A Postcard Tour of Central Avenue, Albuquerque, NM

The longest commercial strip along Route 66 is the 18-mile stretch of Central Avenue, Albuquerque, New Mexico, between junctions with Interstate 40. Dozens of postwar motels still line the strip -- though on the east side of town, at least, many of these motels can be euphemistically described as "not presently suitable for family occupancy."

This gallery presents postcards of Central Avenue's motels and restaurants in their heyday, before the Interstate siphoned off all the long-distance traffic and left the local businesses to die.

Canyon Lodge, Albuquerque, NM
Canyon Lodge, 13000 East Central Avenue

Uncle John's Pancake House, Albuquerque, NM
Uncle John's Pancake House, 8810 East Central Avenue

Bow & Arrow Lodge, Albuquerque, NM
Bow & Arrow Lodge, 8300 East Central Avenue

Pioneer Luxury Court, Albuquerque, NM
Pioneer Luxury Court, 7600 East Central Avenue

Carrico Courts, Albuquerque, NM
Carrico Courts, 6400 East Central Avenue

Frontier Lodge, Albuquerque, NM
Frontier Lodge, 6300 East Central Avenue

Tewa Lodge, Albuquerque, NM
Tewa Lodge, 5715 East Central Avenue

Trade Winds Motor Hotel, Albuquerque, NM
Trade Winds Motor Hotel, 5400 East Central Avenue

Cooksey Court, Albuquerque, NM
Cooksey Court, 5210 East Central Avenue

Coronado Motor Lodge, Albuquerque, NM
Coronado Motor Lodge, 4907 East Central Avenue

Zia Lodge, Albuquerque, NM
Zia Lodge, 4611 East Central Avenue

De Anza Motor Court, Albuquerque, NM
De Anza Motor Lodge, 4301 East Central Avenue

El Oriente Court, Albuquerque, NM
El Oriente Court, 4101 East Central Avenue

Premiere Motel, Albuquerque, NM
Premiere Motel, 3820 East Central Avenue

Continue west along Central Avenue


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