On track: Toy Train Depot could benefit from event center

City Commissioners discussed building a railroad station-themed event center on White Sands Boulevard to link the Toy Train Depot, the Alameda Park Zoo and the Chamber of Commerce, at a city commission meeting last week.

The Toy Train Depot in Alamogordo typically does well during the summer, but not this year, said Ron Offley, a board member affiliated with the Toy Train Depot.

“It’s down and it’s been going down for the last five years,” Offley said.

Offley said the event center could boost visitors to the Toy Train Depot, keeping an important part of the city’s history alive. Alamogordo was originally laid out in the 1890s by John and Charles Eddy, and William Hawkins as a railroad company town.

“The original plan was that the trust was going to build us a nice new museum instead of the depot and it would have been down there; a modern museum about trains and we would take the old depot and turn it into an original instead of it looking like an add-on," Offley said.

"But then as more people got involved in it, it went on to become something bigger.” 

In the 35,000 square foot event center, there would be a visitor's center, the Chamber of Commerce, a small business development center and the Otero County Economic Development Council.

The second floor would house a special event space that could host up to approximately 200 people and would feature a train museum where visitors could board a toy train from the building through the zoo, on the ride along the same route used now. The new "town plaza" would also incorporate Alameda Park.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director G.B. Oliver said the center could create tourism and event opportunities in Alamogordo.

The current Chamber of Commerce building is 65 years old and is owned by the city. Oliver said the goal of the project now, is to build an iconic building that would serve as a focal point for the city of Alamogordo.

“Alamogordo just doesn’t have a nice room to facilitate big meetings,” Oliver said.

Alameda Zoo manager Johnny Crain said the zoo is doing well. The zoo recently upgraded its facilities, receiving recognition from the White Sands Beatification Committee for improvements made.

“These last couple of years have been pretty busy,” Crain said. “Our attendance has been great, we get a lot of people who come down from El Paso or Ruidoso.”

But Crain said he would be interested to see the next steps for the building that could impact traffic to the zoo.

“It’ll be something interesting, it’s in the planning stages right now,” Crain said.

Couple's trust gets funding started 

The Sheldon Trust put forth funds, originally intended to help fund a new library, to create the building plans to construct a historic railroad-themed event center and committed $1 million toward building the structure.

The Chamber of Commerce requested the City Commission consider moving forward with the project and for permission to work with city staff all the way through the process.

During the presentation to city commissioners, it was noted the entire Chamber of Commerce board voted unanimously at a recent meeting to pursue getting the building project underway.

The estimated cost of the building is $350 per square foot, or $12 million.

City Commissioner Alfonso Hernandez requested the Chamber put together actual costs for the project. 

Chamber of Commerce board Chair Randy Rabon said funding could be acquired through grants, such as the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) or Union-Pacific Railroad, as well as from private fundraising.

Oliver said the project could also seek federal and state aid.

“But you’ve got to start somewhere,” Oliver said.

City Manager Brian Cesar said the topic will be on the City Commission agenda at the next meeting.

Support local journalism and subscribe to Alamogordo Daily News today.

Cristina Carreon can be reached by email at ccarreon@alamogordonews.com, phone (575) 437-7120 ext. 7134 or on Twitter @Cris_carreon90.