Roswell (New Mexico)

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Roswell [1] is a city in the southeastern region of the state of New Mexico, United States of America. It has attained a quirky sort of fame/notoriety as the result of an alleged UFO crash(!) in 1947.

[edit] Get in

Roswell is served by Mesa Airlines, a commuter airline with flights to Albuquerque. If you fly in, you may be amazed to see some big iron (including widebodies) at the airport or flying near town at low altitude, but unfortunately, they aren't there for passenger service; the Roswell air park is a former Air Force base that has been used from time to time by major airlines as a training site for aircrews and to check out new aircraft.

Road access is via US 285 from north or south and US 70 or 380 from east or west. You go through a lot of emptiness getting there, particularly from the north; don't set out for the city from I-40 with a near-empty fuel tank. Limited bus service is available.

[edit] Get around

[edit] See

• International UFO Museum and Research Center, 114 N. Main St., +1 505 625-9495. Devoted to the local cult activity; you can decide for yourself whether it's serious or not. Daily 9-5, free.
• Roswell Museum and Art Center, Civic Center Plaza (corner of 11th and Main), +1 505 624-6744. This one is definitely serious, incorporating a surprisingly good art collection for a small town, with works by Georgia O'Keeffe and Peter Hurd, among others. There is a wing devoted to space flight and rocket science (but not UFOs!) that includes the Robert H. Goddard Planetarium, named in honor of the rocketry pioneer who did much of his research in Roswell. M-Sa 9-5, Su 1-5, closed major holidays. Free.

[edit] Do

Every year in early July, there is a UFO Festival to commemorate the 1947 Roswell incident.

[edit] Buy

[edit] Eat

• Martin's Capitol Cafe--110 W. 4th St. (505) 624-2111. Delicious and inexpensive.

[edit] Drink

[edit] Sleep

• Best Western Sally Port Inn, 2000 N. Main St., 505-622-6430. Rooms from $79. Downtown area.

[edit] Get out

• Bottomless Lakes State Park, (505) 624-6058. Follow US 380 east out of Roswell, south on SR 409, follow signs. Camping (tent and RV), swimming, boating, etc. Camping is $10/night, day use $4---beautiful location, friendly host and rangers.
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park is about 90 miles to the south.

Wikipedia:Roswell, New Mexico