Route 66 Lost & Found by Russell A. Olsen

Author:Russell A. Olsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MBI
Published: 2011-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

DE ANZA MOTOR LODGE, ALBUQUERQUE

c. 1939

C. G. Wallace and partner S. D. Hambaugh built the 30-unit De Anza Motor Lodge in 1939 in response to the growing number of motorists traveling the 1937 Highway 66 alignment through Albuquerque. The De Anza was named for Spanish Lieutenant Juan Batista de Anza, who rescued the Hopi pueblo from certain starvation and went on to serve as territorial governor of New Mexico from 1778 to 1788.

Unlike the smaller auto courts of the day, the De Anza sits on a full city block (2.5 acres) in the famous Nob Hill–Highland area along East Central Avenue. In 1939 the motel was the largest to date along that section of Central Avenue. The motor lodge was constructed in the popular Spanish–Pueblo Revival style and originally consisted of eight separate stucco buildings. Six one-story buildings formed the classic U-shaped motel of the period. Two two-story buildings, situated one behind the other, formed an island in the middle of the courtyard and served as the office and manager’s residence. Each guest unit had a carport, all of which were eventually converted to more guest units.

In the decade following World War II, Wallace expanded the facility first to 55 units and then to 67 units. By 1957 a coffee shop and pool were added to meet the growing demands of the motoring public. The De Anza was such a popular stopover during its heyday that Wallace would regularly pick up and drop off VIPs at the airport in a shiny pink Cadillac. The De Anza remained listed as an American Automobile Association–approved accommodation until the early 1990s, and Wallace owned the motel until his death in 1993. It was subsequently sold and resold, eventually falling into a mild state of disrepair. Current owner Amir Naggi closed the doors in 2003.

The De Anza Motor Lodge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 2004. A local community redevelopment group is currently working with the City of Albuquerque to preserve and rehabilitate the property. They hope to maintain the integrity of this site, which is closely related to the history of tourism and Indian trade along the once-bustling highway.

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