This is the abandoned motel on the property where our RV park is located. Kinda sad to see a town that was likely a real happening place back in the 1950s and 1960s when Route 66 went through the center of town. I stayed in motels like this when I was a kid.
At right is one of those great souvenir shops I remember from our cross country travels with my father and stepmother. Unfortunately it was locked up tonight and we couldn't go in. You could shoot a cannon down the old Route 66 and not hit anything. Tucumcari is not a ghost town, but there are ghosts of a better past here.
Not much relaxing going on at the Relax Inn. It's pretty well gone, but still advertising its great rates and "Color TV."
Believe it or not, those weeds in the foreground are growing in what was once the motel pool. On the wall at left you can see the list of pool rules still posted.
How many folks from my generation remember these great old motor lodges?
Lots of vacant rooms at the Apache Motel, but you'd have a hard time getting into any of them because they are all boarded up.
Kind of neat to see some of the old service stations semi-restored to their former glory.
The Lasso Motel, like so many of its era, advertised a new perk for visitors "Color TV by RCA" right on their neon sign. Behind this sign is a large open weed field. I don't think the lights on this sign have been lit up for a long, long time.
This very faded sign was for a cobbler shop. Hard to make out what the sign says, but you can see a man working on a boot.
Someone thought it would be clever to make a cactus out of PVC pipe and blue electric wire. Can't remember ever seeing a blue cactus before.
This is the abandoned motel on the property where our RV park is located. Kinda sad to see a town that was likely a real happening place back in the 1950s and 1960s when Route 66 went through the center of town. I stayed in motels like this when I was a kid.
At right is one of those great souvenir shops I remember from our cross country travels with my father and stepmother. Unfortunately it was locked up tonight and we couldn't go in. You could shoot a cannon down the old Route 66 and not hit anything. Tucumcari is not a ghost town, but there are ghosts of a better past here.
Not much relaxing going on at the Relax Inn. It's pretty well gone, but still advertising its great rates and "Color TV."
Believe it or not, those weeds in the foreground are growing in what was once the motel pool. On the wall at left you can see the list of pool rules still posted.
The Lasso Motel, like so many of its era, advertised a new perk for visitors "Color TV by RCA" right on their neon sign. Behind this sign is a large open weed field. I don't think the lights on this sign have been lit up for a long, long time.
Love the photos! Jeff and I were just talking about motor lodges yesterday. His family didn't do road trips like ours did. I loved those adventures.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're having fun!
Too bad you didn't check out the 3 main motels still in business there. They're still alive, thriving and in excellent shape. In fact they're always the top 3 hotels there, even today, and not even the new big chains ever touch their quality rankings. So next time you really want to visit the past, choose your period - 40's/50's/60's - and choose one of the 3 best in town, if not on all of Route 66 today! The RV Park you stayed at, owns the broken down old motel you photographed, has for years, has had plenty of offers to do something with it, but refused, and has never done anything to support Route 66 and American History. So stay at one of those really cool old motels next time, rekindle your childhood, but get some modern enhancements too - or at least stay at the RV Park that was next to you, next time, where they at least actively participate and support Route 66 and Tucumcari's history
ReplyDeleteWow thanks for shareing a few glimpse .of mt home town.i miss it alot .irs sad to see how much the town has died. There was so much life in the late 80.then i m9ved to Calfornia .and came home .It was the saddest m9ment ever. Thank you again for the post
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