Just stayed at the Blue Swallow motel in March 2014. Friendly owners great nite with my wife and baby daughter on our return trip from Disney World Florida. Traveled along the Interstate 10 , to Houston. Headed North to Dallas/ Fort Worth. Then onto US 287 N via Claude TX onto the old 66 at Amarillo. Flow west I 40 . We traveled on all rural towns along the old US 66, Tucumcari and the Blue Swallow rest stop 1942 style. Yes sir parked our Chevrolet Impala 2013 version for the nite. A very delightful stay.
Great video. I was there a few weeks ago while driving Route 66. I stayed at the Blue Swallow (where my car had a "Car's" themed garage! Had dinner at Del's and stopped at the Lowe's for snacks.
Thanks for the ride. Back in the '70s, before I-40 bypassed the town, my family drove thru Tucumcari going to/from Dallas from Fresno, CA, and the difference is striking. . The town has clearly seen better days. It's said that the reason Tucumcari and San Jon were the last to be bypassed in NM was that they were afraid of what would happen when the bypasses were finished. Guess the town fathers were right...But the Interstate was coming no matter what. Williams, AZ adapted and survived, Tucumcari didn't.....
Great stuff.Me and my late Grandfather went WEST on I-40 in 1992.Some of the places you mentioned brings memories back.Stayed in Oklahoma City.Fueled up in Shamrock,TX and ate lunch in Tucumcari,NM.
Did you enjoy The Big Texan in Amarillo? Lol. I think all the old neon motel signs from many years ago were cool. Also I remember them being a welcome sight on family vacations! A sparkling pool and a diner with most of them.
Wow, what a blast from the past. I was born and raised in Tucumcari before moving to Chicago at age 18. It's great to look back, but also sad to see the decline. Hopefully this town will see a more fruitful future!
Unlike some rural towns along the old US 66, Tucumcari has managed to survive, although it has definitely seen better days. I've always stopped there to take a quick restroom break, but never to check out US 66. Interesting ride; I'm surprised a lot of the old motels are still in business.
Artsy types with money from the west coast buy up motels and fix them up for tourists. It's happened in Truth or consequences. Not entirely a bad thing imho.
Great video, your camera, drive, and music perfectly painted a picture of the "town that was on the road that time forgot" a very profound statement indeed.
Drove and stayed in this town for one night during my cross country trip from Virginia to California. It was a nice town, and not exactly a charm but certainly quiet and people were friendly. Driving on a clear sunny day was fun and an adventure.
Nice ride... kind of sad in a way to see that town look like one of those post-apocalyptic movies in some way with the abandoned buildings and broke-out signs. Very interesting- really enjoying seeing what is out there that I don't get to see in my neck of the woods!
Kind of sad to see, although ironically Route 66 nostalgia is a big part of why people still visit this area. I remember this place as the western most point on my road trip through the entirety of what's left of the Texas portion of Route 66.
Thanks...the original, while maybe better is less than 3 minutes long, much too short for this video so I have to improvise, I was using that song for this video come hell or high water.
Tucumcari was a typical, much larger than most, Route 66 layover town. The businesses there had for years posted billboards telling folks to stop there and stay over at one of its 2000 hotel rooms. Or maybe 20,000. Anyway, a lot of rooms. Tucumcari ia long and narrow town. The actual town center is fairly small and typical, growing up around the Rock Island Rail depot. However, the part of town on the Route is long ( a few miles). Someone noted below why that was, mostly because of the businesses. They wanted to be the first one into town so the people would stop there first. Locals told me the actual Route businesses started near the Rock Island Depot in the center of town, then expanded east and west along it 'to be the first'. When the town was bypassed by I-40 they gas stations, motels, diners and related businesses went out of business in that same order, the ones in the far edges went down first then the ones in the older, center part of town. Today, several motels and few diners remain. As well as a couple of gas stations. They're all clustered around the freeway exits, where they have to be to survive. If your on I40 it's worth a stop to check out Tucumcari. And, if you can, stay over for the night. Rooms are still pretty cheap, and many of the old motels are still around and in good shape.
You may not know this but the song you chose is also in the movie Abyss. It seems you would be hard pressed to find a gas station there with working pumps. I think there was just one that I saw (Circle K). Great video of a bygone time.
Finally bypassed in 1981? Figured it was 6-12 years earlier. Am aware the San Jon section of I-40 is the newest section, in New Mexico, but thought it was open by 1974-75. Williams, Arizona is the last town on the old 66 highway to be bypassed, in 1984-85.
Interesting take on these two towns. It seems like Williams is willing to reinvent itself and embrace its history to survive, while here they seem spiteful and possibly grateful U.S. 66 is gone. Plenty of towns seem to feel the same way as Tucumcari. Thanks for the ride.
The truck stop @ 1:30 is gone, The Payless @ 1:59 was burned down by a local cop (along with a few other buildings) The Hampton Inn @ 4:36 was hit by lightning and burned down.
Great job jim and I think it's time for you the 2013 highway star video highlight, and I'm pretty sure OKC would work with Oklahoma born country singers like Carrie Underwood or Toby Keith
I noticed that there are FIVE exits from I-40 serving Tucumcari, something I only noticed by looking it up on Google Maps. Yet that never seemed to dawn on me as someone who went by there on 40 fairly often in the recent past on St. Louis to Phoenix and vice-versa trips. Yet the town only has 5300 people. That's a lot of exits for a 5300 person town.
It was probably a "bone" thrown to the town as a result of being bypassed. 40 was necessary and it was good it was finished. Almost - except for that pesky section in Memphis. The US 66 designation should have been "duplexed" onto the new 40 interstate, though, and left it to follow it's original routing through the cities and towns 40 usually bypassed. Weird how some original US highways were "decommissioned" while others lived on. Inconsistent.
Sadly, almost none of the restaurants or motels along main street are open. lt really is deserted looking. The bypass to the north is a wasteland. Where there were truck terminals and dining halls there are shambles. The police are polite. But if you do the crime you pay the fine. So this tour was 2 or 3- times actual speed. The action is all along l-40, and only on the north side. K Mart is closing. The only store of its kind in the town.
I traveled that route several times in the 70's before the free was finished was finished in Arizona you bring me grate memories.
Thanks Paul!
Just stayed at the Blue Swallow motel in March 2014. Friendly owners great nite with my wife and baby daughter on our return trip from Disney World Florida. Traveled along the Interstate 10 , to Houston. Headed North to Dallas/ Fort Worth. Then onto US 287 N via Claude TX onto the old 66 at Amarillo. Flow west I 40 .
We traveled on all rural towns along the old US 66, Tucumcari and the Blue Swallow rest stop 1942 style. Yes sir parked our Chevrolet Impala 2013 version for the nite.
A very delightful stay.
Great video. I was there a few weeks ago while driving Route 66. I stayed at the Blue Swallow (where my car had a "Car's" themed garage! Had dinner at Del's and stopped at the Lowe's for snacks.
Thank you very much!
Thanks for the ride. Back in the '70s, before I-40 bypassed the town, my family drove thru Tucumcari going to/from Dallas from Fresno, CA, and the difference is striking. . The town has clearly seen better days. It's said that the reason Tucumcari and San Jon were the last to be bypassed in NM was that they were afraid of what would happen when the bypasses were finished. Guess the town fathers were right...But the Interstate was coming no matter what. Williams, AZ adapted and survived, Tucumcari didn't.....
Thank you for watching!
Man I love New Mexico, I go out there every summer and I always take different routes to explore the beauty
Great stuff.Me and my late Grandfather went WEST on I-40 in 1992.Some of the places you mentioned brings memories back.Stayed in Oklahoma City.Fueled up in Shamrock,TX and ate lunch in Tucumcari,NM.
Thanks!
4:02 Nice how the song slows down and stops at the stoplight. 🚦
Thanks, I planned it that way.
Did you enjoy The Big Texan in Amarillo? Lol.
I think all the old neon motel signs from many years ago were cool. Also I remember them being a welcome sight on family vacations! A sparkling pool and a diner with most of them.
Yes, my son and I enjoyed our dinner and experience there, would do it again!
Great to see this old route, love those old advertising signs etc. Happy new year Jim!
Thanks Geoff and Happy New Year to you!
Wow, what a blast from the past. I was born and raised in Tucumcari before moving to Chicago at age 18. It's great to look back, but also sad to see the decline. Hopefully this town will see a more fruitful future!
Rick Smith
me to rick smith my name is lloyd yocom. what year did you leave tuc. city
Unlike some rural towns along the old US 66, Tucumcari has managed to survive, although it has definitely seen better days. I've always stopped there to take a quick restroom break, but never to check out US 66. Interesting ride; I'm surprised a lot of the old motels are still in business.
Thanks!
Artsy types with money from the west coast buy up motels and fix them up for tourists. It's happened in Truth or consequences. Not entirely a bad thing imho.
Great video, your camera, drive, and music perfectly painted a picture of the "town that was on the road that time forgot" a very profound statement indeed.
Thank you very much Scott!
Wow, very cool and sombering at the same time!
Thank you!
Never heard of Emile den Tex, great cover of "Willin". Great job on the video as well, thanks.
Thank you!
Great job on this. We better imagine the fervor along this road in its heyday!
Thank you!
@0:36 , I love seeing these old maps. I remember as a kid seeing the progress of Interstate 10 over U.S. 290 in west Texas with the Rand McNally maps.
Enjoyed the ride. Thanks Freewayjim.
Thanks for watching!
Drove and stayed in this town for one night during my cross country trip from Virginia to California. It was a nice town, and not exactly a charm but certainly quiet and people were friendly. Driving on a clear sunny day was fun and an adventure.
Great song choice - enjoyed this one very much
Thank you!
For better or worse, the effects of the Interstate are on full display in Tucumcari. Neat drive through there.
Thanks!
nice drive---that town has a lot of motels and hotels !!! Cant wait to drive there one day.
feliz año nuevo,amigo freewayjim......!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you very much and Happy New Year to you!
Awesome! I was hoping yall would do vids in Amarillo to check out the construction on I-40 and I-27
Thank you but I doubt I;ll be filming that area anytime soon.
Great song...Great video !!!
+Nelvis Thanks!
Nice ride... kind of sad in a way to see that town look like one of those post-apocalyptic movies in some way with the abandoned buildings and broke-out signs. Very interesting- really enjoying seeing what is out there that I don't get to see in my neck of the woods!
Thank you!
Kind of sad to see, although ironically Route 66 nostalgia is a big part of why people still visit this area. I remember this place as the western most point on my road trip through the entirety of what's left of the Texas portion of Route 66.
Nice video, some of the western drives and towns have a real "lonely: look to them.
Thanks, this one sure did.
While Route 66 has seen better days, this video hasn't. Excellent looking video. The original from Little Feat is better. Thanx for posting this.
Thanks...the original, while maybe better is less than 3 minutes long, much too short for this video so I have to improvise, I was using that song for this video come hell or high water.
You're welcome Jim, cool vid.
Tucumcari was a typical, much larger than most, Route 66 layover town. The businesses there had for years posted billboards telling folks to stop there and stay over at one of its 2000 hotel rooms. Or maybe 20,000. Anyway, a lot of rooms. Tucumcari ia long and narrow town. The actual town center is fairly small and typical, growing up around the Rock Island Rail depot. However, the part of town on the Route is long ( a few miles). Someone noted below why that was, mostly because of the businesses. They wanted to be the first one into town so the people would stop there first. Locals told me the actual Route businesses started near the Rock Island Depot in the center of town, then expanded east and west along it 'to be the first'. When the town was bypassed by I-40 they gas stations, motels, diners and related businesses went out of business in that same order, the ones in the far edges went down first then the ones in the older, center part of town. Today, several motels and few diners remain. As well as a couple of gas stations. They're all clustered around the freeway exits, where they have to be to survive. If your on I40 it's worth a stop to check out Tucumcari. And, if you can, stay over for the night. Rooms are still pretty cheap, and many of the old motels are still around and in good shape.
love this town
You may not know this but the song you chose is also in the movie Abyss. It seems you would be hard pressed to find a gas station there with working pumps. I think there was just one that I saw (Circle K). Great video of a bygone time.
Thank you and no, I did not know the song was in that movie.
Finally bypassed in 1981? Figured it was 6-12 years earlier. Am aware the San Jon section of I-40 is the newest section, in New Mexico, but thought it was open by 1974-75. Williams, Arizona is the last town on the old 66 highway to be bypassed, in 1984-85.
Interesting take on these two towns. It seems like Williams is willing to reinvent itself and embrace its history to survive, while here they seem spiteful and possibly grateful U.S. 66 is gone. Plenty of towns seem to feel the same way as Tucumcari. Thanks for the ride.
Thanks for watching!
Not ashamed to admit that the decline of the times brought a tear to my eye.
Nice bridge at the end. I think the Quebec AutoRoute uses bridges like that as their logo.
Another excellent video! How many videos are left? Your final footage is from Oklahoma City and Dallas?
Thanks, no the final footage is not from either of those places, you'll just have to wait and see :)
Seeing how you seldom passed a vehicle at 3:45PM on a Tuesday afternoon, I can understand how the western end looked deserted and out of shape.
The truck stop @ 1:30 is gone, The Payless @ 1:59 was burned down by a local cop (along with a few other buildings) The Hampton Inn @ 4:36 was hit by lightning and burned down.
3:41 - Dels restaurant with the Hereford steer on the sign. It was a pretty good place to eat.
Still is!
Nice video. Speaking of the Big Texan Steakhouse, did you attempt to conquer the 72oz steak challenge?
Thanks, I did not but someone did while we were there....they failed.
Great job jim and I think it's time for you the 2013 highway star video highlight, and I'm pretty sure OKC would work with Oklahoma born country singers like Carrie Underwood or Toby Keith
Thank you, I did not plan on doing a highlight video for this trip.
that was my home I miss it so much🏡🏠💒🚸:-(
Thank you for letting me see the country through your videos! What do you do exactly, travel? Truck driver? Transporter?
You're welcome, these videos are from family vacations and joyrides.
Riding Historic 66 is like walking through a deadmall,
22 feet 6 inch clearance at the end?
I noticed that there are FIVE exits from I-40 serving Tucumcari, something I only noticed by looking it up on Google Maps. Yet that never seemed to dawn on me as someone who went by there on 40 fairly often in the recent past on St. Louis to Phoenix and vice-versa trips.
Yet the town only has 5300 people. That's a lot of exits for a 5300 person town.
I. Will. Stop. At. The. Blue. Swallow. Motel. And. I. Will. Make. A. You. Tube. Video. Thetre. O. Was. In. Tucumcari. 2. Weeks. Ago .
It was probably a "bone" thrown to the town as a result of being bypassed. 40 was necessary and it was good it was finished. Almost - except for that pesky section in Memphis. The US 66 designation should have been "duplexed" onto the new 40 interstate, though, and left it to follow it's original routing through the cities and towns 40 usually bypassed. Weird how some original US highways were "decommissioned" while others lived on. Inconsistent.
I can tell Radiator Springs from the Cars Pixar series is essentially based on this town XD
Oklahoma City!Here we come!
I was here 7-2-2019
Sadly, almost none of the restaurants or motels along main street are open. lt really is deserted looking. The bypass to the north is a wasteland. Where there were truck terminals and dining halls there are shambles. The police are polite. But if you do the crime you pay the fine. So this tour was 2 or 3- times actual speed. The action is all along l-40, and only on the north side.
K Mart is closing. The only store of its kind in the town.
Great video but, man this is pretty depressing on the low lol.
Thanks, don't worry, it's back to the freeways from here on out.
tayden r u my friend
Left by America in a hurry.
Yeah, we go where the money is.
off the beaten path my ass. its right on I-40.
jimmyjam700 A figure of speech, gez.
sorry, just had a bad visit there. keep trucking jack.
From The First Video Of This Playlist One Song From TT Was Muted
TT=TeensyTunes80s