National Sport Launch-West is the model rocket event you may not know about but one you should make plans to attend over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. It’s quite the spectacle with giant model rockets being launched in the San Luis Valley’s high elevation and with a waiver from the FAA to fly as high as 52,000 feet above ground.

Matt Abbey, owner of Big Valley HobbyTown store in Alamosa, and the SLV Society of Model Engineers are responsible for bringing in National Sport Launch-West each Memorial Weekend. This is the third consecutive year for the event to be hosted by Alamosa and with the rocket launch area located near Capulin in Conejos County. 

“I describe it as going to your kids’ soccer game. Bring your water, bring your sunblock, bring your umbrella chair,” said Abbey.

And enjoy the show.

There is no charge to attend and watch. Flights will begin each day starting at 8 a.m. and continue through 4 p.m., beginning on Friday, May 23 through the Memorial Day weekend. The show closes at 2 p.m. on Monday.

“There’s some big, big projects coming,” Abbey said. “It’s everybody from, that’s a seven-engine monster with six detachable boosters that bring themselves back. There’s some big projects here. I mean, everybody that flies rockets that’s anywhere near is coming.”

The event pulls in hundreds of model rocket hobbyists from around the multi-state region and features around 80 wireless launchpads. Rocket vendors, food vendors and an appreciative crowd will keep the county roads around Capulin humming with activity.

“There’s a new generation of kids that are into space. It got cool again,” Abbey said of the crowds that will show up to watch the launches. 

IF YOU GO:

Directions from Alamosa to National Sport Launch-West site near Capulin:

  1. Drive South on Highway 285 for three miles. Turn Right/West on CO-370 aka County Road 10.
  2. Follow 370 for 10 miles to CO-368. Turn left/south.
  3. Follow 368 for 2 miles to the 12 Road. Turn right/west.
  4. Go one mile to the 9 Road. Turn left/south.
  5. Go one mile to the entry gate.

If you miss CO-370 in Step A above, keep going south to County Road 12. Turn Right/West. Follow 12 all the way to the 9 Road in step D above. This route has fewer turns, but more dirt.

There will be signs at the major turns and as you get closer to the site.