Albuquerque
El Vado Motel
A 1937 Route 66 tourist court that its National Register nomination calls one of the best largely unaltered pre-war courts on Route 66 in New Mexico.
- Built
- 1937NRHP nomination: built in 1937 along West Central Avenue in anticipation of the Route 66 realignment; 32 units. The motel also says it opened in 1937.
- Style
- Pueblo Revival tourist court
- Type
- Inn
- Credentials
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Local landmark
The story
El Vado opened in 1937 on West Central Avenue as Route 66 was realigned through Albuquerque; the NRHP nomination calls it the oldest tourist court on that strip and one of the best largely unaltered pre-war tourist courts on Route 66 in New Mexico. A local business monthly praised its “swanky tile cabin suites,” and longtime proprietor Dan Murphy was a well-known Route 66 motel operator. It was listed on the National Register in 1993 and now operates as a motel with food, shops and event space.
Good to know
- Address: 2500 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Sources (3)
Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.