Blue Swallow Motel seems to be in good hands

On Tuesday, I met the new owners of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., for the first time. I can tell you with a fair amount of certainty that a lot of changes are in store at the Route 66 establishment.

Many Route 66 aficionados view changes at a historic property with trepidation. However, I think the changes coming at the Blue Swallow will be good things.

First off, Bill Kinder, who co-owns the business with Terri Johnson, is an affable hustler. He’s willing to do what it takes to improve the motel’s income without sacrificing its historic ambiance. He’s raised room rates. He’s selling more souvenirs. He’s improved the motel’s Internet site. This is in contrast to previous owners Dale and Hilda Bakke, who did a marvelous job restoring the once-run-down motel but maintained a much lower profile.

But Kinder’s doing a lot of nonfinancial things right, too. During golf outings with locals, he picks their brains about the history of the Blue Swallow. He’s knocked on doors to find vintage photographs of the motel. With this information, he plans to restore the look of the Blue Swallow to its pre-Lillian Redman days.

Kinder recently discovered that the glass-block sculpture near the main office was a fountain many years ago. He’s already excavated the fountain’s moat, will install the neon lights in original colors inside the glass blocks, and eventually will stock the fountain with goldfish and pond plants.

Kinder also plans to repaint the exterior of the motel. During his research, he found that the motel originally was painted a pale blue, with the decorative clamshells on the walls highlighted in gray and white, and the doors and trim painted dark blue. He also plans to add more period furnishings to the rooms. In fact, Room 6 will be restored to its 1950s appearance, complete with one of the original “Refrigerated Air” climate-control devices and an original bed blanket that’s embroidered with the words “Blue Swallow Court.”

Soft drinks and bottled water for guests are stored in an antique refrigerator. You don’t pay Bill or Terri when you want a soda; there’s an honor system in which you simply put the money in a cup.

Bill has a classic car parked in front of the motel to add to the ambiance. Previous guests may complain about a couple of juniper trees being cut down near the office, but it freed up room for a picnic area and a grill for guests. The trimmed-back vegetation also revealed petrified wood that was used in the landscaping.

“I want this motel to be more family-friendly,” Kinder said. “I want this to be a place where parents can take their kids and give them fond memories, so those kids will grow up and bring their children here.”

Bill and Terri are enthusiastic owners. One of their neighbors, Mike Callens of Tee Pee Curios, thinks highly of them. We agree with Callens’ assessment.