The city of Albuquerque earlier this month held a ceremonial relighting of El Vado Motel’s neon sign to mark the beginning of a redevelopment project there that will preserve the historic Route 66 motel.
Palindrome Communities and FDHC are redeveloping El Vado Motel and the adjacent Casa Grande site for $18 million, including about $3.5 million in city investment.
According to a news release from the city:
“This is more than a redevelopment. We’re aiming to transport guests and visitors to a bygone era, when Route 66 was a major force of American culture,” said Chad Rennaker, CEO of Palindrome. “For Palindrome, this is a passion project. We’ve worked to redevelop several other historic neighborhoods, and it’s an honor to work with the City to bring back these Pueblo Revival buildings.”
El Vado is one of the few remaining classic Route 66 motels. This community redevelopment project will not only preserve the site, but add to it with a boutique motel, an amphitheater, an event center, a Ponderosa Brewery tap room, restaurant pods, a spa, and adjacent retail and mixed-income housing. Once completed, this mixed-use facility will modernize the historic charm of the El Vado and serve generations of Albuquerque residents for years to come on Route 66.
For a few months last year, El Vado’s sign was used in an Albuquerque museum’s exhibit about Route 66 during its 90th anniversary.
Chad Rennaker, president of Palindrome, said during a news conference El Vado project would be finished by fall.
Irish immigrant Daniel Murphy opened El Vado Auto Court Motel on Route 66 in 1937. It’s cited as one of the best examples of pre-World War II motels in New Mexico. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
El Vado closed in 2005 after new owner Richard Gonzales said he wanted to bulldoze it for luxury townhouses. The city seized the property a few years later after a long fight to save it.
A few purists may quibble about El Vado being redeveloped into other purposes. However, adaptive reuse often is advocated by the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program as a way to keep historic properties.
And because Albuquerque’s Route 66 corridor has such a glut of old motels, keeping El Vado as a lodging establishment and nothing else would be a very doubtful proposition. Having this motel used in multiple ways is the best and most viable option.
(Hat tip to routefifty.com; image of El Vado Motel neon sign via city of Albuquerque)
This is one of the most magnificent signs along all of Route 66! The lettering, human-figure and over all design ‘n size is a great balance. The Native American / Indian with the perfectly chosen hues of neon-radiants behind / resembling a war bonnet / is marvelous! The sign is ‘a neon work of art.’ It’s image should rival in popularity the famed blue swollows and even the newly established Arcadia, Okla lighted POP bottle (which bring smiles to everyone’s face.) This was a worthwhile restoration-investment.
There needs to be a consideration for allowing an area (literally real-estate) for tourists to either park-their-car nearby or for people to safely stand by the sign for photographs in the future. The welcoming sign will surely become a Route 66 MAGNET!
This wonderful restoration effort should win an award. There should also be a recognition plaque added to the site, naming the origional designer, manufacturer and the latest ‘sign doctors’ who brought this bit’o history back to life! It will be a big thrill to those motoring down Route 66, who have never seen this illuminated; The glowing, coloful lights will once more, become an endearment to the locals who recognize the El Vado sign as a treasure in their community again.
That’s a great looking piece of neon. Has to be impressive to see a night.
This is great news! I was worried that this day may never come. Definitely a beautiful sign.
…and yes, it is difficult to park nearby.