Apache Motel

1106 E. Route 66, Tucumcari, NM
Phone:

East < GO > West

The 20/25 unit Apache Motel is located between the Kix on 66 and Del's restaurants. It opened in the mid-1960s and ran for about 40 years before closing. It was sold and rehabbed in 2006 or so, but apparently closed soon after that. The motel was still closed when this photo was taken in 2012. New ownership in 2019 planned to renovate the mote and reopen it, but the reopening plan was postponed to the spring of 2021 when a few rooms were reopened with plans to reopen more later.

The sign used to have a black background and the Native American at the top has replaced an earlier symbol. Most of the neon tubing that spelled Apache Motel and Vacancy was missing when this photo was snapped in 2012. If I counted right there are 214 incandescent light bulbs on each side of the sign. The canopy used to extend out to cover the entrance driveway.

Photo(s): 2012