October 5, 2014
Route 66 was commissioned in 1926 and paved in 1937. It once ran for 2, 448 miles through eight states, from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA. But it lost its luster once new interstates were built in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Today, about 85% of Route 66 still exists, but it is a mostly rural 2-lane highway. In Albuquerque, one of the longest stretches of Route 66's "Main Street" still exists. There are still some original filling stations, trading posts, diners, truck stops and motels. This is one of them: The El Vado.
Verdict: No. Yes, it's original. And I'm usually a fan of "original." But not in this case. Route 66 in this area was just surrounded by modernity - nothing unique to see or experience. And this original motel looked more like a neglected apartment complex, with grass growing through the cracks of the pavement in the parking lot, the parking lot full of old, broken down cars with flat tires and a locked check in counter. I expected some nostalgia. Nope!
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