40,000 people. Sunland Park is near the Chihuahuan Desert and temperatures can climb over 100 degrees. Rain is scarce, and there are occasional dust storms.
Thousands follow tradition to Cristo Rey.
Let the games begin at Sunland Park Casino.
1/2
State-recognized extracurriculars in the Gadsden Independent School District
Local kids attend schools in the Gadsden Independent School District, which earns a B-minus from Niche. High schoolers can apply to the B-plus-rated Alta Vista Early College High, where they can earn an associate degree with their high school diploma. The school’s extracurriculars regularly compete at the state level, winning top prizes for student filmmaking, entrepreneurship and STEM.
Welcome to the Desert Warrior Gymnasium at Santa Teresa High School.
Fine dining at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing
There are only a few restaurants in Sunland Park, but Ardovino’s Desert Crossing is a highlight. The restaurant has served upscale dishes since 1949, and its weekly farmers market sells local produce. Dispensaries are mostly concentrated around Sunland Park Drive, and there aren’t many other stores in the city. “Everyone who lives in Sunland Park shops in El Paso,” Rodriguez says. National retailers and grocers are just across the state line.
Near Interstate 10
McNutt Road is the city’s main thoroughfare, and Interstate 10 is nearby. The northern El Paso suburbs are just east of the city, and downtown El Paso is a roughly 9-mile trip. Though the U.S.-Mexico border is in the city’s south, the nearest port of entry is 10 miles away in El Paso. South Central Regional Transit offers bus routes through the city and to El Paso. McNutt Road has a dedicated bike path, and there are sidewalks in residential areas. El Paso International Airport is about 16 miles away, and the Hospitals of Providence Memorial Campus is a roughly 8-mile trip. Crime data for Sunland Park is not readily available.
Alejandro Gamboa is a long-time El Paso Texas resident, a US NAVY Disabled Veteran, and worked as a police officer in the state of Texas. He has made a transition into Real Estate using his experience in Sales, and Customer Service, Communication, Person Relations, and overall knowledge of the El Paso area. He’s also bilingual and fluent in English and Spanish language and he has a Degree in Marketing. He’s never too busy for your referrals and he would appreciate your review.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
