Blue Swallow Motel

Blue Swallow Motel
General information
LocationTucumcari, New Mexico
Address815 E Tucumcari Blvd
Other information
Number of rooms14
Website
www.blueswallowmotel.com
Coordinates35°10′19″N 103°42′59″W / 35.171866°N 103.716421°W / 35.171866; -103.716421
AreaU.S. Route 66 in New Mexico
Built1939 (1939)
ArchitectW. A. Huggins
Architectural styleSouthwest Vernacular
MPSRoute 66 through New Mexico MPS
NRHP reference No.93001210
NMSRCP No.1575
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 22, 1993
Designated NMSRCPSeptember 17, 1993

The Blue Swallow Court in Tucumcari, New Mexico, United States, is a 12-unit L-shaped motel listed on the National Register of Historic Places in New Mexico as a part of historic U.S. Route 66. Original architectural features included a façade with pink stucco walls decorated with shell designs and a stepped parapet, on-site office and manager's residence, and garages located between the sleeping units for travelers to park their motorcars. It is one of the longest continuously operated motels along New Mexico's slice of Route 66. The swallow from the sign can be seen in the movie Back to the Future Part II, and inspired the creators of Pixar's movie Cars to create the "Cozy Cone Motel" (and the town of Tucumcari itself inspired the mountain in Radiator Springs).