Tucumcari, New Mexico: Blue Swallow Motel - Route 66

Famous retro motel with neon sign, beloved by Route 66 fans. Open since 1942.

Blue Swallow Motel - Route 66

Stopped here this weekend on an old Corvette drive on Route 66, Chicago to LA. The motel's new owners, Nancy and Kevin Mueller, are carefully working on it. We visited quite a while with Nancy. They are from Michigan & have owned it about 11 months now. She was super sweet and gracious. The paintings in the garages are totally awesome! Support them and stay a night if you can!

[JC, 05/29/2012]

Blue Swallow Motel

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Blue Swallow Motel is a treasure on Route 66. Construction began in 1939, and the motel first opened for business in 1942, after a delay because of the outbreak of World War II.

The motel is a typical motor court of the era, built with attached garages next to each room. It features a variety of sleeping configurations, including single queen beds, two double beds, and a two-room suite with beds for up to five people. I would describe nights under the famous neon lights as "magical."

[Kevin, 03/01/2012]

Blue Swallow Motel - Route 66

While checking into room 11 , I had a chance to visit with the new owners, Kevin and Nancy Mueller. They took over the Blue Swallow Motel on July 1, 2011. They and their dogs are super-friendly and willing to help. The room was clean, cozy, and set in the '50s motif. I wish them well.

[VGulley, 09/19/2011]

Blue Swallow Motel - Route 66

I spent the night at the Blue Swallow last week. It is alive and well. The owners are very nice. My room was very cozy. It was decorated with a lovely 1950s bedroom set and a groovy retro TV console. The original bathroom (beautiful tile work) is still intact.

Sadly, the rest of the strip is pretty seedy. It's still worth the trip if you are passing through Tucumcari and need a cute, out-of-the ordinary place to stay. Another perk is that it's pet friendly!

[mary, 07/19/2007]

Blue Swallow Motel

The historic Blue Swallow Motel on old Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., is reopening for business. Although it remains for sale, owners Dale and Hilda Bakke recently returned to their motel and will be running it indefinitely. They had announced the motel's closing in winter 2005 when a relative in Minnesota had become seriously ill.

The motel's phone number remains unchanged at 505-461-9849. The motel, along with its Web site at www.blueswallowmotel.com, should be fully operational before the Labor Day weekend.

[Ron Warnick, 08/24/2005]