The Ultimate Guide to Route 66: New Mexico

A National Historic Landmark in Gallup, the El Rancho Hotel first opened in 1942, surrounded by landscape that’s synonymous with the wild west. Its owner, R.E. Griffith, had ties to Hollywood at the time, and his filmmaker friends would bring their cast and crew to Gallup to film and stay at the El Rancho Hotel. The service was top-notch for the elite Hollywood types of that era, such as John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, and today, it remains an iconic destination on Route 66, where guests can experience a bit of the golden age of film during their stay.

Newly renovated, the El Rancho Hotel's rooms and suites offer comfort with pillowtop mattresses on the beds, and warm colors create a sense of coziness. The hotel’s Western theme permeates throughout, whether you’re in your room, the on-site restaurant and bar, or walking through the Grand Lobby, featuring a massive stone fireplace, dark wood beams on the ceiling, and heavy wood furniture. This place is a classic, yet its modern amenities, such as the swimming pool, gym, and Wi-Fi, bring it into the 21st century. During your stay at El Rancho Hotel, take some time and discover the dozens of murals around Gallup, plus museums like the Red Park Museum to learn about Puebloan history, as well as art galleries.

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque is known as the “Gateway to the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico.” Here, visitors can learn about Pueblo history and culture from ancient times to the present day through museum exhibits and murals by Pueblo artists. In addition to the museum, there’s an on-site library and the Indian Pueblo Store, where you can view and purchase a variety of art, pottery, jewelry, and rugs. The center’s courtyard provides additional opportunities to purchase handmade art and crafts directly from talented Native American artists.

For an unforgettable dining experience, the Indian Pueblo Kitchen at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center offers Native American dishes. A variety of fresh and local ingredients, including blue corn and red and green chiles, are used to create the flavors of historic and traditional Pueblo recipes. Dishes range from Atole, a blue-corn porridge, to Indian tacos made with homemade fry bread stuffed with ground beef, chicken, or lamb, as well as a variety of stews. For dessert, you can try one of the Famous Pueblo Pies or Pueblo-Style Bread Pudding.

The 66 Diner is a quintessential retro diner that will take you on a magical journey back in time to the 1950s, when poodle skirts were in style and rock ‘n’ roll played on the jukebox (and yes, this place has a jukebox!). Although it’s a newer addition to the retro-style gems along Route 66, as it was originally opened in 1987, you’d never know it. With its bright colors, black and white checkered tiles, and mid-century appeal, including a soda fountain and neon lights, just stepping through the door at the 66 Diner pulls you into an immersive retro experience.

And then there’s the food … simple, classic, delicious, and indulgent in all the right ways. Try one of the mouthwatering burgers or the green chile cheeseburger (you’re in New Mexico, after all) served on a potato bun with a side of fries. A variety of sandwiches, hot dogs, and classic New Mexican dishes round out the menu, and we haven’t even talked about dessert yet. Pie and ice cream are classic choices, but what’s even better is a thick, frosty shake to accompany your burger and fries. There’s just something about the 66 Diner’s nostalgic ambiance and dishes that keep customers coming back for more.

The Pecos National Historical Park is where nature and culture converged in the Pecos River Valley nearly a millennium ago. The Ancestral Puebloans migrated to this area and built the Pecos Pueblo near water sources, trade routes, and access to food. It was a thriving community between 1350 CE and 1838 CE, and at one point was home to over 2,000 people. Today, only ruins of the Pecos Pueblo, as well as those of a 17th-century mission church built after the Spanish came, remain; you can view these ruins while exploring the park.

To learn more about the history of the Pueblo people and the area, as well as the Spanish who settled in the area, stop by the visitor center and museum, and then take a hike along the Ancestral Sites Trail. You can also embark on an informative ranger-led tour of the historic sites within the park if one is scheduled during your visit. Otherwise, you can purchase a trail guide at the visitor center for a self-guided history hike. 

In addition to the Pecos National Historical Park’s cultural roots, visitors can enjoy fishing at the Pecos River, which has been a popular fishing spot for many centuries.

When the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf (CRI&G) Railroad came to the area, the unincorporated community of Cuervo was established. It was 1902, and a post office also opened in Cuervo that year. A small ranching community grew around it as trains chugged along the tracks, stopping at times, and then continuing on to someplace else. Unfortunately, it was short-lived; by 1910, the trains no longer stopped in Cuervo. However, there was a bit of revitalization in the community when Route 66 was established in 1926. Stores and gas stations were built as a convenient stop for road-trippers, a few churches were constructed, and the community grew. However, this boost to Cuervo’s local economy, like when it was a railroad stop, wouldn’t last long.

As I-40 was constructed through the middle of Cuervo, cars were traveling at a faster speed and travelers no longer stopped for gas or provisions like they once did. Cuervo’s era had seemingly come to an end. Today, remnants of what once was a part of the community’s heyday are left behind like ghosts. What remains are a few abandoned homes, a century-old Catholic church, and an abandoned Texaco gas station that was in use from the 1940s to the 1950s. Mainly urban explorers, those interested in Route 66 history, and the curious stop here and take photos.

If you’ve ever seen the Disney-Pixar animated feature "Cars," you’ll notice plenty of similarities between the settings and real-life destinations. In fact, many places along Route 66 inspired much of the now-classic movie that premiered in movie theaters in 2006. One of these places is the town of Tucumcari. Within Tucumcari is a mountain featuring the letter “T,” a sign that you have arrived in this classic Route 66 town. This is what inspired the “RS” on the mountain of Radiator Springs, the fictional "Cars" town.

Other cinematic inspirations from Tucumcari include the vast number of classic neon signs, as well as the vintage, mid-century motels, such as the Roadrunner Lodge Motel and the Blue Swallow Motel. 
As you soak in the retro vibes of this Route 66 town, take time to explore some of its many attractions.

For those interested in dinosaurs, be sure to check out the Mesalands Community College Dinosaur Museum, where you can step back in time to the Mesozoic Era and see dinosaur fossils and learn through hands-on exhibits. Then there's the Route 66 Townhouse Welcome Center & Gift Shop, a must-visit stop for any Route 66 enthusiast. Tucumcari is a time capsule town that offers a glimpse into what Route 66 in New Mexico was like during its heyday.

Drive through Tucumcari at night, and you won’t help but notice the neon sign for the Blue Swallow Motel, a blue outline of a bird glowing as it holds a branch with green leaves, with the name of the hotel glowing blue and red beneath it. It’s meant to entice weary travelers to pull over, park the car, and check in at the lobby before heading to their room, keys in hand, for a shower and a good night’s rest. This is the most iconic and well-preserved motel in Tucumcari, and spending the night here is one of the best ways to experience the history of Route 66. This motel also inspired the Cozy Cone Motel in "Cars."

The Blue Swallow Motel first opened in 1939, and although it has undergone renovations and modernizations over the years, it retains its original footprint. The beds are comfortable and clean, and the rooms have retro decor, including vintage lamps and 1940s rotary phones. Several rooms feature a garage for parking your vehicle at night, making you feel as though the Blue Swallow Motel is your home away from home. It’s touches like these that make a stay at this retro Route 66 motel in New Mexico so special.