The Albuquerque City Council on Monday approved a redevelopment plan centered around the long-closed El Vado Motel and Casa Grande restaurant, reported Albuquerque Business First. The move called for the area of Central Avenue (aka Route 66) west of downtown to the Rio Grande declared as "blighted." However, that isn't necessarily a bad thing for what … Continue reading Albuquerque OKs redevelopment plan centered around El Vado Motel
Category: Motels
Frontier Motel in Truxton soon will have a new owner
The historic Frontier Motel in Truxton, Ariz., with its adjoining cafe and nearby bar and gas station, are under contract to soon be owned by a tour operator from New Zealand. Sam Murray, owner of Gilligan's Wild West Tours, said during a telephone interview the transfer of licenses through Mohave County is the only holdup … Continue reading Frontier Motel in Truxton soon will have a new owner
Lillian Redman’s benediction
Today would have been the 104th birthday of Lillian Redman, longtime owner of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. When she ran the motel, Redman provided each overnight guest a copy of a prayer for travelers. Videographer KC Keefer produced this new video about the prayer and Redman, with historic still photos of the … Continue reading Lillian Redman’s benediction
Owners of Highlander Motel commit suicide
The co-owners of the historic Highlander Motel on Route 66 in Williams, Ariz., committed suicide within days of each other last month, according to media reports in Europe. The husband-and-wife team of Alan Aernoudt and Sandra Driesse of Belgium bought the motel in March 2011. Once they moved there months later, they quickly went to work renovating … Continue reading Owners of Highlander Motel commit suicide
Work day set for Nov. 16 at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Volunteers have scheduled a short work day on Nov. 16, to spruce up the area around the Stanley Cour-Tel signs at Henry's Rabbit Ranch on old Route 66 in Staunton, Ill. The Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs were salvaged from a Route 66 motel in west St. Louis. The signs were moved before the motel was razed … Continue reading Work day set for Nov. 16 at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
An explainer of the Luna Lodge’s national award
A few weeks ago, Luna Lodge in Albuquerque won a national award for converting the historic Route 66 motel into low-income housing despite numerous obstacles. The Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits Historic Rehabilitation Awards Luncheon produced this video about the Luna's honor. It explains quite well all the things NewLife Homes, which repurposed Luna Lodge, had to … Continue reading An explainer of the Luna Lodge’s national award
La Fonda finishes renovations
The historic La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, N.M., recently finished extensive renovations and showed off the results with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and open house Tuesday, according to the Sante Fe New Mexican newspaper. Upgraded furnishings, windows and color motifs, as well as improvements to the landmark hotel’s rooftop bar were on display, along with … Continue reading La Fonda finishes renovations
History-minded fraternity honors El Trovatore Motel
The Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus, on Sept. 28 dedicated a granite and bronze plaque in the shape of the state of Arizona to the historic El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, Ariz. E Clampus Vitus is a fraternal organization that's dedicated to the study and preservation of the American West. It has erected … Continue reading History-minded fraternity honors El Trovatore Motel
Luna Lodge project in Albuquerque wins national award
NewLife Homes won a prestigious award last month for converting the historic but previously run-down Luna Lodge motel on Route 66 in Albuquerque into low-income housing, despite numerous obstacles, reported the Albuquerque Journal. NewLife earned the honor at the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits Historic Rehabilitation Awards Luncheon in Detroit. The newspaper reported: Luna Lodge at … Continue reading Luna Lodge project in Albuquerque wins national award
Breakfast at Maxxwell’s Restaurant
On a recent Monday morning, we got the chance to try a new eatery in Tulsa's Campbell Hotel, Maxxwell's Restaurant. One meal convinced us this will be a valuable addition to this historic Route 66 hotel and likely will become a dining destination in its own right. Maxxwell's opened a few weeks ago in the … Continue reading Breakfast at Maxxwell’s Restaurant