Two New Mexico towns compete for Route 66 museum

The New Mexico towns of Tucumcari and Santa Rosa are trying to woo Johnnie Meier to establish a Route 66 museum — the first such museum in the state, reported the current print issue of the Guadalupe County Communicator, based in Santa Rosa.

Meier, former president of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, has amassed a large collection of gas-station and Route 66 memorabilia. He owns the Classical Gas Museum in Embudo, N.M.

In Santa Rosa, Meier envisions using the long-empty Ilfeld Warehouse near downtown as the site of the museum.

The newspaper reported:

It calls for transforming the space into a showcase for Route 66 and railroad memorabilia, exhibits celebrating Spanish Colonial and Western heritage, classic “Mother Road” neon and more. He also talks of establishing a Route 66 research library, cinema and performance stage, and a high-end, gallery-quality gift shop that would not compete with other local establishments already selling curios. […]

He told council members he would love to sell his property in Embudo and permanently move to Santa Rosa, perhaps even living in a two-story apartment overlooking the Ilfedl warehouse space.

Meier told the Santa Rosa city council that “Tucumcari is my second choice,” but added that time may be running out for Santa Rosa to put together a plan for the warehouse, which may require up to $1 million in renovations.

Tucumcari, the newspaper reported, is proposing the use of a 22-acre former truck stop as a Route 66 and entertainment destination. The Tucumcari site has to address possible environmental issues before it can be used.

Although the newspaper doesn’t mention it, I know Meier was considering a second site in Tucumcari that is closer to the city’s center. That second site might be the wild card in this city-vs.-city battle.

UPDATE 11/10/2010: Here’s a report from the Quay County Sun in Tucumcari about the museum battle. The gist of it is that Meier says he prefers Santa Rosa, but Tucumcari appears to hold more ability to move faster on this proposal.

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