Blue Swallow Motel

The Blue Swallow Court in Tucumcari, New Mexico, United States, is a 12-unit L-shaped motel listed on the National Register of Historic Places in New Mexico as a part of historic U.S. Route 66. Original architectural features included a façade with pink stucco walls decorated with shell designs and a stepped parapet, on-site office and manager's residence, and garages located between the sleeping units for travelers to park their motorcars. It is one of the longest continuously operated motels along New Mexico's slice of Route 66. The Swallow from the sign can be seen in the movie Back to the Future Part II, and inspired the creators of Pixar's movie Cars to create the "Cozy Cone Motel" (and the town of Tucumcari itself inspired the mountain in Radiator Springs).

Blue Swallow Motel
General information
LocationTucumcari, New Mexico
Address815 E Tucumcari Blvd
Other information
Number of rooms14
Website
www.blueswallowmotel.com
Blue Swallow Motel is located in New Mexico
Blue Swallow Motel
Blue Swallow Motel is located in the United States
Blue Swallow Motel
Coordinates35.171866°N 103.716421°W / 35.171866; -103.716421
AreaU.S. Route 66 in New Mexico
Built1939 (1939)
ArchitectW. A. Huggins
Architectural styleSouthwest Vernacular
MPSRoute 66 through New Mexico MPS
NRHP reference No.93001210 [1]
NMSRCP No.1575
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 22, 1993
Designated NMSRCPSeptember 17, 1993

History

The motel was built by carpenter W.A. Huggins in 1939, and by July 1941 was open and operating with a café on-site. Ted and Marjorie Jones, who came to Tucumcari in 1944, were the first long-term operators of the motel.[2] The property was purchased by Floyd Redman in 1958 as an engagement present to his wife Lillian.[3][4]

As the Blue Swallow Motel, the property was updated with neon signage proclaiming "TV" and "100% Refrigerated Air". It would continue in operation through both the heyday of post-war tourism on the old US Highway system (when roadside billboards advertised "Tucumcari Tonight!" and "2000 motel rooms" for many miles[5][6]) and the years of decline which followed the loss of US 66 traffic to a newly constructed Interstate 40 in the 1960s.

When Route 66 was closed to the majority of traffic and the other highway came in, I felt just like I had lost an old friend. But some of us stuck it out and are still here on Route 66.

— Lillian Redman[7]

A resident of Tucumcari since 1923 (having arrived in New Mexico with her family in a covered wagon in 1915), Lillian Redman would operate the Blue Swallow for four decades, continuing independently after Floyd's death in 1973 and ultimately selling the motel in 1998. She then moved to a small house nearby and would often visit the property and its new owners until her death, at 89 years of age, in 1999.[8]

Restoration
Blue Swallow Motel on U.S. Route 66, 2012

After Lillian Redman sold the motel in 1998, owners Dale and Hilda Bakke made substantial restoration efforts, repairing the 1960 neon lighting, adding a vintage rotary phone system,[9] replacing hardwood flooring with carpeting and monochrome television sets with color TVs.[10] Each room includes vintage lighting and period furniture.[11] Bill and Terri Kinder purchased the Blue Swallow in 2006, selling it to Kevin and Nancy Mueller in 2011.[12] Robert and Dawn Federico purchased the motel in 2020.[13]

Named by Smithsonian Magazine as "the last, best and friendliest of the old-time motels",[14] the Blue Swallow Motel remains in profitable operation today, benefiting from publicity generated by the efforts of various Route 66 associations to keep the old highway alive. Pixar's research for the 2006 film Cars included visits to this and many other well-known Route 66 landmarks; in the film, neon lighting at the Cozy Cone Motel displays Blue Swallow's "100% Refrigerated Air" slogan.[15]

See also

References
  1. Staff. "NPS Focus: Blue Swallow Motel (#93001210)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  2. Staff. "Blue Swallow Motel: Tucumcari, New Mexico". Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary: Route 66. National Park Service. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  3. Sonderman, Joe (2010). Route 66 in New Mexico. Images of America. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 9780738580296. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  4. Weiser, Kathy (October 2008). "Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico". Legends of America. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  5. Phillips, Dan Kenneth. "Four Corners-A Literary Excursion Across America". Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  6. Mulhern, John III (2006). A 21st Century Road Trip. J3Studio Press. ISBN 9780615137728. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  7. "History". Blue Swallow Motel. 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  8. Wallis, Michael; Clark, Marian (2004). Hogs On 66: Best Feed and Hangouts for Road Trips on Route 66. Tulsa, OK: Council Oak Books. p. 119. ISBN 9781571781406. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  9. John Flinn (October 5, 2012). "Route 66 still has some kicks". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  10. Wood, Andrew. "New Mexico Motels". Motel Americana. San Jose State University. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  11. Doug Kirby; Larry Bleiberg (June 28, 2012). "10 great places to stay at a vintage motel". USA Today.
  12. Warnick, Ron (May 12, 2011). "Blue Swallow Motel acquires new owners". Route 66 News. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  13. Warnick, Ron (2020-07-11). "Blue Swallow Motel announces its new owners". Route 66 News. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  14. Knowles, Drew; Court, Ayesha (August 7, 2006). "10 great places to find the kinks on Route 66". USA Today. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  15. Cars (DVD), Walt Disney, November 7, 2006 acknowledges Dale & Hilda Bakke, The Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari NM at 1:54:48 in the movie's closing credits.
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