Truly enchanting - Focus on Enchanted Circle - profile on the Enchanted Circle surrounding Taos, New Mexico

These romantically named communities are taking advantage of their natural assets

The four villages surrounding Tats in the area known as the Enchanted Circle are held together by a common bond - boundless natural beauty and economies based on the tourists drawn to it. In addition to world-class skiing, this pristine environment offers fishing, golfing, hiking and other activities. With such resources at hand, attracting visitors wouldn't seem to be a difficult task and, for the most part, it isn't.

Tourism provides the bulk of the employment in these areas. Construction and real estate also make significant contributions. In Angel Fire, about 60 percent of gross receipts revenues occur during the ski season, with most of the balance coming between July and October.

"This ski season was down marginally statewide, but the year before was exceptionally good," said Bill Warren, president of the Angel Fire Area Economic Development Committee. Warren said that when there is less snow, like this past season, there is the perception that the quality of skiing is diminished. Even when the snowfall is low, resorts like Angel Fire and Red River can compensate thanks to their snowmaking and grooming capabilities. This year, Angel Fire also added another high-speed quad chair lift, and now possesses the only two in the state.

But this area does not live or die by snowfall. "Summer is our biggest season for visitors," said Wally Dobbs, marketing director for the Red River Ski Area. "We get many visitors from Texas and Oklahoma looking to escape the heat." The town is getting ready for them. In a few months, Dobbs said, Red River's Main Street will have a new look. The street will be repaved, with added street lights and sidewalks to create a more pedestrian. friendly thoroughfare to boost business.

Angel Fire is seeing unprecedented growth. Real estate and construction are booming. In 1997, building permits were valued at over $10 million, up from $5.7 million the year before. Gross receipts tax revenues were up 16 percent in 1998 from the previous year. Lodgers tax income for 1998-1999 is projected to increase to $242,000 (compared to $234,733 the previous year), which would mark the fourth straight year of growth.

This success is a result of the planning being done by the Angel Fire Area Economic Development Committee. "Our communities were recently involved in an economic development retreat which included (economic development) cabinet secretary John Garcia," said Warren. "We are looking forward to the state working with us in-depth on economic development in our area." One goal of the committee is to increase fund raising for the community's advertising budget to broaden promotion of, among other things, the local airport.

"The chamber has a strong budget and we want to represent the business interests of the community well," said Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce executive director Sharon Floyd.

"We don't really know who we are or what we want," said businessman Richard Wildgrube. "We want to survey this area to find out about demographics, then surrey the businesses here to see the direction they'd like to see the area develop."

Wildgrube said the area between Angel Fire and Eagle Nest could, with cooperation between the two villages, be developed. But there is a segment of the community that doesn't necessarily want growth because it may endanger the natural beauty.

Like the other communities, Eagle Nest benefits from this beauty. "Tourism accounts for about 95 percent of our economy," said H.E. Campbell, owner of Double Eagle Enterprises and the former administrator of the Eagle Nest Chamber of Commerce. "Fishing is the big draw here. People come here for the beauty and the climate."

Campbell said that business in Eagle Nest was good last year and he expects an increase in tourism this year. Summer is the most popular season, and he said that several upcoming events should attract visitors to the town. "We have a parade and fireworks display for the Fourth of July, an arts festival in July, and Fish Fest (a 10-day fishing contest) in September. "Campbell added that tourism continues through the winter months as Eagle Nest attracts overflow business from the ski resorts in Angel Fire and Red River.

In Questa, the times have been harder. Molycorp, which operates the molybdenum mines here, has again reduced their workforce. The mines have been a major employer in the community for decades, but the downturns have forced many people to seek work elsewhere.

Aro'n Rael manages the Artesanos de Questa Cultural Center. He said the center provides a means of holding the community together. "We are a showroom for locally produced arts and crafts as well as the town's information center. In Questa, most people do a little of everything to earn a living, including working in the mines, the arts, farming and the tourist industry." He said the growing interest in organic produce has increased farming revenue here, but the industry is limited by the size of available land plots, among other things.

More and more people, some of whom are retired, are coming to the Enchanted Circle because of its amenities. Those who aren't of retirement age know that, as grand as the scenery is, it doesn't pay the rent. Eagle Nest realtor Gabrielle Heinz wants growth, but, like many others in the Enchanted Circle, she's concerned about maintaining the right balance between development and nature.

"This area needs to band together," she said, "Our environment is so pristine, the worst thing would be to damage the resources we have."

COPYRIGHT 1999 The New Mexico Business Journal
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