Bernalillo County Commissioner Frank Baca recently pledged $250,000 from his District Directed Funding account towards operations of the yet-to-open Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque.
The county operated the $13 million facility until April 2024, then donated it to the City of Albuquerque.
The city formed a Route 66 Visitor Center Commission to determine how the center can best serve the community. The city also has been making some necessary repairs to the building that’s situated on NIne Mile Hill, on the far west side.
The city has projected that, with Baca’s funding, it will be able to hire the necessary staff, complete a comprehensive exhibition development plan, and eventually open the facility to the public. No estimated opening date was specified.
“Route 66 has become a historic and cultural landmark symbolizing American’s heritage of travel and their legacy of seeking a better life,” Baca stated in a news release by the county. “The visitor center represents a cultural hub, preserving and promoting the stories gathered along Route 66 while also serving as a place for community events, educational programs and a variety of exhibits that highlight the region.
“This center belongs to the public and should be accessible to all members of the public. Route 66 Visitor Center has everything in place to operate as a tourist destination and a community center. I would like to work with the city’s Route 66 Visitor Center Commission and the community to initiate a plan for events, exhibitions and educational opportunities the center was designed for. I look forward to seeing the facility and staff reach full potential.”
Earlier this summer, a report by KRQE-TV in Albuquerque detailed mismanagement, financial improprieties and procurement violations at the facility. Several tentative dates for the Route 66 Visitor Center’s opening have come and gone in the past few years.
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