If you’re going to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the New Mexico Department of Tourism’s Visitor Center on the fiesta grounds is celebrating the Route 66 centennial with a retro gas-station installation.
Marisol Lucero, Tourism Development director, reached out to the New Mexico Route 66 Alliance to create a one-of-a-kind tourism information tourism center.
Alliance President Vickie Ashcraft, Vice President Bruce Schaffer and Preservation Officer Johnnie Meier created a retro Roadrunner Gasoline station complete with vintage restored gas pumps, accessories and vintage signage.
“We considered a number of gasoline brands, but Roadrunner Gasoline was an easy choice, particularly since the roadrunner is New Mexico’s state bird,” Meier said.
Shaffer said, “While we were setting up prior to the fiesta opening, workers and fiesta vendor personnel were already gathering around, taking photos and selfies with the station. Folks were really enjoying themselves checking out the retro gas pumps and the station. It was an ambitious project, and we only had a couple of weeks to make it happen. We expect to bring in a few classic cars to park at the station as an added attraction for the gas station.”
Ashcraft said, “The Alliance has had a strong and productive relationship with the Tourism Department, and this Balloon Fiesta project is a pathway to future project partnerships. Last year, the Fiesta attracted 851,000 visitors, and the Alliance is proud to support the Tourism Department with this Route 66 Centennial tourism visitor center.
The Balloon Fiesta runs through Oct. 11.
(Courtesy image of Johnnie Meier and Bruce Shaffer dressed in service station overalls with the New Mexico Tourism Department visitor center at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta)