The New Mexico Route 66 Association last week announced it would pause its annual motor tour this year because of the complexities of moving its office to Tucumcari.
Sue Montgomery, vice president and membership officer with the association, stated in an email:
So good news is that the NM Rt 66 Association in conjunction with Fast TV Network and Classical Gas Museum is opening the New Mexico Rt 66 Association Visitor Center in Tucumcari, NM this year. Grand opening is tentatively set for July 1, 2023. This of course is dependent on the fact that the construction goes as planned. (You know how that is these days!) We will keep you posted on the progress of this huge project.
So here comes the not-so-great news. Due to everyone’s involvement in the Visitor Center and getting it up and running, the decision was made to delay the Motor Tour until next year. There Is just not enough hours in the day to do both this year.
The association, Fast TV Network and the Classical Gas Museum announced in a joint news conference in October they were acquiring an empty Kmart along Route 66 on Tucumcari’s east side and converting it into a television and movie production facility, plus a Route 66 museum and welcome center.
The $8 million project eventually is projected to create between 30 and 70 jobs after its soft opening this summer.
(Image of a New Mexico Route 66 shield by Thomas Hawk via Flickr)