ANGELFIRE

 

Estimated Population:  1,045 permanent residents per US Census in year 2000; and approximately 800 seasonal. Many of the seasonal residents rent their houses or condos when they are absent.

General Location: Northeast section of New Mexico within the Enchanted Circle www.enchantedcircle.org/, as the crow flies, about 50 miles from the Colorado Border and 160 miles from the Texas Border.

Getting Here: Angel Fire is located in the majestic Moreno Valley in Colfax County, New Mexico, 23 miles east of Taos via US Hwy 64, 95 miles northeast of Santa Fe, and 152 miles northeast of Albuquerque. The Moreno Valley is a 15 miles long, 3 mile wide, high alpine valley with an 8,382' base elevation. Surrounding mountains range from 11,086' Agua Fria Peak on the south end of the valley to 12,441' Baldy Mountain at the north end of the valley. Wheeler Peak at 13,161', the highest mountain in the state, forms the northwest boundary of the valley. Latitude: N36 degrees 25.24 minutes Longitude: W105 degrees 17.40 minutes. Interstate Hwy 25 intersects with Hwy 64 east of Cimarron, approximately 80 miles east of Angel Fire. State Hwy 64 connects Taos and Cimarron, and intersects with State Hwy 434 in Angel Fire.

Main Industry:  Tourism

Uniqueness about Angel Fire today:  Angel Fire Ski & Golf Resort was started in 1965 by the Roy Lebus family. A community was built around the ski area, and was incorporated as the Village of Angel Fire in 1986. An article about Angel Fire was published in March 2009 deeming it as one of the last affordable ski resorts in the United States http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/greathomesanddestinations/13haven.html?_r=1

Angel Fire is a high-altitude haven with spectacular sunrise and sunset colors that gave Angel Fire its name long ago when the Ute Indians observed the glowing skies and called it the "fire of the angels."

Angel Fire’s climate is enjoyed by most residents and visitors. Winter temperatures are generally moderate, averaging mid-thirties daytime and mid-teens in the early morning. Average annual snowfall is 140" in the valley and over 210" in the ski area. Spring and summer offer an average annual precipitation of 7" with moderate temperatures varying from early morning lows in the mid-forties to mid-afternoon highs of 75 degrees with very low humidity levels. Angel Fire is a photographer’s delight – wonderful scenery, magnificent wildlife, exquisite cloud formations, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, wonderful aspen color change in the fall, and glorious wildflowers during spring and summer. Wildlife viewing is a year-round amazement – birds, elk, deer, coyotes, squirrels, chipmunks, and an occasional bear (when not in hibernation from late November through mid-March).

Summer activities include birding, golf, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and ATV riding. Winter activities include skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tubing, snowboarding, snowskating, ice-skating, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Sportsmen enjoy lake and stream fishing. Winter ice fishing also occurs as Eagle Nest Lake. The area is also known for big game hunting, primarily elk and mule deer. Bear and wild turkey are also local game. A number of annual events attract visitors and locals, including Memorial Day events at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, Missoula Children’s Theater, 4th of July events in Eagle Nest, Music from Angel Fire, Angel Fire Arts Fest, the Biennial Quilt Show, Living History Days, and the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve torchlight parades and fireworks. New events are added every year. To keep best informed, see the online calendar at:

www.angelfirechamber.org and www.angelfireresort.com