Alamogordo’s Trinity Turtle Healing Labyrinth to Host Five-Night Dedication Celebration Amid New State Funding Boost

Alamogordo, NM – December 17, 2025 – CAPPED, Inc., the local nonprofit championing cancer prevention and holistic wellness, invites the community to a joyous five-night celebration and dedication of the Trinity Turtle Healing Labyrinth – poised to be the world’s largest permanent labyrinth – running December 23 through 27, 2025, from 6 to 9 p.m. each evening.

Located at 7440 US Highway 54/70 (south of Tularosa), the free, family-friendly event will feature twinkling lights, cookies, hot cocoa, live music, and themed nights honoring community heroes:

• Dec 23: Military & Veteran Family Night

• Dec 24: Church & Faith Communities

• Dec 25: Children & Grandparents

• Dec 26: Physicians, Nurses, & Counselors

• Dec 27: The Wellness Community

The turtle-shaped labyrinth – with its completed “head” as a children’s walking path surrounded by stone benches and petroglyph-inspired blocks – remains open 24/7 year-round as a sanctuary for reflection, stress reduction, and healing through meditative walking.

This milestone comes on the heels of significant state support: CAPPED, Inc. was awarded a second major grant this month from New Mexico’s Outdoor Recreation Division Trails+ Program as part of a $3.2 million distribution to trail and recreation projects statewide. The award, part of a record-breaking application round, builds on the organization’s 2024 receipt of nearly $100,000 ($99,999) from the same program, which funded Phase III expansions including ADA accessibility and enhanced amenities to position the site as a premier healing and outdoor destination

At the heart of CAPPED’s mission is founder and executive director Tresa VanWinkle, a registered nurse whose personal family battles with cancer – including 17 diagnoses since 1994 – inspired her to establish the organization in 2000. VanWinkle’s vision emphasizes primary prevention of chronic diseases through education, support services, and innovative wellness spaces like the labyrinth, which she describes as a tool for switching brain hemispheres, reducing stress, and fostering peace. Often hailed as a “Remarkable Woman” for her decades of selfless service (including donating her own salary), VanWinkle has transformed CAPPED into a vital resource serving thousands of individuals with cancer awareness, early detection, and holistic care, earning it the moniker “The Miracle on New York Avenue.”

The labyrinth project, over two decades in development, symbolizes resilience and community healing, aligning with CAPPED’s goal of creating sustainable environments to combat preventable diseases.

All are welcome to attend the celebrations and experience this unique space.

More News from Alamogordo

• Mayor Susan Payne Honors Unsung Heroes Behind Alamogordo’s Gateway Freedom Monument and Downtown Revitalization #AlamogordoProud recognizing those individuals that contribute to a better Alamogordo Community...
• Spotlight Stamina Award” Local Independent Media Honors Mayor Payne’s Endurance Under Scrutiny in Final Meeting Mayor Payne reviews her tenure and is awarded...