The historic Blue Swallow Motel is in Tucumcari, New Mexico, on Route 66.
Built in 1939 by carpenter W. A. Huggins, the motel was designed for automobile travelers during Route 66’s peak years. Its original layout included sleeping units, garages between rooms, an office and a manager’s residence—features that reflected the needs of motorists traveling long distances.
The property became especially recognizable for its neon sign and the promise of “100% Refrigerated Air.” It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the longest-continuously operated motels along New Mexico’s section of the historic highway.
Tucumcari became famous for its roadside tourism campaign, “Tucumcari Tonite!” Billboards advertised hundreds of motel rooms to travelers approaching from both directions. The town remains one of New Mexico’s best-known Route 66 stops, although Interstate 40 reduced traffic on the older road after its construction.