One of the classic Albuquerque motels that defined the Route 66 hospitality culture of the 1940s is now up for sale.
Located at 5715 Central Avenue NE, the Tewa Lodge has through the decades been a photographer’s delight due to its iconic Pueblo Revival architectural design, stucco walls made to replicate adobe surfaces, and symbolistic vigas.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Tewa Lodge is a particularly visible landmark due to its exterior mural work and illuminated neon sign. A narrative published by the National Park Service has, in fact, noted that the motel’s “use of neon has been judged as among the best in Albuquerque.”
A notice in the AAA Western Accommodations Directory for 1954 recorded that the Tewa featured “air-cooled units of one or two rooms, radios, telephones, tiled shower baths, vented heat, and car ports.”
The motel has in recent years experienced challenges owing to crime and environmental issues, leading to its closure by the City of Albuquerque last fall.
Designated as a Class B structure, the one- and two-story motel is currently on the market with an asking price of just over $1.2 million. Comprising around 9,000 square feet, the motel has 30 rooms and sits on a half-acre site.
The property is being listed by the real estate company eXp Realty, which has offices in Albuquerque.
May 22, 2025
By Garry Boulard
Vintage postcard
