Why Is a ‘Ghost Town’ Being Built in the Middle of New Mexico?
- Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:12am by
Liz Klimas
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This artist rendering provided by the Center for Innovation, Testing and Evaluation shows the $1 billion scientific ghost town near Hobbs, N.M. (Image: AP/Center for Innovation, Testing and Evaluation)
It may be hard to believe, but the latest ghost city isn’t being constructed in China (where such a thing is common) or anywhere overseas for that matter. It’s going up right here in the United Sates — in the middle of New Mexico.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez speaks during a news conference in Albuquerque, N.M. on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, where it was announced that Hobbs and Lea County had beat out a second finalist, Las Cruces, for a new $1 billion research center. The Center for Innovation, Technology and Testing - or CITE - will be a scientific ghost town developed to help researchers test everything from intelligent traffic systems and next-generation wireless networks to the latest in automated washing machines and self-flushing toilets. (AP Photo/Jeri Clausing)
There, a brand new, fully-functional modern town devoid of people is being built with the sole purpose of being a tech test bed.
(Related: See pictures of the creepy Chinese ghost malls)
BBC reports the tech company Pegasus Global Holdings is spending $1 billion in Lea County, New Mexico, to construct a town that will test a wide range of new gadgets and systems:
Anything from smart grids and next-generation wireless networks to self-flushing toilets could be tested in the new town.
“The only thing we won’t be doing is destructive testing, blowing things up — I hope,” said Robert Brumley from Pegasus.
Last year, Brumley told Popular Mechanics the site could also be used to test items like driverless vehicles. Here he explains the benefit of having all the infrastructure in place but no people around:
Driverless trucks controlled over a wireless network could make freight more efficient, for example, and the upgraded communications systems required could help rural communities along the highway get better broadband access. Some companies are already developing the technology, but testing unmanned trucks on real highways would endanger human drivers, and tinkering with telecommunications could disrupt regular service. But inside the unpopulated city, there’s no problem. “There’d be nobody to interfere with,” Brumley says.
Mayor of Hobbs Sam Cobb confirmed to The Associated Press that the southeastern New Mexico community was selected prior to a news conference Tuesday with Gov. Susana Martinez and the investors developing the Center for Innovation, Technology and Testing, or CITE.
Pegasus Holdings and its New Mexico subsidiary, CITE Development, had announced last month that the list of potential sites had been narrowed to two. Hobbs beat out a location near Las Cruces.
Developers were looking for open spaces. Another plus was the proximity to federal research facilities like White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico and Los Alamos and Sandia national labs.
MSN has more on the town:
Although a fully operational city with no people sounds a little like the setup for a dystopian sci-fi novel, Pegasus CEO Robert Brumley says the center is modeled after Disney World: “Most of the maintenance of the facility is done underground, and aboveground is the amusement park.” In some ways, the center would be like a playground for scientists and innovators. Brumley envisions it as a place where people developing new technologies could run large-scale experiments in real-world conditions that — for practical, financial, bureaucratic or safety reasons — they wouldn’t be able to do elsewhere. “People can go there and experiment without restrictions,” he says.
Gov. Martinez joined officials in announcing final site selection for the project, which she hailed as “one of the most unique and innovative” economic development projects the state has seen. She noted that no tax breaks were given for the development. “The only thing they have asked for is guidance,” she said.
Brumley said plans are to break ground on the town by June 30. The initial development cost is estimated at $400 million, although Brumley estimates the overall investment in the project to top $1 billion.
The project is expected to create 350 permanent jobs and about 3,500 indirect jobs in its design, development, construction and ongoing operational phases.
Update: The Blaze contacted Brumley to find out more about how this project was funded. He told us it was funded all through private investors. He said government dollars were specifically not chosen to help fund the project as they wanted the site to be “based on free market principals.” He also explained how testing sites such as this are hard for private companies to come by when they have an innovative idea, as they are usually owned by the government or universities. He said they have had to go outside of the country, like Korea or Iceland, before to test ideas. With this new site, he said there would be no favoritism on who could test there whether it be small businesses, government agencies or universities. Part of how the site will generate revenue when it’s complete is charging access fees to use its facility.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.




















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Comments (269)
Singlespeeder
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:42amGreat for testing infrastructure, I suppose but the problem with driverless cars is how they will interact with all of the unpredictable idiots running and driving the streets. They will need some test idiots. Anyone know of a bunch of willing subjects needing jobs like speed bump? Great place to test anti EMP tech?
Report Post »Liberty 4x4
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:49amThere are plenty of liberal progressive democrats available.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:53amHumanity will always be the random, unpredictable element; was there not a film with Stalone in the future that had self driving cars? As to the Anti EMP effect, this would also be a dream come true for a hacker group to try and infiltrate their techniques; gain an edge on the competition and targests they seek to strike out at in the future.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:54amApologies – as for the Anti EMP effect, yes it would be a great test bed.
Report Post »AxelPhantom
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:35amOccupy Wall Street
Report Post »KENTUCKIANAPATRIOT
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:53amAmen…and maybe they will create a need for INDOOR lawn & garden equipment. (Which is what, exactly?)
Report Post »DakotaJoe
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:02amStart an Occupy Hobbs, N.M, That way we get all the test DUMBIES we need.
Report Post »SUNTZU
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:22amNo salt
Report Post »No McDonaldls
No bake sale
No sugar
No smoking
No OWS
No republic
No elections
No meat…
No guns
No whites
No blacks
No Nothing You want
No God
No No No No No ……………………………………….
And above all No people
Robo Town ???????????????
Stoic one
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:24amCAT
Report Post »The most recent movie with automated cars would be “Minority Report” starring Tom Cruise.
Useful_Idiot
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:25amThe SEIU has plenty of volunteers
Report Post »Nancys Red Diaper Doper Babies
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:50am“I suppose but the problem with driverless cars is how they will interact with all of the unpredictable idiots running and driving the streets. They will need some test idiots.”
We could always import a few OWSers.
Report Post »4XGrace
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:57amWait till the Mexicans arrive … it won’t be a ghost town for long … :-o
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:14pmWho is paying for this?
Are these going to be Reservation Housing for Indians, Blacks, and Illegal Aliens?
Report Post »Machtyn
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:38pmYou don’t suppose Japan would have robots in the town? I suspect they would. Also, it wouldn’t be too hard to build in unpredictability with cardboard children on rails that “run” into the street. A driverless vehicle would have to be programmed for such situations.
Granted, you’re not going to save every idiot that wants to jump in front of a car, there’s just no preventing physics and unfortunate timing. (Do I swerve to miss the running kid and right into the family walking their dog on the other side of the road?)
Report Post »JanZizka
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:40pmI can think of 535 highly overpaid test idiots.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:00pmThere “IS” no reason that this couldn’t be done using “smart technology” models. Which would be even ‘smarter’ than using a bunch of resources for nothing.
doesn’t pass the smell test.
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:09pmPerfect location for the shadow Gov’t once DC is cleared out of undesirables (read GOP and other factions not willing to submit to King Obongo and his UN handlers). Sounds nutty I know but that is the first thought that popped into my head when viewing the layout and size of the place. Security here can be quite easy to maintain with it’s open kill zones in all directions. I wonder what is under this town. I bet it has quite the subterrian infrastructure, perfect for a dictator to carry on from in relative safety.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:12pmGov. Martinez isn’t to smart – no imagination. A smart Gov. would have went to Obama and told him they would be usuing the latest Green Technolgy. Obama would then have lumped it in with Sylndra and all those other failed companys. Shucks Sylndra got a half billion bucks. If it failed the state of New Mexico would have owned the whole operation and if it worked even have been better. Most of these engineers will come from Japan and the workers from out of state. The kids in Japan and China are the only kids hitting the books and not marching for Share the Wealth. They actually will keep their grades and go to work.This will only provide local jobs for the gophers.
Report Post »dnha14
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:28pmAl Sharpton is looking for work.
Report Post »smg60user
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:43pmRaccoon City?
Report Post »armyofnibiru
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:45pmthe idiot drivers will be eliminated by the chemtrails,there won’t be enough little people to drive the elites and thier cargo around the country. since all the other cities need people they can’t work without them.so they need cites that work without people.sounds like the hole idea should self flush.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:58pmMaybe when Obama gets the boot this November we can elect him mayor of this empty city.
Report Post »flrick
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 2:43pmPerfect cover for a……FEMA camp? Just sayin’….
Report Post »FaithFamilyandFriends
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:15pmThe more technologically advanced we get, the less I want to take part in it.
Report Post »JRHelgeson
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 5:18pmHow are they going to keep the 99% squatters out of there?
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:37pmWhy is there going to be a Church there?
Report Post »hallkbrdz
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:32pmThey could have just used part of Detroit and saved money. Even if they blew something up, no-one would really notice, heck it might be an improvement.
Report Post »mauijonny
Posted on May 11, 2012 at 4:47amI soooo agree w/GB on this. I wrote several letters to my local paper‘s editor about doing something like this in our ’tech park’ (that now houses mostly golf villas) on a much smaller scale. Oh well…
Report Post »railgrinder57
Posted on May 12, 2012 at 12:47pmCheck with MSNBC, I understand they have some useful idiots looking for work.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:39amI thought FEMA camps would look like WWII POW camps.
Report Post »Dahart
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:33amTrue that!
Report Post »desktrucker
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:56amMaybe this is an upscale FEMA camp, I mean “re-education” center.
Report Post »code green
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:15amThat was my first thought
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:19amYou can teach us old dogs new tricks.
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:34amThat was my first thought also, re-education camp.
Report Post »SUNTZU
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:43amThink
Report Post »They have the bunkers for the top dogs
places like this for the party members
We will be outside killing each other in a
Race , rich? poor I got mine you get
yours ,War
SUNTZU
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:44amYOU need to read my book
Report Post »“The Art of War”
Wolf
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 2:23pmFEMA camp disguised as a city… no way this is going to pay for itself with ‘research’. Just another piece of wool being pulled over the sheeple’s eyes.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:37pm@SUNTZU
“YOU need to read my book “The Art of War””
Hi Sun,
Report Post »I’ve read all the “…Tzu” books. What influenced you sign up to The Blaze two days ago? Just curious. : )
hayesstephen
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 5:15pmI believe this is going to be a fema camp. Not for average volk but for the elite who will not bend to the new order. All is needed implanted chips and sensors to keep people from escaping, or good old chain link and razor wire.
Report Post »Pray for our country. We are facing the greatest threat to our freedom in November.
Baddoggy
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:33amIf it was any other Governor but Martinez I would worry…I love her!
Report Post »kennebec
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:52amgreat story to hear in desolate progreesive district
Report Post »kam123
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:27amEureka!
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:29pmSad that I thought of the exact same thing as soon as I read the article. I even started humming the opening theme.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 2:46pm‘Build it… and they will come’… sayeth the Shoe God!
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:18pmThat’s what I thought, Eureka!
Report Post »thibx
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:25amwhy don’t they just tell the truth? where did this money come from? a company is not going to invest 1 billion in this how are they getting a return.
Report Post »Mannax
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:00amThey rent out space to other companies to test their stuff too. They make more money on that than testing their own equipment.
Report Post »LibertyGoddess
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:40amYou are correct. There is more going on and I wouldn‘t be surprised if this isn’t some front for funneling government money to some “study”.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:41amIts government money! No need to recoup!
Report Post »Talent-Keyhole
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:51amIf you start pulling the threads, the money trail leads to Soros via a number of fronts and proprietaries. The other thread set leads back to PALADIN (U), FEMA and GARDEN PLOT(U). This facility will test all kinds of “urban control systems”. Think rats in a maze with wires sticking into their brains and scientist saying things like “Ah! so that’s it!”. Anyone read “The Breach” trilogy. Just sayin’ …..
Report Post »Bangstick
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:29pmThey will get their money back and then some when the gov’t MANDATES you have to buy their stuff.
Report Post »KyleD
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 2:27pmThis is a holding company. They earn money by purchasing stock in other companies they believe will do well in the future. I don‘t know what stocks Pegasus Global Holdings owns but it seems it’s all related to tech…in which case this is a perfect plan for them. They’re investing $1 billion to create a small city where all of the various companies they hold stock in can come and easily do research, which makes them money. It’s really very ingenious because they can invest in a number of companies that have completely different products and test them all simultaneously. The city could test energy production, new building materials, new waste disposal systems, automated driving systems, new traffic lights, high speed internet, city wide wifi, security systems…the list pretty much goes on and on and they can test all of these things without the hassle of having to deal with city regulations. They could also charge other companies for the use of the facilities and if they ever decide they no longer want the city they can sell it. It’s really a very smart plan.
Report Post »TheftfromtheLeft
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:24amSomething here is a little too fishy, and if i do recall, there isn’t a lot of water sources for that smell in the middle of the desert, aka Hobbs, NM.
Report Post »Dahart
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:40amFish you think this fishy try this one on for size….
Report Post »http://www.infowars.com/army-admits-re-education-camp-manual-not-intended-for-public-release/
321481
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:11amHow much of Pegasus money came from the fed. gov’t, either directly or indirectly. If the sole purpose of building an entire town is to test products it seems to be overkill. In our society when things are not what they apear to be, I find this hard to believe on it’s face.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:27amThe article said NO tax/gov’t money. Until proven otherwise…………….
Report Post »chips1
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 2:52pmOMG!!!! They are planning to kill us.
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:09amHOW DEEP underground? Is this the “survivalist” hideout for the elites? EVERYTHING has alternate uses…..
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:05amDarn, you figured it out. My fellow elites are going to have to shut this down now and start over somewhere else.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:06amI was thinking: fema camps for dissidents.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:12am…and for several levels [under-ground] are the total-iso-areas for those who dissagree, with no external communication…and built for infinit detention.
Report Post »armyofnibiru
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:18pmnot dissidents,DCs disslocated citizens,you know;people tossed out of thier houses do to agenda 21.
Report Post »welloddyfriggindah
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:03amWe should test Progressive policies out there before endangering innocent lives…oh wait…thats what Europe was for!
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:16amDetroit was the original great society in the US…
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:02am“self-flushing toilets could be tested in the new town.” ???
Report Post »Pegasus Global Holdings is spending $1 billion ???
2+2=5
circleDwagons
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:12amsolar power? hydrogen power?
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:04amIf this is all up and up, and is privately funded for the R&D of new products. Then, I am all for it. Otherwise, I am rather leary.
Report Post »JimmyP
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:02amTwilight Zone episode?
Westworld, where nothing can go wrong…go wrong…go wrong…
Woody Allen’s Sleeper?
Self flushing toilets with no people there?
Will the toilets include bidets?
Sounds like a good idea actually…
No tax incentives paid out.
Available for rent 24-7
Maybe a contest to name the city should be held.
Report Post »Maybe the name should go the highest bidder?
HaroldHeard
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:00amA ghost town being built by a ghost company, oops, I should not have said anything. The black helicopters rotors are spinning-up now.
http://www.pegasusglobalholdings.com/
Notice how all the companies they work with are from Washington DC, I smell shadow companies, anyone else.
Report Post »Babci
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:29pmFascinating! I scratched the surface of Pegasus Global and found some surprises. Just pick one of the executives or advisors mentioned on the site. I picked the Lord in the London office. He’s a Pharmacologist who also serves on the board of PartyGaming Inc., the world’s largest internet gambling site. Started by a family in SF that specialized in internet porn and moved to gambling in 2001. A member of Parliament, who’s career has been in pharmaceuticals, is on the board of a gambling company whose founders now live in Gibralter and would be arrested if they came back to America. Wow, nothing wierd going on here.
Report Post »Legal Immigrant
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:55amAdd EMP and watch the fun begin.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:23amThe new Manhatten project,methinks.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:15amI can’t wait for it to….be HACKED! Hahahahahahh… .:-)
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:50amLet‘s make Obama’s next job mayor of an empty city like this. Hey, Newt’s moon colony may not be such a bad idea. We could send Barry and Moochelle up there to reign over an imaginary lunar kingdom.
Report Post »objectivetruth
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:26amSounds great.It would be the safest we have been in three years and some odd months.This way they could preside over the eating habits of desert rats.Let me shut up ,I just got a thought about the true implications of that.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:52amobama would manage to ruin and bankrupt it in record time.
Report Post »gryffn
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:58pmDon’t you dare send that idiot here to NM!
Report Post »conservativejon
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:49amas long as we are not paying for any of it. the idea is very cool. wonder if that tech co has been watching too much sifi channel though
Report Post »Mrtoohappy
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:37amDon’t let Obama know about this, it will cost us millions in tax dollars.
Report Post »randy
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:50amActually, don’t let OWS know about this, or they’ll attempt to occupy it….
Report Post »brntout
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:12am@ Randy they can be useful as crash test dummies for the driverless vehicles as jay walkers.
Report Post »Striker
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:35amThis is a great example of what free markets can do. If the gov‘t will stay out and the company does not try to get gov’t funding for their tests, it will be a huge success. If the progressives tried this it would cost 5 times as much and produce no results. Liberty is always the best answer.
Report Post »bpodlesnik
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:02amI do agree that this company could become huge. Such a great idea with the new tech that is coming out so rapidly. And as far as I know, this is the only company that is doing something like this.
Report Post »izzy1127
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:15amYeah, and 2 + 2 = 5.
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:19pmRead Harold Heards post above adn the reply to it….PegasusGlobalHoldings corp board all leads back to Wash DC and to some rather shady characters. My gut reaction to this story is not positive…something stinks here.
Report Post »KURT1010
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:34amI just do not understand this ?
Report Post »Joseph2
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:33amWhat’s the name of this town?
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:44amWestworld!
Report Post »another_mormon_4_Ron_Paul
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:31amWest World.
Report Post »Vietvet1
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:30amAdd your comments
Report Post »marine249
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:09amThis town WTFF
Report Post »Vietvet1
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:30amHmmmmm sounds sort of like Eureka… Town with BRAINIACS in it, experimenting on a lot of things….
Report Post »starman70
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:29amBiblical prophecy coming true. Experiments designed to control the population of the future, being used to monitor EVERY action of the future population!
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:52amYou got it…gargantuan gulag…bet cameras are every few feet…
Report Post »Ran60
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:27amNeat! Illegals now will have their choice of accommodations as a layover to their destinations.
And if they stay, it will make it easier for ICE to pick them up.
Report Post »Southernguy
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:39amI was just about to say that, lol
Report Post »Ruckus_Tom
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:44amHeh. Another sanctuary city.
Report Post »Ed_Kel
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:24amWasn’t the island on the show Lost all screwed up because of the “unrestricted testing”?
Report Post »MR_ANDERSON
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:48amNo, it was because they were all dead and in purgatory.
Report Post »Balthazor
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 2:41pmMR_ANDERSON: no they weren’t, and ED_KEL is exactly right.
Report Post »Welcome Black Carter
Posted on May 11, 2012 at 6:34pmThis will never happen. No one will waste that kind of money. Except our government of course…
Report Post »