Albuquerque's Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission again on Wednesday deferred a decision on whether to designate the historic El Vado Motel as a city landmark. The decision has been moved to Nov. 14. It has been reported that the city and owner Richard L. Gonzales have been negotiating a possible buyout of the motel. Gonzales … Continue reading Deferred again
Category: Motels
Haunts along Route 66
Ghost stories abound along the old road that is Route 66. And it appears Flagstaff, Ariz., is lousy with them. City historian James Hardy says there are multitudes of ghost stories and legends along Route 66 in town. You have a tree near the library that you should leave alone, a mischievous poltergeist at the … Continue reading Haunts along Route 66
Santa Monica motel to become housing for mentally ill
It's a bit of good news and bad news in this report by columnist Kevin Herrera of the Santa Monica (Calif.) Daily Press. The bad news is that the Village Motel, which has sat at 2624 Santa Monica Blvd., aka Route 66, for more than 50 years, will soon no longer operate as a lodging … Continue reading Santa Monica motel to become housing for mentally ill
Albuquerque’s La Posada may reopen next year
A story in the New Mexico Business Weekly has this story about Gary Goodman and his La Posada of Albuquerque: For the past two years, Goodman has been renovating the hotel and returning it to its former elegance. He plans to open the 1939 hotel as a boutique hotel with 107 guest rooms and indoor … Continue reading Albuquerque’s La Posada may reopen next year
Preventing a motel vanishing act
The Arizona Republic published a good article Friday about slowly vanishing motels along Route 66. The article quotes Emily Priddy of Route66Motels.com and cites the ongoing preservation efforts at Earl's Motor Court and La Posada, both in Winslow, as beacons of hope for Mother Road travelers who love vintage lodgings. I found it especially fascinating … Continue reading Preventing a motel vanishing act
Glancy Motel undergoing renovations
While driving last week through the Route 66 town of Clinton, Okla., we saw something that gladdened our hearts. The Glancy Motel at 217 Gary Blvd., was undergoing extensive renovations after years of slow decline. The owner of the 1950s motel wasn't there, but building permits for remodeling, electrical and plumbing work were taped to … Continue reading Glancy Motel undergoing renovations
New paint job
We stayed at the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., just a few months after owners Bill Kinder and Terri Johnson put a new, old coat of paint on the historic Route 66 motel. Kinder said he wanted to bring back the Blue Swallow to its original shades, circa 1939. Much of the complex was … Continue reading New paint job
Selling with video
Video is a fast-growing and often effective tool for businesses to sell their products on the Internet. The Saga Motor Hotel, which has graced Route 66 in Pasadena, Calif., since 1957, is making use of this tool. Check it out: We've stayed at the Saga. Not only is it a well-preserved Southern California motel, but … Continue reading Selling with video
One of my favorite things
Here is one of the most cherished sights of many Route 66 travelers -- the neon of the Blue Swallow Motel sign in Tucumcari, N.M. The sign was recently repaired after being damaged by a severe hailstorm this spring. As you can see, save for a slightly balky transformer in the "Motel" letters, it's looking … Continue reading One of my favorite things
Nob Hill holding pattern
About a week ago, I received a message from a reader in Albuquerque, expressing concern about the old Nob Hill Motel on Central Avenue, aka Route 66. And, well, I'll let the reader explain what he saw: The Nob Hill Motel (3712 Central Ave. SE) is just a few blocks from where I live and … Continue reading Nob Hill holding pattern