As Taos County prepares for a new economic development planning process in 2026, officials have launched the Cultural Treasures Project, a multi-year study aimed at identifying and protecting cultural and natural assets while balancing growth, tourism and community needs.
The Cultural Treasures Project, referred to as CTP, will map both tangible assets—such as venues, community centers, vacant facilities, trails and waterways—and intangible assets that hold historic, cultural or traditional meanings.
County officials said the effort is a direct response to the risk of Taos being “loved to death” by tourism, threatening lifeways that have existed for centuries.
“Taos County is at a pivotal moment. This offers us the choice to preserve and safeguard our collective, diverse heritage or risk losing it,” Jessica Stern, Economic Development Director with Taos County said.
Through community mapping sessions and storytelling, the project will document local heritage, traditions, land-based practices and other assets that residents consider cultural treasures. The findings will be compiled into a publicly accessible database to guide land-use planning, tourism management and policy development.
Officials said the project is designed to combat gentrification, promote stewardship-based growth and support economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time, the county hopes the work will shift economic development toward models that are locally led, environmentally sustainable and culturally relevant.
Ronald Martinez is serving as the advisory member for the Amalia and Costilla region. Cynthia Rael-Vigil and Lori Ortega are serving as advisory member for the Questa and Cerro region.
“Our heritage and culture are such an important asset for the future of our region,” said Cynthia Rael-Vigil. “It’s such an honor to work with Taos County to work toward growth, but also, to ensure everything that makes us what we are is not lost.”
According to the county, cultural assets can include people, groups, customs, places, natural resources, events and traditions that carry knowledge, aesthetic or historic value. By identifying these treasures, officials say, Taos will be better positioned to responsibly manage growth while honoring its creative, cultural and artistic life.
