My District: Is Home to White Sands National Park

Griggs

First-time visitors often mistake the gleaming hills of White Sands National Park for snow. But a touch of the dry, powdery sand quickly reveals the truth: This is a desert like no other.

Spanning 275 square miles, the southern New Mexico landmark is home to the world's largest gypsum dune field, an otherworldly landscape where bright white crystals shimmer across the horizon. Gypsum, a mineral used in everything from plaster to toothpaste, forms these stunning dunes, shaped by the natural forces of wind, rain and snowmelt that wash minerals down from surrounding mountains to the basin below.

White Sands was designated a national park in 2019, though it has been a protected national monument since 1933. Located a couple hundred miles south of Albuquerque and about 100 miles north of El Paso, Texas, the park sits near Holloman Air Force Base and the White Sands Missile Range, adding layers of history and military importance to its natural beauty.

NCSL caught up with New Mexico Sen. Ron Griggs, who has represented the district since 2012, to hear his perspective on White Sands and its significance.

What does having White Sands National Park mean to your district?

White Sands has always been a major tourist attraction in southern New Mexico, even when it was a national monument. But gaining national park status in 2019 was a game changer. We immediately saw a boost in visitors-now nearly 800,000 people come to experience the park every year.

How were you involved in the push for national park status?

I grew up in nearby Alamogordo, so I've always had a deep appreciation for White Sands. Back in 2010, when I was mayor of Alamogordo, Sen. Jeff Bingaman's office approached me about designating a petroglyph site north of town as a national monument. After seeing the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks become a national monument with some controversy, I suggested they shift their focus to White Sands and push for national park status instead.

After Sen. Bingaman retired, Dara Parker, who had been on his staff, took the idea to U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, who championed the legislation alongside then-U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small. It all came together when President Trump signed the bill, officially making White Sands a national park.

Do you remember your first visit to White Sands?

I first visited White Sands over 60 years ago as a child. The landscape is just as mesmerizing today as it was then-those endless white dunes give you a feeling that you won't experience anywhere else. Whether I visit with family or friends, it always feels magical. A trip to this part of New Mexico simply isn't complete without seeing White Sands.

What else makes your district special?

Senate District 34 is unique because it contains not just White Sands, but also Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico's other national park. Both places transport you to entirely different worlds-White Sands with its vast, gleaming dunes and Carlsbad Caverns with its intricate underground formations. Between them, the Sacramento Mountains offer beautiful, often-overlooked towns like Cloudcroft, Mayhill and Timberon.

On the district's eastern side, Carlsbad and Artesia are hubs for the oil and gas industry. Carlsbad has long been the center of potash production and is also an excellent place to retire. To the west, Alamogordo serves as a gateway to the area, with a local economy largely driven by Holloman Air Force Base. Alamogordo also boasts the New Mexico Museum of Space History and the Alameda Park Zoo, the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi. The historic village of Tularosa, with its deep cultural roots, is also part of this district.

We are also home to two state parks-Living Desert near Carlsbad and Oliver Lee Memorial near Alamogordo-adding to the region's natural appeal.

Any final thoughts for your legislative colleagues across the country?

The district is incredibly diverse, both in its landscape and its people. I like to say it's three distinct regions wrapped into one district. The people here are proud New Mexicans-warm, welcoming and eager to share their rich history and culture.

If you ever visit, plan to stay awhile. There's so much to see, from the Billy the Kid territory and alien landing sites to historical gems like the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It's a place that leaves an impression, and who knows? You might decide to stay.

Rep. James Townsend also serves the area.

Gene Rose retired from NCSL in 2023.

"My District" gives NCSL members a chance to talk about life in the places they represent, from high-profile events and destinations to the fun facts only the locals know. The responses have been edited for length and clarity.

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