The Sundowner Motel, a Route 66 lodging establishment in Albuquerque where Bill Gates and Paul Allen lived while starting Microsoft, will reopen to the public Tuesday after a $5.4 million renovation into apartments, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Developer NewLife Homes, which has refurbished other Route 66 motels in Albuquerque into housing, is holding a grand … Continue reading Motel where Microsoft founders lived reopens Tuesday
Category: Motels
Blue Swallow Motel named a top 25 U.S. hotel by TripAdvisor
The Blue Swallow Motel of Tucumcari, New Mexico, recently was named one of the top 25 in the "Hotels with Exceptional Service -- United States" category in 2014 by TripAdvisor.com. The Blue Swallow was ranked No. 18 on the list and was the only Route 66 motel listed in that category. Of 822 ratings by … Continue reading Blue Swallow Motel named a top 25 U.S. hotel by TripAdvisor
Wigwam Motel owner: Route 66 needs a younger, more diverse crowd
The Los Angeles Times this week posted an interesting feature about Wigwam Motel operator Kumar Patel, who is trying to attract a younger and more diverse group of customers to ensure Route 66's survival. Route 66's future demographic problems are self-evident: about 97 percent of its travelers are white, with a median age of 55. … Continue reading Wigwam Motel owner: Route 66 needs a younger, more diverse crowd
Bel-Aire Motel slapped with more code violations
The city of Springfield, Illinois, reported more than 700 building-code violations for the troubled Bel-Aire Motel along Route 66, reported the State Journal-Register. That's on top of the $114,000 in fines levied last year against the Florida-based landlord for nearly 400 code violations. Owner Gopal Motwani is challenging those fines in court. The violations range … Continue reading Bel-Aire Motel slapped with more code violations
A chat with Kumar Patel at the Wigwam Motel
The Genuine Route 66 Life series points the camera at Kumar Patel, whose family bought the historic Wigwam Motel of San Bernardino, California. https://youtu.be/agYR4mqizh4 The Patels have owned the Wigwam for about 10 years, and have received several awards for the restoration of the property. Before then, the Wigwam had declined into a seedy place … Continue reading A chat with Kumar Patel at the Wigwam Motel
Bees removed from De Anza Motel
Several colonies of honeybees were removed from the long-closed De Anza Motel on Route 66 in Albuquerque, reported KRQE-TV. The bees took up residence inside the walls and roof of the motel, a fairly common occurrence in abandoned properties. Beekeepers were able to remove the bees from De Anza, where they were given new homes … Continue reading Bees removed from De Anza Motel
New office building goes up next to Lucille’s gas station
Ken Turmel of PostmarkArt fame recently was traveling old Route 66 in western Oklahoma and noted a new building had been constructed in place of the long-closed Hamons Court motel next to the historic Lucille's gas station near Hydro. He posted these photos of the new building on his Facebook page: From this photo by Carleta Latham in 2006, you … Continue reading New office building goes up next to Lucille’s gas station
Historic boarding house reopens in Atlanta, Ill.
After months of renovations, a boarding house that operated during the late 1940s near downtown Atlanta, Ill., has reopened as a lodging facility again. An open house recently was hosted for the Colaw Rooming House at 204 NW Vine St., about a block and a half off historic Route 66. From the news release about … Continue reading Historic boarding house reopens in Atlanta, Ill.
Developers tour El Vado Motel
The city of Albuquerque finally is pushing hard to have developers do something with the historic but long-closed El Vado Motel. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque filed this report about developers touring the property this week: A few weeks ago, the city released a request for proposals from developers. The deadline for submission is July 3. The … Continue reading Developers tour El Vado Motel
La Posada owner wants to buy another historic Las Vegas hotel
Amid the hubbub of La Posada Hotel co-owner Alan Affeldt recently buying the historic Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, N.M., one thing that's been often overlooked is he wants to buy the historic Plaza Hotel in town, too. Following up on an editorial Sunday in the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, I found this excerpt … Continue reading La Posada owner wants to buy another historic Las Vegas hotel