Larry Plath and Johnnie Meier of the New Mexico Route 66 Preservation Team recently repaired neon tubing for the so-called “Wash Lady” at Boulevard Cleaners and Loretta’s Burrito Hut, both along Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
The duo also began repairing the tubing on the Odeon Theatre in Tucumcari, which isn’t on Route 66 but remains well-known to fans of the highway. Those repairs, along with repainting the facade, are expected to be finished soon.
More details on the neon repairs can be found on this Facebook post by the association:
The Boulevard Cleaners and Loretta’s signs went down due to age or weather.
Also, dozens of historic neon signs along Route 66 in Tucumcari suffered damage during a severe hailstorm in May 2023.
The Route 66 Association of New Mexico since that time has embarked on a multipronged effort to restore those signs.
(Image of “The Wash Lady” neon sign at Boulevard Cleaners in Tucumcari, New Mexico, via the Route 66 Association of New Mexico)