Truth or Consequences and on to Fort Davis, Texas

We’d never visited Truth or Consequences (T or C to locals), New Mexico in the past, but it was on the way as we headed south from Albuquerque plus the town is adjacent to Elephant Butte Lake State Park where we camped… and, it had a Walmart SuperCenter. So it was only natural we’d stop and check it out. Plus just the town’s name makes you curious, doesn’t it?

The number one question, of course, is how the town got its name. At the Visitor Center, we received a brochure dedicated to the town’s history and its unusual name. A popular radio show, Truth or Consequences, that began broadcasting in 1940 was celebrating a decade on the air. Its host, Ralph Edwards, announced in late 1949 that any town or city willing to change its name to Truth or Consequences should write to the program and one town would be selected to host the 10th anniversary show. Hot Springs, New Mexico won. A formal town vote took place in March 1950 and voters approved the name change. As promised, the program aired its 10th anniversary show in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. They’ve even named a town park after the host, Ralph Edwards and each year a Truth or Consequences Fiesta takes place there. Edwards actually returned annually for 50 years to help celebrate the fiesta.

There you have it… town name mystery solved.

The town is known for its natural hot springs. Located on the banks of the Rio Grande, Native Americans knew of and used the nearby hot springs for centuries. When the Elephant Lake Dam was being built in 1911-16, alcohol and gambling were not allowed within five miles of the construction project. Hot Springs was just over five miles away. Eureka! Gambling, alcohol and brothel establishments boomed there. When the dam project was completed, many folks stayed on. Because of the natural hot springs, the town became a center for therapeutic health remedies and health spas. The downtown area still offers several public and private bath houses and hot spring pools. We’re not hot springs kind of folks, so we passed

One of the many brochures we received from the Visitor Center provided a map to the more than 50 murals that adorn walls and buildings in the town. Even the water tower is decorated with public art. Take a look at a sampling of what we saw.

Enough T or C. We had planned to stay another night at the Elephant Butte Lake Campground, but none was available where we were or any nearby. Rather than stay at a site 15 miles north, we decided we’d head south to Las Cruces again and try our luck there. It seems campsites, other than large RV parks, were scarce. After consulting Campendium, we learned that the Texas Rest Area in Anthony, Texas, just over the New Mexico state line, allowed overnight stays and we decided to check it out. It was great… 24x7 clean, well-lighted restrooms and a shaded picnic table next to our parking spot and of course, it was free! We had dinner then played cards at the picnic table till it was dark. Other than I-10 traffic noise, which wasn’t as bad as we anticipated, it was a pleasant night.

Texas DOT has a sense of humor.

We were off to El Paso before dawn for a gas fill-up, tire check and provisions, then headed to our next camping site in Davis Mountains State Park, Texas.

I-10 in Texas is a boring stretch of road. We turned off onto US-90 in Van Horn. Special thanks to Van Horn, Texas McDonald’s for use of their internet to post our last blog. We’re much obliged. The highway is close to the Mexican Border here and immigration and border patrol vehicles were common as were Immigration checkpoints.

This part of western Texas is a dry, desolate land. Cactus and sage dot the landscape along side yucca and mesquite. Livestock graze lazily seeking whatever there is too munch upon. Dust devils rise up and whirl in the distance.

I noted Fort Davis National Historic Park was along a our route and we decided to stop for a look-see. It’s a small park commemorating one of the many frontier military posts established to protect travelers, emigrants, mail coaches and freighters from Apaches, Comanches and bandits.

It was late in the afternoon and very hot, so our visit was brief. We did enjoy the small museum at the visitor center and wandered through a couple of the restored buildings, but getting settled at our campsite seemed to take precedent over history.

Davis Mountains State Park, situated a mile above sea level, is a welcome sky island respite in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert. Constructed in 1935 as a CCC project, the campground is quite pleasant and well-organized. We had only reserved a few days before and got the last available site. It had lots of bells and whistles we didn’t need like sewer, water and electric, but we were glad to have a site at all. The hot showers, however, were most appreciated.

Blanche was shaded under a large cottonwood and the night was cool, but comfortable. It was a pleasure to just sit and take it all in. Birds chirped and families played cornhole and frisbee in the open areas. An acorn woodpecker worked diligently at a telephone pole

We took a short evening walk and decided we’d rise early to take a hike on one of the many trails the park offered. Things never work out quite as planned. Join us next time as we head to Big Bend National Park on the Rio Grande.