magdalena village – The Humble Fabulist

I’ll take both…

Starting point for a drive to the Very Large Array or White Sands National Park, this little town in Sierra County, New Mexico, boasts not only the strangest possible name, but also a large number of geothermal hot springs and luxury spas for the weary city people. In fact, the town was called ”Hot Springs” before changing its name to the catchier ”Truth or Consequences”, all because of a radio game!?!

Here is the hard-to-believe-but-true story: ”The city changed its name to “Truth or Consequences” as the result of a radio show contest. In March 1950, Ralph Edwards, the host of the popular NBC Radio quiz show Truth or Consequences, announced that he would air the program on its 10th anniversary from the first town that renamed itself after the show; Hot Springs officially changed its name on March 31, 1950, and the program was broadcast from there the following evening. Edwards visited the town during the first weekend of May for the next 50 years.”

It could have also changed its name to ”Turner Town” judging by the extensive presence of Turner Enterprises, with the Ladder Ranch and Sierra Grande Retreat (where we stayed) dominating the area.

Having had no prior knowledge of the media mogul’s work on the protection and conservation of ecosystems, it was interesting to learn that:

”With approximately two million acres of personal and ranch land, Ted Turner is the second largest individual landholder in North America. Turner lands are innovatively managed to unite economic viability with ecological sustainability. Turner ranches operate as working businesses, relying on bison, hunting and fishing, and ecotourism as principal enterprises. In addition, Turner ranches support many progressive environmental projects including water resource and timber management, and the reintroduction of native species to the land.

Turner Enterprises also manages over 51,000 bison across the various Turner ranches.”*

*The ranges span two million acres in nine states and in Argentina.

**No photos from ToC, except these two from the Reserve because, the Truth is we never really walked this town as a Consequence of being awestruck by the VLA and White Sands.

A quick stop for coffee in the last village before reaching the Very Large Array, was as surprising as the rest of the trip: Atelier Studio 605 ES•PRESS•O, is an art and printmaking space in disguise with etching presses, a studio for printmaking classes and workshops, and some fine antique presses still in use.

P.S.: The coffee is fresh from the press, and great too!