In a matter of days, Bill Kinder, with his wife Terri Anderson, of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., will turn over the keys to new owners Kevin and Nancy Mueller.
Bill and Terri will move to the Laughlin, Nev., area. Bill enjoyed owning the Blue Swallow, but has battled cancer for years. In the meantime, the historic motel will will be gaining two enthusiastic and capable new owners.
Ordinarily, this would be a time for roadies to send well-wishes to Bill. However, at the International Route 66 Festival in Amarillo, “Route 66: The Mother Road” author Michael Wallis said during his annual “State of the Road” speech he was glad the Blue Swallow was gaining new owners, and inferred he was angry that Bill charged money to some visitors who wanted to take photos of the motel’s neon sign.
I emailed Michael for clarification, and have not yet received a reply (he is in the midst of a book tour). Having known Michael for about a decade, I surmise he thought Bill’s conduct was an affront to the legacy of longtime Blue Swallow owner Lillian Redman. “Miss Lillian,” as Michael called her, was a former Harvey Girl who treated travelers with kindness. Any act that veered from that legacy, I suspect, offended Michael deeply.
However, Bill’s stance on photographing that neon sign isn’t that simple. Overnight guests were allowed, of course, to shoot as many pictures as they wanted. Generally, non-guests who pulled up to shoot photos often were quickly encouraged by Bill to buy souvenirs in the lobby, and many did. Or he offered to take their photos in front of the sign, print a copy of the photo for them, and charge a nominal fee. Neither approach was particularly coercive.
Bill took more of a hardline when uninvited members of a motorcycle tour barged into the motel’s empty rooms — while Bill and Terry were cleaning them — and used the bathrooms. Bill had to call police to get rid of them, and that’s when a stricter pay-to-shoot rule essentially was enacted.
Now … was Bill’s rule unbecoming of a Route 66 business? Perhaps. Was it understandable in the wake of that incident? Probably.
Regardless, Bill Kinder and Terri Anderson were much more beneficial to the Blue Swallow Motel than detrimental. They greatly increased the motel’s financial viability, making it more attractive to prospective owners. They sold a lot more merchandise. They drew a lot more tour groups. In short, Bill and Terri were just what the motel needed at that time.
Other businesses gained as well. Bill often urged eastbound Route 66 travelers to stop at the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, or other places. Or he’d direct overflow crowds to the Motel Safari down the street.
Bill wasn’t bashful about making money. But after the Blue Swallow was put up for sale, Bill turned down offers until he felt certain the new owners would continue operating it as a motel. That certainly doesn’t sound like greed.
Did Bill have faults? Of course. He could be quarrelsome and headstrong. He’s human. The history of Route 66 is filled with flawed business owners. Even the beloved Lucille “Mother of the Mother Road” Hamons could turn cold or hostile to visitors.
In the end, we have to ask ourselves — was this person ultimately good for Route 66? In the case of Bill, the answer is a resounding “yes.” For that, he should be applauded.
Excellent article, Ron. We are glad to have become friends with Bill and Terri, and I’m counting on Bill’s continued knowledgeable support in keeping the Blue Swallow in excellent condition.
While visiting Tucumcari for the Roadie Gatherings and delivering the Route 66 Pulse, I was always frierndly and enjoyed visiting with Bill & Terri…………..until he STIFFED me on an ad.
I heard the printer or layout person messed up the ad, Croc. If an ad has big problems, the person taking it out has no obligation to pay for it. That’s the way it works in the newspaper business, and always has been.
Bill was the one who insisted that I run what HE wanted. I told him I would take a picture & put the ad together for him at ” no charge,” as his card was too dark but as usual with Bill he would not listen. Sorry Ron bujt you are wrong on this one………I was there.
I find it hard to believe the image couldn’t have been sufficiently altered for print in PhotoShop (I was in the newspaper biz for 25 years and know a few things about this). In the interest of fairness, I’m providing Bill’s side of the story as well, because he told it to me at the time.
As far as I am concerned Bill is the nicest guy on 66 and I have traveled it a bunch. I met Bill at the Blue Swallow and he has been one of the characters that made the trips on the old road special. Did not know him from Adam and he treated me and my family like his. I hope no one is putting down a 66 business owner in his last week or two of operation as I don’t see how any good could come from that. I will miss you Bill!
Thank you for the article. Love the site (first time poster), and wanted to comment. Bill and Terri were always great on my many stays at the Blue Swallow. Really friendly and the rooms were in wonderful condition. Haven’t been able to return for the past few years and really miss the place and them. Wishing them all the best and look forward to meeting Kevin and Nancy on my next trip.
What needs to be asked is, “Is the Blue Swallow a better motel after Bill and Terri’s tenure as owners?” It is a a better motel and destination, no question about it. As a New Mexican, and Past Prez of the NM Association, I had plenty of opportunity to watch Bill and Terri in action as well as work with them on two grants that were used to rehabilitate the motel. Bill and Terri invested a lot of cash and time into the property as well as being very attentive to the motel’s heritage.
Bill was very outgoing, after all he has worked as a car salesman and one of the attractions of the motel to Bill and Terri was the opportunity to meet and greet people – they were very people oriented. Terri’s experience in the hospitality industry in Nevada was well applied at the Blue Swallow and service was important.
Yup, Bill was mercenary, but that is what it takes to survive on 66. But Bill and Terri reinvested a lot of their income back into the motel.
Now, there is some discussion as to whether Bill charged tourists to take pictures of the neon. What I know to be true is that there was a donation jar in the lobby for neon. I was never witness to him hustling tourists and crassly soliciting donations.
As far as the ad in the Pulse, the one Bill “stiffed” the Pulse on, the evidence is clear. Go check out the issue with the Blue Swallow ad. The ad print quality is awful. I agree with Ron, I also have been involved with lot’s of publications. It is common practice for the publisher/editor to “proof” all the content to ensure quality. Based on my experience, the problem with poor ad quality is an easily avoidable problem. I created the Blue Swallow rack card for Bill and Terry and it is a quality piece of advertising. Bill and Terri were involved creatively and I found them to be easy to work with and they very much listened to and appreciated my input.
I remember when the Blue Swallow was for sale prior to Bill and Terri’s ownership. The future was not bright for the motel. No one was stepping forward to buy it. Fortunately, Bill and Terri were able to see the motel as a good business investment and through Bill and Terri’s business acumen,
the Blue Swallow’s books became attractive to buyers as an opportunity for a reasonable return on investment.
I say thanks Bill and Terri and I look forward to meeting the new owners.
Bill and Terri treated us so well on our 2007 Route 66 trip, that we just had to go back. Bill saved us a room when we called ahead from Texas, and only asked for a piece of pie from Fran’s in Adrian in exchange. We probably talked for 2 hours about the road that night; the culture around Route 66 and their motel. In other words, our experience in Tucumcari was very much enhanced by our stays there. I would go back in heartbeat.
I wish the new owners good fortune with the Blue Swallow. Bill and Terri had the foresight to treat the place well- indeed they put their hearts and souls into it. They kept it alive. We look forward to visiting the Blue Swallow again.
For Bill and Terri- thanks! I wish you well i your move to Laughlin, and hope the future is bright.