This Is The Single Craziest Thing You Never Knew Happened In New Mexico

Some truly crazy things have happened in the Land of Enchantment. From stories of alien abductions to a kidnapped runaway bride to the discovery of an ancient stegomastadon fossil during a bachelor party to Fridgehenge (seriously, Google this if you’ve never heard of it), New Mexico has had its share of some crazy stuff. However, perhaps the single craziest thing you never knew happened in New Mexico when a town changed its name after a popular radio show.

Truth or Consequences — commonly called simply T or C — is a spa city and the county seat of Sierra County in the southwestern part of the state.

Don Barrett/Flickr

Its reputation as a spa city came from the area’s first hot spring “bath,” built in the late 1800s at John Cross Ranch over Geronimo Springs.

Riverbend Hot Springs/ TripAdvisor

However, the town wasn’t fully established until the Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir were completed in 1916.

Tim Kuzdrowski/Flickr

That same year, the town was incorporated as Hot Springs, New Mexico and, subsequently, became Sierra’s County seat.

C Hanchey/Flickr

Prior to World War II, there were 40 hot spring and mineral water facilities in the area.

Indian Springs Truth or Consequences/Facebook

Today, there are ten spa facilities in Truth or Consequences, most found in the Bathhouse Historic District.

Christine D/TripAdvisor

T or C is frequently on lists of most unusual place names. Go figure, huh? But did you ever wonder how it got its unusual name?

Kxlly Kxsh/Flickr

Truth or Consequences was named in honor of the popular NBC radio quiz show with the same name. During a March 1950 show, host Ralph Edwards announced that the program’s 10th-anniversary show would be broadcast from the first town to rename itself after the show. Hot Springs officially changed its name to Truth or Consequences on March 31, 1950. The promised radio program was broadcast the following day.

NBC Radio/Wikimedia Commons

Edwards visited Truth or Consequences during the first weekend in May for the next five decades. This weekend was called Fiesta and featured a parade, stage show, and beauty pageant. To this day, Truth or Consequences continues to celebrate Fiesta.

Truth or Consequences FIESTA/Facebook

If you go to Truth or Consequences, you can even visit Ralph Edwards Park, named for the iconic host that prompted the strange name change.

BBC World Service/Flickr

There you go: perhaps the single craziest thing that happened in New Mexico you may — or may not — have known about. Have you been to T or C? What did you think? Or do you have another idea as to the single craziest thing that happened in the Land of Enchantment? Please share your experiences and comments below.