El Rancho Lights Up the Mother Road
THE LETTERS ON THE NEON SIGNS framing the route into Gallup follow a familiar pattern. A large blocky word beside one or two tilted script words—all written in gas-filled phosphorescent tubes—proclaim…
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Tag: Route 66
Go Retro on Route 66
WEARY MOTORISTS TRAVELING the Southwest might feel a sudden onset of déjà vu when they glance up at the Sands Motel sign written in neon light, as though the hotel had been duplicated at every exit…
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Motels Making a Comeback
Monterey Motel. Originally built in 1946, this restored sister property to El Vado reopened in 2021. “Rooms at the Monterey have a bit more of a contemporary, chic aesthetic,” says Nate Valdez…
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Gather Round at El Vado Motel
AS YOU CRUISE DOWN Albuquerque’s Central Avenue, the remnants of Route 66’s once-thriving motel culture often fade into the background—boarded windows, weed-covered entryways, a dark neon sign in an…
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These Motels Take You Back in Time
HUMANS HAVE BEEN TRAVELING through the area known today as Tucumcari for at least 10,000 years. With the establishment of Route 66, Tucumcari’s motels have offered visitors a warm, welcoming place to…
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History Meets Modern at El Rey Court
LESS THAN A MILE from The Mystic lies El Rey Court, a landmark white adobe building with softly contoured walls. The place has been a mainstay since it opened in 1936 as a 12-room motor inn on the…
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A Historic Gem on Route 66
THE BRIGHT NEON LIGHTS. The friendly, personable service. The individually unique rooms with authentic 1940s and 1950s decor. The Blue Swallow Motel, which was listed in the National Register of…
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Rediscover the Magic of Route 66
WAKING UP IN THE MYSTIC’S 1950S-THEMED ROOM IS A TRIP. The bedside radio clock, kitschy cowboy tabletop lamp, and other throwback decor could make a drowsy guest at the Santa Fe roadside motel believe…
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Editor's Letter: Road Signs
ROUTE 66 TRAVELERS have rarely had it so good. Oh, sure, maybe during the heyday of the Mother Road, but these days, breakfast at The Mystic, on the original Route 66 in Santa Fe, is pretty tough to…
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Experience the Mystical Vibes
WHEN AMANDA TUCKER WAS 16, she and her mother visited Santa Fe and stayed at the Western-themed Silver Saddle Motel. Located on Cerrillos Road and part of the original Route 66 before the highway’s…
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