The Blue Swallow Motel
The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, is a cherished landmark along historic Route 66, renowned for its vintage charm and enduring hospitality. Established in 1939 by carpenter W.A. Huggins, the motel opened its doors in 1942 as the “Blue Swallow Court.” Its distinctive L-shaped design features 12 rooms, each accompanied by individual garages—a nod to the golden age of American road travel. The pink stucco walls adorned with shell motifs and the iconic neon sign exemplify the Southwest Vernacular architectural style.
Despite the decline of Route 66 traffic following the construction of Interstate 40, the owners maintained the motel’s operations until selling it in 1998. Subsequent owners have continued to preserve its historic essence while introducing modern amenities. Today, the Blue Swallow Motel remains a vibrant testament to Americana, welcoming guests from around the world.
The motel’s enduring appeal has earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993. Its iconic status has also influenced popular culture; notably, it served as inspiration for the “Cozy Cone Motel” in Pixar’s animated film Cars. The Blue Swallow Motel offers an authentic Route 66 experience that continues to captivate visitors year after year.
Our original plan was to stay overnight here, but this place books up quickly, sometimes a year in advance. We planned on arriving for sunset to capture the Neon of Tucumcari but that plan also fell through, we got a bit behind on our schedule with previous stops along 66, and also ran into a bit of a traffic jam, so our sunset plans were foiled, in the end we did get some twilight shots so it was not a total loss.
Thanks for stopping
