email: agilitynut@hotmail.com
Loading

New Mexico Signs (page 1)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor
Tucumcari, NM		 Palomino Motel
Tucumcari, NM		 Apache Motel
Tucumcari, NM
The ice cream cone on the top of the Ken's Ice Cream Parlor sign disappeared shortly after the photo above on the right was taken in 2012. I believe Ken's is closed now. The first photo is from 2006. The sign probably advertised for another business and had neon originally. Does anyone know what may have been here before Ken's?

The Palomino Motel opened in 1953. This sign shown above is probably from the late 1950s or 1960s. The two sides of the sign have different plastic panels. This sign at Neonopolis in Las Vegas, NV is supposedly the original. However, this sign from the 1950s was apparently there originally. I believe that the sign at Neonopolis came from somewhere else. I can't find any vintage photos of it ever being here. For more, see this website.

The Apache Motel opened in 1964. In 2006, new owners refurbished the motel. They restored the sign and painted it white. I believe the sign was red originally. It was painted black for many years. The first photo above is from around 2005. The second photo is from 2012. The sign is outlined with approximately 800 bulbs on the front and back of the sign which flashed in a chasing pattern. The motel has been closed and boarded up since at least 2011. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [2005 photo thanks Glenda Campbell]

Pony Soldier Motel
Tucumcari, NM		 Americana Motel
Tucumcari, NM		 Trails West Lounge
Tucumcari, NM		 Golden Dragon Restaurant
Tucumcari, NM
The Pony Soldier Motel was demolished in 2010. However, the sign is still there as of 2012. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Americana Motel opened as the Desert Air Motel around 1935. This sign is probably from the 1950s. The lettering was adapted and the cactus on top of the sign was removed. The sign is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Trails West Lounge sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. I don't believe it's lit at night anymore.

The Golden Dragon Restaurant opened in 1966 and this sign appears to be from then. Before that, the restaurant was known as Hall's Restaurant. It was built in the early 1950s. For more, see this website.

Boulevard Cleaners
Tucumcari, NM
The Boulevard Cleaners sign is modern. The neon “Wash Lady” sign was based on the painted plywood sign shown above right. The wooden sign was created in the 1970s when M&M Cleaners occupied the building. The new owners liked the sign so much that they had the neon sign built in the late 1990s. It cost them about $7,000. The sign is lit at night. For more, see this website.

Buckaroo Motel
Tucumcari, NM		 Thunderbird Restaurant & Lounge
Tucumcari, NM
The Buckaroo Motel opened in 1952. This sign is not the original but it appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. It is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

The Thunderbird Restaurant & Lounge sign is probably from the 1960s. It reads "Restaurant" on one side and "Lounge" on the other.

Lasso Motel
Tucumcari, NM		 Cactus RV Park
Tucumcari, NM		 Blue Swallow Motel
Tucumcari, NM
The Lasso Motel was demolished in 2010 but this sign was still there in 2012. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Cactus RV Park sign originally advertised for the Cactus Motor Lodge. The Motor Lodge opened in 1941. This sign is probably from the 1950s. It was restored and adapted for the RV Park in 2008. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The Blue Swallow Motel opened in 1939 as the Blue Swallow Court. It was a classic motor court with 12 units, each with its own attached garage. There was a different sign there then (1 and 2). The current sign was built in the 1950s. It is about 25 feet long. In 1961, the name was updated from "Court" to "Motel". The second photo above shows one of the neon swallows which are mounted above the units' garage doors. The motel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Paradise Motel
Tucumcari, NM
The Paradise Motel's 1950s sign was in bad shape back in 2002. During research for the sign's restoration in 2003, it was discovered that the Indian head panels at the base of the sign were not part of the original design. A vintage photo revealed a long-missing portion of the sign: a woman diving into splashing water. Diving women signs were frequently used by motel in the 1950s to advertise that they had pools. This sign's stylized pool splash panels were adapted later to create headdresses for depictions of Tocom and Kari. This was most likely done when the motel's pool was filled in. During the 2003 restoration, the Indian heads were saved and moved onto the lawn nearby. The diving woman and pool splash were recreated with the word "POOL" changed to "OPEN". The rooftop sign is probably also from the 1950s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Rio Pecos Ranch Truck Terminal
Santa Rosa, NM
The Rio Pecos Ranch Truck Terminal opened around 1955. It has been abandoned for many years and the gas pumps are long gone. The truck's driver had an animated waving hand at one time. In 2003, the city of Santa Rosa expressed interest in relocating this sign and replacing the white plastic portion with a "Welcome to Santa Rosa" message board. However, the owner of the sign wanted too much money and the project fell through.

La Mesa Motel
Santa Rosa, NM		 Route 66 Restaurant
Santa Rosa, NM
The La Mesa Motel opened around 1940. This sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. It is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Route 66 Restaurant was originally known as Lettie's Restaurant. signs appear to be from the 1950s and/or 1960s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Sun N Sand Motel & Restaurant
Santa Rosa, NM
The Sun N Sand Motel & Restaurant signs are probably from the late 1950s or 1960s. The motel sign features a Zia sun symbol and is about 40 feet tall. It was restored in 2002. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

La Loma Motel
Santa Rosa, NM		 Sahara Cafe
Santa Rosa, NM
The La Loma Motel was originally known as the La Loma Lodge when it was built in the 1930s. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The Sahara Cafe sign is from the 1950s. The top part of the sign originally read "Restaurant" and "Lounge". The lower part read "Cafe". The panels were all brown. The business has been boarded up and closed for many years. For more, see this website.

Club Café
Santa Rosa, NM		 Joseph's Bar & Grill
Santa Rosa, NM
The Club Café opened in 1935 and closed in 1992. The "Restaurant" rooftop sign was removed but this pole sign still remains. The Club Café used the "Fat Man" character on its billboards and signs. This character was adopted by Joseph's Bar & Grill. A copy of the sign hangs on their building. The original Fat Man sign is at the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Joseph's Bar & Grill opened in 1956 as the Las Fiesta restaurant. It became Joseph's in 1985. The arrow sign was updated at that time. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

NM (page 2) NM (page 3) NM (page 4) Albuquerque Gallup
Main Signs Page