New Mexico
Survey: New Mexico’s outdoor businesses expected to expand
A recent survey found 68% of outdoor businesses in New Mexico are expecting to expand over the next three years.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico is not shy about using its natural resources to its advantage. The oil and gas industry is the state’s biggest moneymaker after all, and the scenic landscapes helped bring Hollywood to our doorstep.
But state leaders know the great outdoors has even more potential, and it seems local businesses are ready to cash in.
The state’s Outdoor Recreation Division recently conducted a survey and found out two-thirds of all outdoor business across the state are expecting to expand in the next three years. That’s all because more people are discovering New Mexico’s wild wonders.
“I feel like the five years of momentum is now at a place where people are really excited to see what’s next in the next five years,” said Karina Armijo, director of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division.
Armijo believes New Mexico’s outdoor economy is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.
“It contributes $2.4 billion or 1.9% of the state GDP. So it’s a significant part of our economy, and it supports about 28,000 jobs,” said Armijo.
It seems all three of those numbers will go up after a recent survey found 68% of outdoor businesses in New Mexico are expecting to expand over the next three years.
“The trend that we’re seeing, is some more people exploring the outdoors that have never done it in the past, not to the extent that we’re seeing these days,” Armijo said.
It’s happening in new places, like Farmington, where the outdoor economy is rarely front and center.
“This is our fourth season rockin’, and it’s really taken off here in the Four Corners,” said Ryan Dudgeon, owner of Desert River Guides.
Dudgeon opened Desert River Guides back in 2021, offering family-friendly rafting trips down the San Juan and Animas rivers.
“When people think of whitewater rafting in this area, they think of Durango, or they think of Taos, and they don’t really think of Farmington,” said Dudgeon. “But we just want to get people to know that this is an option here.”
She says it’s mostly New Mexicans floating down the rivers, which is not a bad thing, but they are eager to bring in more out-of-state tourists.
“It is just getting that marketing out there and getting your name out there,” Dudgeon said.
She’s not alone. According to the survey, nearly 60% of outdoor businesses are looking to advertise outside of New Mexico, especially in Texas, Colorado, and Arizona.
Nearly 65% said that’s where the outdoor recreation division can help out.
“We know the need is out there. We heard it in the survey, and we hope to try to capture more funding so that we’re able to continue supporting that,” Armijo said.
But it’s still smooth sailing even without the extra tourists.
“I feel like New Mexico’s push for the outdoor recreation was a great idea. I think it’s really gaining some traction,” said Dudgeon.
Since its inception back in 2019, the Outdoor Recreation Division has invested $13 million in outdoor infrastructure projects across the state.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Skies are partly to mostly clear with most similar or slightly milder than yesterday. Winds are a little breezy occasionally with the highest humidity values mostly from out east and to the north.
Air temperatures in the north are mostly starting off in the 30s to the low 50s. Elsewhere to the south, air temperatures are mostly ranging from around the high 30s to the low 60s.
Many areas from eastern New Mexico to the Pecos River Valley area will range from the high 60s to the 80s from north to south from high to low elevation. The northern higher elevations will mostly range from the high 40s to near 60°, while the northern valley floors to western and central areas will mostly range from the high 70s to the low 90s.
Southerly upper-level winds, in combination to the low-level moisture still lingering around the northern high elevations to out east, will lead to few thunderstorms capable of producing brief bouts of heavy rain, small hail, some lightning, & gusty conditions.
Ridging in the jet stream will then allow for clearer conditions, drier air, and for temperatures to rebound for the remainder of the week. However, slightly more thunderstorms will form for some eastern and mountainous areas late in the week, resulting in outflow-southeasterly winds to occasionally pick up.
Even hotter air returns late this weekend into early next week before thunderstorms are more likely to form next week.
Fog could cut visibility for the Thursday morning commute in eastern New Mexico before storms return and a severe weather risk builds Friday.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Fog could cut visibility for the Thursday morning commute in eastern New Mexico before storms return and a severe weather risk builds Friday.
Eastern New Mexico still has a very moist lower atmosphere for late May, with dewpoints in the 50s across the eastern plains, 40s through the Rio Grande Valley and 30s west toward Arizona.
That moisture will help low clouds and patchy fog reform late Wednesday night into early Thursday. The best chances for fog favor Clovis, Portales, Roswell, Tucumcari, Fort Sumner and Santa Rosa.
Some places could see reduced visibility Thursday morning, especially along Interstate 40, Highway 70 and Highway 285.
Low clouds and fog should gradually burn off by mid to late Thursday morning. After that, isolated to scattered afternoon thunderstorms are expected mainly along the east slopes of the central mountain chain.
Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.
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With less than a week before the 2026 Primary Election nearly 95,000 New Mexicans have voted early.
Expanded early voting began May 16 and will end on May 30. The Primary Election is June 2.
According to data released on May 26 by the Secretary of State’s Office, there have been 94,930 ballots cast since early voting began on May 4.
In Doña Ana County, there have been 6,294 voters in Doña Ana County who voted early. There have been 4,706 Democrats who have voted early with 1,567 Republicans and 646 who declined to state a party affiliation. There have been 2,023 residents who have voted absentee.
New Mexico has semi-open primary elections, which means voters who are not registered with a qualified political party may also participate in the election by selecting which major party’s ballot they want to vote on without changing their voter registration.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, there have been 9,000 voters in New Mexico who were not registered with qualified political parties, who have voted in the Primary Election ― 6,962 who voted in the Democrat Primary and 2,038 who have voted in the Republican Primary.
In Doña Ana County, 516 voters who were not registered with qualified political parties have voted in the Democrat Primary and 134 who voted in the Republican Primary.
Approximately 90,000 New Mexicans utilized early voting ahead of the 2024 Primary Election and 5,848 people voted early in Doña Ana County (4,195 Democrats, 18 Libertarian, 1,635 Republicans).
The total 2022 Primary Election turnout for the county was 16.41% or 15,499 ballots cast and the 2020 Primary Election turnout was 29.29% or 26,055 ballots cast.
Where to vote in Doña Ana County
Early voting at the Doña Ana County Government Center began on May 5 from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until May 29, and on Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m.
Alternate site early voting locations will begin on May 16 at 11 a.m., and run through May 30 from Tuesday through Saturday.
The alternate site locations in Doña Ana County are:
- Anthony Library (750 Landers Anthony)
- HVPS Student Services (350 Main St. Hatch)
- Doña Ana County Community College (755 Prescott Anthony Dr. Chaparral)
- Doña Ana County Community College (2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Las Cruces)
- Doña Ana County Community College (3365 McNutt Rd. Sunland Park)
- Las Cruces City Hall (700 N. Main St. Las Cruces)
- Mesilla Town Hall (2231 Avenida de Mesilla Mesilla)
- Corbett Center Student Union (1600 International Mall Las Cruces)
Doña Ana County voting locations on Election Day are open from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. Mailed ballots must be received no later than 7 p.m.
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