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Truth or Consequences is a small health resort city known for its hot springs. It’s located in southern New Mexico and is often abbreviated as T or C.
History
Truth or Consequences didn’t always have an unusual name. It was originally incorporated as Hot Springs in 1916, and had about 40 hot springs by World War II.
In March 1950, Ralph Edwards (1913-2005), the host of the popular NBC Radio show Truth or Consequences, announced that he would air his 10th anniversary show from the first town to name itself after the show. Hot Springs officially made the change on March 31, 1950, and the show was broadcast from there the next evening. Edwards visited T or C the first weekend of May every year for the next 50 years to host an annual event that became known as the Fiesta.
Today, Truth or Consequences still holds the Fiesta. It includes a beauty pageant, parade, and stage show. There are now about 10 functioning hot springs, mostly catering to visitors.
Downtown
The downtown area is mostly situated between Main Avenue and Broadway. There are plenty of restaurants, cafés, and bars as well as a few shops. There’s also the interesting Geronimo Springs Museum, which is covered in another entry.
Lee Belle Johnson Building
In the heart of Truth or Consequences is the Lee Belle Johnson Building. It hosts both the Spaceport America Visitor Center and the Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway Visitor Center, which commemorates Chiricahua Apache warrior Geronimo (1829-1909).
Spaceport America is the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport and is located southeast of the city. Visitors can learn more about the spaceport through interactive displays and even book tours.
Riverbend Hot Springs
Of all the hot springs in town, we chose to visit the Riverbend Hot Springs. It’s located right on the banks of the Rio Grande and also includes a hotel geared towards couples.
Visitors can get an hour of access to public pools for US$30 from Monday through Thursday and US$40 from Friday through Sunday. 50 minute private soaks in open-air pools along the river cost US$40 from Monday through Thursday and US$50 from Friday through Sunday. All prices are based on one or two people and are current as of May 2024. Towels and robes are available for rent at an extra fee.
I opted for a private soak in the evening and was very happy with my choice. The pool was very hot and it was extremely peaceful and relaxing.
