On February 10, 2000 — exactly one decade ago — VallesCaldera.com was launched, predating the creation of the Valles Caldera National Preserve (above is a screen shot of this website’s original masthead).
This site went live in the tense months before the Baca Ranch was purchased by the American people, when many New Mexicans watched with bated breath out of concern that this spectacular, 95,000-acre parcel of vast mountain valleys, forested volcanic domes, and sparkling streams might be sold to developers.
In the months that followed the launch of this site, the Baca Ranch was transformed into publicly-owned land after being purchased by taxpayers for $101 million, becoming the Valles Caldera National Preserve with the signing of the Valles Caldera Preservation Act by President Bill Clinton on July 25, 2000.
VallesCaldera.com is operated by a Jemez Mountains local who lives within the geologic Valles Caldera (one mile from the National Preserve fence).
We extend our appreciation to those who have utilized the resources on VallesCaldera.com for the past decade, and have made this the #1-ranked independent website about the Valles Caldera (according to Google).
