WEB EXCLUSIVE
Travel Nerd

Transform Your Summer

Much of the box-office smash hit Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was filmed in New Mexico. See where Optimus Prime met his match, Shia LaBeouf was implanted with an alien brain probe, and The Fallen returned to Earth, all on a southern New Mexico road trip. By Brandon Call

First, view the movie trailer.

In Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Decepticon forces return to Earth in search of Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) after the young hero learns the truth about Transformers' ancient origins. Joining in on the adventure are Witwicky’s girlfriend Mikaela Barnes (Megan Fox) and the shape-shifting four-wheeler Optimus Prime (voice by Peter Cullen), who team up with the United States Army for an epic second battle to save mankind. In the movie, New Mexico is the backdrop for action-packed chase scenes and edge-of-your-seat robot battles.

Begin your adventure at White Sands National Monument, 52 miles east of Las Cruces [or 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo] on U.S. 70, where Megatron and The Fallen stage a last stand in what is supposed to be the Egyptian and Jordanian desert. Of course there’s no Decepticons to ruin the day, and you’ll have plenty of time to soak up the sun and glistening, pearly white sand of the monument, where gypsum sand dunes have engulfed 275 square miles and are visible from space. Be sure to take the Dunes Drive, an eight-mile scenic roadway into the heart of the monument.

Adjacent to the monument is White Sands Missile Range, home to the Trinity Site and the March 30, 1982 emergency landing of the space shuttle Columbia. Access to the Missile Range is limited, but take a peek outside your car window while traveling on U.S. 70 for a quick glance. You won’t see the evil sand vaccuum Devastator causing havoc on Egypt’s ancient pyramids, but you will see birthplace of the race to space where Robert Goddard began experimenting with liquid fuel rocket engines. (Note: Due to missile testing at the White Sands Missile Range, White Sands National Monument sometimes closes for periods of up to three hours. When visiting the monument, visitors on a tight schedule may want to call ahead and check on closures at (575) 679-2599. Also, portions of U.S. 70 between White Sands National Monument and Las Cruces close during testing. For U.S. 70 closure information, call (575) 678-1178).

Continuing eastward on U.S. 70, you’ll pass Holloman Air Force Base, where many of the film’s military battle scenes were filmed. Visitors are not allowed on base, but stop by the New Mexico Museum of Space History, in Alamogordo, for a crash course in fighter jets, including the F-22 Raptor (Starscream), the F-117 Nighthawk (Soundwave), and the MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter (Blackout).

Continuing along U.S. 70 into Alamogordo, fill up the tank for lunch with authentic New Mexican cuisine at Si Señor Restaurant. Or, get sandwiches from Brown Bag Deli and picnic at Alameda Park Zoo. In any case, be sure to check out the abandoned warehouse in the train depot parallel to White Sands Boulevard near Alameda Park, where the Autobots win out over the Decepticons, in what is supposed to be Shanghai, China. The same warehouse is probably where Megatron pins Witwicky and implants a probe in his brain, too.

Continue northeast on U.S. 70 to Mescalero. As you climb in altitude to the Lincoln National Forest say goodbye to the desert dunes. This woodland area is the backdrop for the battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron (plus three other Decepticons). Although there won’t be any gigantic robots here, you will find towering evergreen pines. You can explore the vast wilderness on foot, bicycle, or horseback. Go fly-fishing in the one of the many mountain streams for trout, or camp out under the stars.

If you’re not the outdoorsy type, continue on U.S. 70 north and visit Ruidoso where you can absorb the fresh mountain air while shopping downtown. Try your luck at Inn of the Mountain Gods or Ruidoso Downs Racetrack. End your travels with a stay at the Black Bear Lodge or Appletree Bed & Breakfast. Afterall, even Transformers need some shut-eye.

 

[back to the top]