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New Mexico Mid-Century Modern Motels & Hotels

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Drifter Motel
Silver City, NM
The Drifter Motel was built in the mid-1960s. The building shown on the right houses the dining room and lounge. For more, see this website. [map]

Hotel Blue
Albuquerque, NM

2012:
2021:
2024:
The Hotel Blue was built as the Downtowner Motor Inn in 1965. Over the years, it was known as the Downtown Inn, the Downtowner Inn, a Quality Inn, and a Ramada Inn. In the 1990s, the motel was remodeled in an Art Deco style for the Hotel Blue. The mid-century modern canopies remain intact. Around 2018, the building was painted brown, red, and beige. In 2019, the hotel closed and renovations began to bring back the original mid-century look. The hotel will be renamed "Arrive Albuquerque" and the ground floor will be used for restaurants and shopping. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

former TraveLodge
Albuquerque, NM
2019: 2024:
This former TraveLodge was built in or around 1960. Some sources say 1958 and others say 1962. It became the University Lodge in 1990. In 2022, the building was renovated as the Hotel Zazz. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

former Four Seasons Motor Inn
Albuquerque, NM
The Four Seasons Motor Inn was designed by Jorge de la Torre of Flatow, Moore, Bryan & Fairburn and built from 1970-1972. It was a 200-room luxury hotel. The buildings were originally painted white. The courtyard had a retractable fiberglass roof. In 1972, a second building and parking structure, designed by the same architects, were added. Over the years, the hotel was became a Best Western, a Sheraton, a Radisson, and a Wyndham. The hotel closed in 2019 and was adapted for apartments. In 2020, the BLVD 2500 Luxury Apartments opened. For more, see this website. [map]

Motel Safari
Tucumcari, NM
2006: 2012:
The Motel Safari was supposedly built in 1959 as the Best Western Motel Safari. The balls on the sign poles were originally much larger. In 1962, the Best Western crown was removed from the sign and "Clyde" the camel was added. The motel must have been related to the Caravan Inn chain at some point. Identical signs with the camels were used at their locations in Phoenix, AZ; Anaheim, CA; Sacramento, CA; Bakersfield, CA; and elsewhere.

The motel was completely renovated in 2008. Many of the rooms have the original custom-built mid-century modern furniture. The sign panels below the camel have been replaced and the font has been changed. In 2008, there were plans to update the sign with neon but that never happened. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

Coachlight Inn
Las Cruces, NM
The Coachlight Inn was built in 1973. It is now named the Coachlight Inn Motel & RV Park. The Pit Stop Cafe next door was originally known as Terry's Restaurant. For more, see this website. [map]

More New Mexico:
Holiday Motel (Clayton)