Otero County Asks Feds to Pause Sunspot Demolition
Published 14 November 2026
By Julie Marcellus
Otero County has formally asked the federal government to hold off on tearing down the historic Sacramento Peak Observatory campus at Sunspot, up the mountain from Alamogordo. The Otero County Commission passed the resolution on Tuesday, November 10, asking for an independent look at which buildings could be saved first. The National Science Foundation still plans to take down the Dunn Solar Telescope this winter and the rest of the site after that.
What did Otero County ask for?
According to 2nd Life Media's report on the November 10 meeting, the resolution asks the National Science Foundation and the Lincoln National Forest to defer demolition until there is a public evaluation of how the buildings could be reused. It also asks for records on the campus water system and asks that the county be confirmed as a consulting party in the federal historic preservation review.
The county attorney told commissioners that a 2019 federal decision calls for buildings or utilities to be transferred rather than torn down if another group shows a need for them, and that, as far as he could tell, that evaluation had not been done.
Why does the county want to slow things down?
A big reason is water. The Sunspot campus water and wastewater system also serves the neighboring Apache Point Observatory and the county's Sunspot fire station. Commissioners said keeping that system working matters for safety on the mountain.
There is also the visitor center, which drew 12,000 to 15,000 people a year, according to the report. The county attorney said New Mexico State University has signaled it would continue research and run the visitor center if an operator can be found for the buildings.
What do the National Science Foundation and Forest Service say?
The agencies say they want to honor Sunspot's history, but not by keeping every building. At the meeting, the acting Lincoln National Forest supervisor described an 80 year old site with asbestos, lead paint and failing utilities, and said the agency does not believe preserving the history requires preserving unsafe buildings.
In its latest update on Sacramento Peak Observatory, the National Science Foundation says it has committed up to $100,000 for an interpretive exhibit or signage, is working with New Mexico State University and other partners to find homes for important scientific artifacts, and will keep working with Apache Point Observatory on its water needs.
What is the timeline?
Here is the schedule the National Science Foundation has posted. Its fiscal year 2027 runs from October 2026 to September 2027.
| When | What is planned |
|---|---|
| Fiscal 2027, first quarter (Oct. to Dec. 2026) | Scaffolding goes up around the Dunn Solar Telescope and removal of the concrete structure begins from the top down |
| Fiscal 2027, second quarter (Jan. to Mar. 2027) | Dunn Solar Telescope taken down to ground level, then site cleanup |
| Fiscal 2027, first and second quarters (Oct. 2026 to Mar. 2027) | Contracting and Phase 1 award for the rest of the site |
| Fiscal 2027, third and fourth quarters (Apr. to Sept. 2027) | Phase 1 removes buildings unused for long periods; Phase 2 contract awarded and work begins |
At the county meeting, the county attorney said a contract for the remaining structures could be awarded anytime between now and March. The county is waiting for the agency's answer to its pause request.
What could Sunspot become?
The Forest Service says it will look for future uses that create public value once cleanup is done. At the meeting, the acting supervisor mentioned working with the county on a dark sky recreation area and on the fire station, and the county attorney said the agency's vision includes a campground and a new visitor center. If you want to stay in the loop, the Lincoln National Forest invites people to email ReImagineSunspotNM@usda.gov.
What does this mean for people who live here?
For a lot of us, Sunspot is a favorite drive up the mountain and a place we take visitors. It is also part of what makes living near Cloudcroft and the Sacramento Mountains special. If you are thinking about a mountain home, the water system question is worth watching, since it serves more than the observatory. For the background on why the telescope is coming down, read Why Sunspot's Dunn Solar Telescope Is Being Demolished, and see Moving to Alamogordo for the bigger picture on living here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sunspot observatory being torn down?
Yes, the National Science Foundation plans to demolish the Dunn Solar Telescope first and then the remaining Sacramento Peak Observatory buildings. Otero County asked on November 10, 2026, for the demolition to be paused.
What did Otero County ask the federal government to do?
The county asked the National Science Foundation and the Lincoln National Forest to defer demolition until a public reuse evaluation is done. It also asked for water system records and a seat in the historic preservation review.
When will the Dunn Solar Telescope come down?
The National Science Foundation expects work to start in the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year. It plans to finish taking the telescope down to ground level in the second quarter, which runs January to March 2027.
Why does the Sunspot water system matter?
It also serves the neighboring Apache Point Observatory and the county's Sunspot fire station. Commissioners said keeping it working is important for safety on the mountain.
How can I share ideas about Sunspot's future?
The Lincoln National Forest invites people who want to stay informed to email ReImagineSunspotNM@usda.gov. The agency says it plans to ask local partners about community priorities.
Facts in this post come from 2nd Life Media's report on the November 10, 2026, Otero County Commission meeting and the National Science Foundation's Sacramento Peak Observatory update, as of 14 November 2026.