Otero County: a New Mexico Business Journal special section produced in cooperation with the Otero County Economic Development Council and the Chambers of Commerce of Alamogordo, Tularosa and Cloudcroft

New Mexico Business Journal, March, 1991 by Marian McQuiddy

In addition to its OCEDC affiliation, Cloudcroft, located 17 miles east of Alamogordo, also has done some "prospecting" on its own.

"Our kids are coming out of one of the best high schools in the state and we would like them to have the opportunity to go to work in a career job here," says Michael Nivison, Cloudcroft mayor. "I think as a community up here, we need to develop a little diversification and have a business that makes sense for who we are and where we are."

Cloudcroft has taken initial steps in putting together a 40-acre industrial site. "We have just put our heads down and gone ahead. We have land, water and sewer and are working on a road."

"I think as the park becomes a reality we can find a business that is not too large in nature and very clean," he says. "I think it is a nice site and in the proper location. I can't see why we won't have someone who wants to come."

Tourism also is a part of the promotional game plan for Otero County.

Bob Evans, Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce executive director, says the chamber will be conducting a study over the coming year to consider establishing a convention and visitors bureau.

For now, the chamber works closely with the Alamogordo Promotion Board throughout the year to support efforts like the 1990 Flight Fest, the bike classic, the First Tourism Expo, and existing attractions like the White Sands National Monument, International Space Hall of Fame, Toy Train Museum and the Alameda Park Zoo.

Evans also says the chamber encourages and tries to help any group bringing conventions to the area.

The chamber also stages local promotions like Crazy Daze, the Christmas Parade, Frontier Village at the annual Otero County Fair, and will be adding an art-in-the-park event this fall, the Cotton-wood Festival.

Frank Gentile, promotion board chairman, says tourism is being pushed throughout the county.

Other communities within Otero County are making similar efforts to boost tourism, including distribution of brochures and planning of festivals.

Tourism is also a big part of Cloudcroft, surrounded by more than one million acres of the Lincoln National Forest. Cloudcroft boasts one of the highest golf courses in elevation in New Mexico at 9,000 feet.

"Our biggest business up here is tourism," says Nivison.

Cloudcroft's Chamber of Commerce aggressively pursues the tourist dollar with monthly events, ranging from Full Moon Skating in February to Western Roundups, Railroad Days and an Octoberfest.

High Rolls, located 10 miles east of Alamogordo, also stages two successful events each year, the Cherry Festival in mid-June sparked by the Cherry Bowl Extension Club, and the Apple Festival in October run by the High Rolls Lions Club.

Tularosa celebrates each spring with the Rose Festival and a week later with the St. Francis de Paula Fiesta.

The bottom line is that Otero County residents, like their forefathers in the Old West, believe in taking care of business.

"The thing that provides you with an opportunity is if you have your own land and then have the ability to control what comes there," says Nivison.