Rich Havlik, owner of the historic Motel Safari in Tucumcari, New Mexico, this week launched a GoFundMe.com campaign to restore the Route 66 establishment’s main sign.
Havlik wrote what the campaign, with a goal of $5,500, seeks to do:
Decades of exposure to the New Mexico sun, wind, and weather have taken their toll. High winds damaged the camel-and-rider section, leaving a large hole. Some of the sign’s original lighting hasn’t worked in decades, and other historic lighting features have been lost over the years.
My goal is to restore this landmark while preserving the character that makes it Motel Safari.
Working with SkyRite, the planned restoration includes:
- Repairing or faithfully reproducing the damaged camel-and-rider section.
- Replacing deteriorated or nonworking internal lighting with energy-efficient LEDs.
- Restoring lighting on the sign’s three vertical poles, using historic photographs to guide the return of globe-style lights. The goal is to have white globes, with LEDs inside, on the tops and where I can control the color that is illuminated remotely.
- Completing the fabrication, electrical work, and installation needed to bring the sign back to life.
- Combining community support with preservation funding
I’m also applying for a historic-preservation grant to help fund this work. That funding has not yet been awarded. Donations through this campaign will help cover the restoration costs alongside any grant funds we receive.
Once he obtains the needed funds, Havlik said the project will begin as soon as possible.
Chester Dohrer, an independent hotelier, designed and built Motel Safari in 1959, and it remains largely unchanged.
(Excerpted image from Google Street View of the weathered Motel Safari sign in March 2026)