Alamogordo awards Family Fun Center contract to Inn of the Mountain Gods

The Alamogordo City Commission voted 7-0 to award RFP 2025-001, the operation and maintenance contract for the Family Fun Center, to the Inn of the Mountain Gods during its April meeting.

The award followed a 40-minute presentation and question period from Frizzell Junior, who identified himself as chief operating officer for Inn of the Mountain Gods. Frizzell described a plan to reopen the center quickly, operate it every day, add family- and community-oriented programming and use a revenue-sharing contract with the city.

Why this matters: The Family Fun Center has been closed since late 2024 and has been a long-standing point of debate for the city. The new operator—s plan promises to restore recreation and local jobs, expand programs targeted to military families and seniors, and provide audited financial reporting to the city.

Frizzell told commissioners the company expects to create 35 to 40 local jobs at the center and proposed hours of operation of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. "We believe being open, 7 days a week is key to making sure that the operation is successful," Frizzell said.

He outlined a phased reopening timeline and said the operator could open core bowling and food-and-beverage services within an estimated 60 to 90 days, depending primarily on equipment lead times. Frizzell said some arcade machines are currently in storage and subject to litigation; those units would need replacement before full entertainment operations resume. "You might not have everything up and running. For example ... arcade machines are completely gone. We'd have to procure new ones," he said.

Frizzell emphasized community outreach, including junior bowling leagues, sensory-friendly accommodations and military discounts tied to Holloman Air Force Base. "We could set up regional tournaments," he said, noting that tournaments can be a major revenue source. A retired Air Force bowler who spoke during public comment, Joyce Gobrecht, told the commission, "Tournaments are a huge moneymaker."

On financial controls, Frizzell said the company uses third-party auditors (naming BDO) and will provide the city daily shift reports and monthly profit-and-loss statements for the Family Fun Center. He described the operator—s larger organization as having marketing reach (he cited about 60,000 social media followers) and the buying power to keep prices affordable. He also said the tribe—s gaming operations have spent heavily on cybersecurity and that the company has an established auditing record.

President Padilla of the Mescalero Apache Tribe stood and voiced support for the proposal, citing community ties and prior use of the facility by tribal families. "I've been here several times with my own kids ... I am very supportive of this project," Padilla said.

City staff noted the RFP required only that bidders provide bowling and food service and that the city sought a family-friendly, budget-conscious operator. The staff recommendation supported awarding the contract to Inn of the Mountain Gods; commissioners moved and approved the award on a unanimous vote. Commissioner Warren Robinson made the motion to approve the award; Commissioner Crystal Guthrie seconded. The vote tally was 7-0.

Votes at a glance (other formal outcomes recorded at the meeting): - Agenda approval: motion passed 7-0. - Consent agenda: approved 7-0. - Item 8 (BW Gas and Convenience Retail LLC / Allsup's transfer of dispenser liquor license, request for ABC 300-foot waiver): approved 7-0. - Item 9 (variance, 3200 N. White Sands Blvd., Pepper's Grill site to a plasma donation facility, parking reduced from 103 to 47): approved 7-0. - Item 10 (variance, Murphy's Oil site parking reduction from 27 to 14 to allow stacked oil-change service): approved 7-0. - Item 11 (RFP award to Inn of the Mountain Gods): approved 7-0. - Appointments: Billy Don Childs appointed to the Alamogordo Public Library Board; Rebecca Miller appointed to the Senior Volunteer Program council.

What happens next: The commission placed the award on the agenda for a formal contract step and indicated staff will finalize terms and conditions, including timelines for reopening, access and facility code compliance. Frizzell said the operator will recruit a local general manager and rely on its regional executive team for support.

Details to watch: the exact contract start date and the operator—s investment schedule are to be negotiated; Frizzell estimated a minimum 60-day and maximum 90-day window to open core services but said lead times for arcade and other equipment could lengthen that timetable. The commission and staff also discussed transit access and possible coordination with local bus provider Zetran.

The commission's unanimous vote completes the selection step; a formal contract and implementation schedule remain to be finalized.