Interesting Stories and Website Updates

The Atari Landfill Revealed Project has captured hearts and minds across the world. I have received email from Japan, Canada, Germany, Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia to name a few! Many emails contained interesting stories or messages of thanks from people who's childhood was defined by Atari and the games they played. I wish to address one thing in the email's... research and information gathering will not end for this project. It will remain on going until such time when I'm holding a freshly excavated E.T. cart half stuck into concrete.

Another update I'd like to get out... The Atari Landfill Revealed has won two journalism awards for truth in reporting. Thanks to all fans who helped the progress the article.

Before I start to ramble, I will now post an interesting story I got via email:

Hello,

I came across your excellent website about the Atari landfill in Alamogordo. I was a 13-year old boy living in Alamogordo when this event happened. I remember a friend calling me up on a Saturday morning saying he found a box of Atari cartridges on the sidewalk next to his house. Literally about 30 cartridges--many repeats--but a whole box nonetheless. I had several friends suddenly surfacing with their own "found" cartridges throughout that entire week. Obviously none of us knew the story back then, but word got around about Atari dumping all the games in the ground outside of town. My friend that found the box lived in a remote neighborhood at the North end of town, so its interesting that the landfill spot was at the South end of town. Anyway, when the story broke, my friends and I decided that at least one of the truckers due to dump the stash must've decided what a waste it was and wanted to play Santa Claus to a small New Mexican town a couple of months before Christmas and just drove through town throwing and dropping cartridges all over the place. Thats all we could assume considering the landfill was considerably out of town and there would be no reason for the trucks to drive through town at all.....

-Mike G.

Another email I received was from a fellow who lives in Alamogordo, NM and went to visit the landfill. Here's his directions for getting to the landfill:

I tried to follow the video map directions and the road has been closed between the Checker Auto Parts and the Hidy Ho Drive In. You have to cross the tracks about 300 yards to the north, then make a hard left right past the tracks onto a dirt road.

Follow the road until you see some gas tanks to your right. As soon as you pass the gas tanks you will find a road heading west. Turn left and you'll be on that road and head to the entrance of the Landfill site.

There is a gate there preventing access and lots of threatening signs to prevent trespassing. I doubt the landfill is still being used as the sign that was there was half missing and was virtually completely obstructed by some massive agaves that stand in front of it.

I seemed to inspire a few people to make the pilgrimage to the landfill because one writer has entered the landfill twice and was arrested twice. (His shovel was also confiscated). My understanding is that he has been caught attempting to dig and has been fined $25 each time. Keep digging man!

Thats the updates for now!

-Adam

Some Pictures

Here are some pictures of the entrance of the landfill to match the directions in the email above.

The sign at the entrance of the landfill. (As described in the email above.)

The dirt road leading to the landfill site. (As described in the email above.)

A pile of rusted dumpsters. This are placed on the right side of the entrance. The pile is so large you can see it on Google Earth (see part 4).

Same dumpsters, see above.

Stay tuned for more updates!

-Adam

If you are interested to learn more about me or the project continue to part 5 here.

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