The Valle De Oro National Wildlife Refuge, just five miles south of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is unique – so far. The first such refuge in the southwestern region, it also is the first urban wildlife refuge in the US to be built from the ground up with widespread community involvement and thus can be a model for best practices. After years of planning, the refuge’s visitor center will officially open this fall. 

It also is a reminder of the region’s long, complex, multicultural history. In the South Valley, it was historically part of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro historic trail, which crosses the refuge’s eastern border. The surrounding Mountain View community is inhabited by families whose heritage dates back to early Hispanic settlers and more recent immigrants. And Price’s, which owned the Valley Gold farm that is now the refuge, became a corporate giant. (Its wonderful ice cream is still remembered by long-time residents.)