When the realignment of Route 66 was completed in , there were more motels on Central Avenue than had been built in the previous 10 to 12 years on the other alignment. An example of the Southwest Vernacular style, it was the first of what would eventually be dozens of auto courts lining Central Avenue. The motel changed hands a number of times over the years.
When Interstate 40 bypassed Central Avenue, the booming business of the auto court faltered dramatically, and the motel fell into disrepair and disrepute becoming a haven for prostitutes and drug dealers.
In , however, a new owner purchased the Aztec. With patience, hard work, and creativity, the new proprietor brought the motel back to working condition as a short- and long-term-stay motel. The old auto court continued to serve Route 66 travelers for 20 years; but, unfortunately, due to its condition and costs of renovation, it was razed in This enclosed motor court, built of adobe in the Pueblo Revival style, is considered the purest surviving Route 66 motel in the city.
The motel was sold in to a developer who planned to raze the old hotel to build townhouses. However, Route 66 enthusiasts and historic preservationists lobbied to save the old auto court. The city of Albuquerque then stepped in and saved the El Vado. Plans were made to refurbish the site in a mixed-use development that includes a community food court, an amphitheater, a boutique motel, and a small events center.
Though many of the Route era roadside architecture was lost with the advent of the interstate, Albuquerque still provides a number of Mother Road icons as well as a wealth of historical sites for the nostalgic traveler. A trip down Central Avenue at night is a trip back through time, as you view the numerous neon lights sparkling along Route Downtown, there are several buildings that were highlights in the s and 50s era, including the Sunshine Building built in , the First National Bank Building , the Rosenwald Building , and the KiMo Theater While in Albuquerque, you must also see Old Town, a preserved Spanish plaza, take a scenic train ride, and visit the New Mexico Museum of Natural History in order to get the entire Albuquerque experience.
Many colonists left the main party near Isleta to resettle the Middle Rio Grande. San Felipe de Neri Church was built on the west side of the plaza, facing east. A few families had homes near the church. The army established a supply depot west of the plaza. Late that year the first gas utility began. And the first telephone service was offered in Albuquerque.
The first public library opened. And the Albuquerque Public School system was founded. It was considered the finest railroad hotel of the time. And the Sisters of Charity opened St.
Albuquerque is unique as hundreds of thousands of people brought their own history westward to blend with and embrace the native cultures that have created the city.
The highway was influential in putting the city on the map. Route 66 was officially removed from the interstate highway system in , but the road is still important for many businesses including those that run along Central Avenue today that display Route 66 signs.
The historic highway also brought more government resources and established infrastructure for the city including national labs and military operations. Just to the south, the atomic bomb was tested and Kirtland Air Force Base was established in Not only did the atomic bomb change world history, it also provided a boom for Albuquerque. It exploded into a metropolitan area and established an infrastructure with the help of government facilities such as Kirtland and Sandia National Labs. Previous post.
Next post. Highway sign on historic Route 66 eastbound.
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