| Historic Route 66 occupies a special place in | | | | is an 18-mile part of Rte 66. Travelers often |
| American history. Today seems to be a time | | | | start at the State Fairgrounds, a landmark |
| when even more Americans are interested in a | | | | since 1936. Then you'll discover the De Anza |
| road trip. Route 66 is THE road trip. | | | | Motel, the Royal Motor Inn, the Town Lodge |
| | | | Motel, and the Aztec Motel (originally the |
| As you travel the length of it, you can visit | | | | Aztec Motorcourt, all built in the '30s, and |
| authentic Historic Route 66-era hotels, | | | | 15 blocks long). |
| motels, trading posts, and gas stations some | | | | |
| have been lovingly restored and preserved, | | | | You will also see Nob Hill, built in 1936-47, |
| others are a reminder of how long ago Route | | | | and the Lobo Theater and Lobo Pharmacy & |
| 66 was a well used highway. | | | | Bookstore (originally Barber's El Rancho |
| | | | Market), both built in the '30s |
| As a scenic route, Historic Route 66 offers | | | | |
| majestic mountains, breathtaking vistas, | | | | Downtown, there are several buildings that |
| meandering ranch land, Indian reservations, | | | | wer the gems of downtown in the 40's and 50's |
| Pueblo communities, and spectacular sunrises | | | | era. They are: the Sunshine Building (built |
| and sunsets. New Mexico is a state you can | | | | in 1923-24), the First National Bank Building |
| take parts of the original route but in most | | | | (1922), the Rosenwald Building (1910), and |
| cases you will be on Route 40. The estimate | | | | the KiMo Theater (1927). |
| on driving time would be 16 hours. And the | | | | |
| length is 604 miles. | | | | There are also other samples west of Old Town |
| | | | if you haven't had your fill. They are: |
| New Mexico's part of Rte. 66 history is very | | | | Lindy's Restaurant (1929), Maisel's (circa |
| intriguing. | | | | 1940), and El Vado Motel (1937), located west |
| | | | of Old Town. |
| The earliest route was a curving, 501-mile | | | | |
| washboard journey in1926. Westbound motorists | | | | If you'd like drive down a piece of the 1926 |
| first encountered Glenrio and Tucumcari. As | | | | route, head north on I-25. |
| they passed Santa Rosa, they turned north to | | | | |
| Romero, and then headed west again. In Santa | | | | Take the Algodones exit and return south via |
| Fe, they turned southwest, passing through | | | | NM 313, the original 66 is now Fourth Street, |
| Albuquerque to Los Lunas. There they turned | | | | Isleta Boulevard, and NM 314. |
| northwest to Correo, then west again to | | | | |
| Grants and Gallup. They found the route 126 | | | | You'll go 46 miles from Algodones south |
| miles shorter in 1938. Instead of turning | | | | through historic Bernalillo and past Sandia |
| northwest past Santa Rosa, they continued | | | | and Isleta Pueblos (You'll know you are here |
| west through Buford (later Moriarty) and | | | | when you see the casinos). |
| Albuquerque all the way to Correo. | | | | |
| | | | In Los Lunas, turn west onto Main Street. |
| Here is a sampling of Rte 66 you can try out | | | | You'll pass the Luna Mansion, built in 1881. |
| yourself in New Mexico | | | | From there, stay on NM 6. |
| | | | |
| Let's Go! | | | | It is 33 miles of historic highway all the |
| | | | way to Correo. Correo is also 33 miles west |
| Westbound motorists can take a 20-mile gravel | | | | of Albuquerque via I-40. At Mesita, old 66 |
| stretch of the old highway from Glenrio to | | | | reappears as NM 124, slithering 25 miles |
| San Jon; this was the last remaining segment | | | | through Laguna, New Laguna, Paraje, Budville, |
| of Route 66 before it became Rte 40 in 1982. | | | | Cubero, and McCartys.. |
| | | | |
| >From San Jon, you can drive an almost always | | | | In Grants, old 66 is called Santa Fe Avenue. |
| intact 24-mile paved chunk of Rte. 66 all the | | | | Its 41-mile chunk to Top O The World is right |
| way to Tucumcari. | | | | out of the '40s. Here you will find the |
| | | | Franciscan Lodge, Grants Restaurant (where |
| Along Tucumcari Boulevard (where you will see | | | | Hollywood stars Jayne Mansfield and Tab |
| the longest stretch of authentic Rte 66)) | | | | Hunter once stopped for green chile |
| you'll enjoy the 40's and 50's all over | | | | cheeseburgers), the Uranium Cafe, and the |
| again. | | | | Monte Carlo Restaurant. |
| | | | |
| Drive down the road and you will see Cactus | | | | The original highway reemerges near Iyanbito |
| Motor Lodge, Lasso Motel, the Pine Lodge, the | | | | as a 13-mile introduction to Gallup. Along |
| Blue Swallow Motel, Teepee Curios, the | | | | the city's 9-mile segment are Earl's |
| Westerner Drive-in, The Palomino, and | | | | Restaurant, built in 1947, and the El Rancho |
| Travelodge Motel, and Del's Restaurant. | | | | Hotel, built in 1936 and home to some |
| | | | Hollywood stars during the time when Gallup |
| More retro 40's and 50's awaits you with the | | | | was a Western film capital( from 1929-64.) |
| Town House and Safari Motels, the Buckaroo | | | | You can also visit the one-time Drake Hotel |
| Motel, the Redwood Lodge, and the Paradise | | | | (1919), the Santa Fe Railroad Depot (1923), |
| Motel, the Sahara Sands Motel & Restaurant, | | | | the former White Cafe (1928), the |
| Dick's Auto Service, and the Pow-Wow | | | | Richardson's Trading Post, the old Palace, |
| Restaurant. | | | | the Rex Hotels (both circa 1900), and |
| | | | Virgie's Restaurant. (1950). The final 16 |
| On to Santa Rosa where you will find that | | | | miles of old 66 continue west from Gallup as |
| Will Rogers Drive is the city's four-mile | | | | NM 118 to Arizona |
| Route 66. Stop in at Joseph's Restaurant | | | | |
| (build in 1956) or the Club Cafe (a landmark | | | | Many communities in New Mexico celebrate the |
| since 1935) for a bite or liquid | | | | famous Route: |
| refreshment.. | | | | |
| | | | Festival in Los Lunas.It is New Mexico's |
| Continue 43 miles west on I-40, You should | | | | Largest Car Show |
| get out, stretch and climb Palma Hill, and | | | | |
| view 7,576 foot-high Cerro Pedernal to the | | | | Annual Route 66 Roadie Gathering in |
| southwest. This where you will see and feel | | | | conjunction with Annual Tucumcari Route 66 |
| the New Mexico dry air at its best. | | | | Festival |
| | | | |
| Next stop has got to be Cline's Corners, | | | | Annual Fire and Ice Bike Rally in Grants New |
| where you can see more southwest souvenirs | | | | Mexico |
| than you thought could fit in one place. You | | | | |
| can find rattlesnake ashtrays, beaded belts, | | | | Annual Santa Rosa Route 66 Festival |
| tomahawks and Indian lore. You can also have | | | | |
| a meal here with a home cooked southwestern | | | | There are also many byways along the Rte 66 |
| flair if you haven't eaten yet. | | | | paths you can take a few hours off or a day |
| | | | or two to explore everything from National |
| On next to Moriarty which is where a 58-mile | | | | parks and monuments to pueblos and old mining |
| chunk of highway to Rio Puerco begins. | | | | towns. |
| | | | |
| Along NM 333, you'll spot the former Buford | | | | New Mexico is a very rich state historically |
| Courts, Blackie's Restaurant, and the | | | | from the prehistoric time thru the Rte 66 |
| one-time Yucca, Cactus, and Lariat Motels and | | | | 1920, - 1950's |
| Sands Motels. | | | | |
| | | | It all can be seen best on a road trip. Take |
| In metropolitan Albuquerque, Central Avenue | | | | yours this year! |