Among the development proposals for the historic but long-closed De Anza Motel in Albuquerque are a quality boutique hotel and a motel/condominium hybrid, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Five developers submitted proposals for the property, and the city hasn't revealed them. But the newspaper obtained copies of two of the submissions. TLC Plumbing founder Dale Armstrong … Continue reading Two development proposals revealed for De Anza
Category: Motels
Best Western Route 66 program pays dividends
Longtime readers of this website may remember Best Western hotels launching The Kicks on Route 66 Tour campaign. In short, the campaign provided an interactive list of attractions along Route 66 and encouraged participation using social media and geocaches. I recently wondered how well this campaign worked for Best Western. Then this video popped up a … Continue reading Best Western Route 66 program pays dividends
De Anza being used in a Tina Fey movie
Found this little brief on KRQE-TV in Albuquerque: A historic Route 66 sight (sic) is now the background for a movie set [...] the De Anza Motor Lodge on Central is part of the new Tina Fey movie shooting here in New Mexico, which is supposed to be the Middle East. The movie is based … Continue reading De Anza being used in a Tina Fey movie
Proposals for De Anza should be revealed by mid-March
Proposals to redevelop the historic but long-closed De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque will be revealed sometime in mid-March, when the Albuquerque Development Commission reviews them. Richard Metcalf, commercial real estate columnist for the Albuquerque Journal, reports the proposals are essentially sealed documents under state law. The secrecy is meant to prevent behind-the-scenes lobbying. However, … Continue reading Proposals for De Anza should be revealed by mid-March
Swiss investor, hipsters may bring back Kingman’s downtown
There's been a lot of talk in recent years about bringing back the long-moribund downtown of Kingman, Arizona, part of which sits on old Route 66. But Swiss investor Werner Fleischmann and a bunch of artists, hipsters and entrepreneurs may actually get it done, reported the Kingman Daily Miner. The downtown renaissance is happening slowly, but … Continue reading Swiss investor, hipsters may bring back Kingman’s downtown
Tower Motel in Santa Rosa closes to overnight travelers
The historic Tower Motel along Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, recently closed to overnight travelers and may reopen for long-term guests, according to a recent print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator. The motel was across from the long-gone Club Cafe restaurant, which closed in 1992. The Route 66 restaurant, like the motel, … Continue reading Tower Motel in Santa Rosa closes to overnight travelers
Couple marks 60th anniversary at Wigwam Motel
On Feb. 12, 1955, DeRoy and Rosemary Avila spent their first night as husband and wife at the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California. On Sunday, the Avilas celebrated their upcoming 60th anniversary at the place where it started -- the Route 66 landmark that's changed little over the decades, reported the Inland Valley Daily … Continue reading Couple marks 60th anniversary at Wigwam Motel
Albuquerque’s new shopping center sign is a throwback
Albuquerque has a new shopping center along its Route 66 corridor, but its main sign will spark memories of the previous business there. The Trade Winds Shopping Center recently finished construction, and it has a sign that's reminiscent of the original Trade Winds Motel sign at that location. It looks like neon, but it's actually … Continue reading Albuquerque’s new shopping center sign is a throwback
Teardown schedule for Bel-Aire Motel solidifies
The historic but long-troubled Bel-Aire Motel in Springfield, Illinois, will be demolished by late summer or early fall, according to Tim Landis in his State Journal-Register business column. It earlier was reported the motel on South Sixth Street (aka Route 66) would be torn down by summer. However, demolition permits haven't yet been filed. Current … Continue reading Teardown schedule for Bel-Aire Motel solidifies
Did ‘Back to the Future’ get an idea from Blue Swallow Motel?
A longtime reader, Greg Holmes of Ace Jackalope fame, was at a theater screening the 1985 hit movie "Back to the Future" when he saw something familiar. In a scene were Marty is in 1955, there is a sign for the Blue Bird Motel in downtown Hill Valley. Here's the original image, but I've taken … Continue reading Did ‘Back to the Future’ get an idea from Blue Swallow Motel?