MOTEL SAFARI (est.1959) - A Route 66 Icon for more than 50 years!

The Motel Safari was built in 1959 by Chester Doer, a developer from Chicago, using an architectural style known today as "Googie" or "Doo Wop". You'll notice many of the retro design elements, from the quirky sign to oozing brick mortar, counter stacked brick grids in the facade, holes in cinder block walls and metal cylinders with perforated light holes.

A few years later Mr. Doer sold the motel to Ron Frey, also from Chicago, who owned and operated the motel for more than 30 years. Mr. Frey and his wife Arlene raised their entire family, all living together in the motel, and still live in Tucumcari today on a small ranch overlooking Tucumcari Mountain. You can catch Mr. Frey on most sunny days, still cruising up and down Route 66 in a colorful purple motor-trike, with his dog in the back seat and whimsical handmade metal whirly-gigs spinning from the back of his trike. He even drops in from time to time, to visit the motel and spin stories with our guests.

Originally the Best Western Motel Safari, there was a crown in place of the current camel on top of the sign you see today. Sometime in 1962, the crown was removed and "Clyde" the flying camel was added. At one time, almost every independent "Mom & Pop" motel in town was a Best Western, as Best Western was the largest motel franchise on all of Route 66.

Speculation has it the camel was added from a historical perspective, as camels from the U.S. Camel Corps once actually roamed the local area. In the 1800's during surveying efforts to find the best routes through the area, to one day form a national road system, camels were used as pack animals for the expedition. The Army bought around 70 camels, brought over from Egypt and Arabia, to traverse the harsh terrain. When the Civil War began, the camel's duty was ended and most were sold for multi-use as pack animals, but a few were simply released into the wild and left to roam.

Although the motel is over 50 years old, it has had only 3 primary owners since construction began, until Richard & Gail acquired the motel in late 2007. The Motel Safari is still a true "Mom & Pop" operation today, and your hosts live on site 24 hours a day. Guestroom artwork of original photo archives from the local area's history, dating even beyond the Mother Road's existence, are in each of the rooms, as well as our new linen postcard prints of older motels that no longer exist in town. Most of the furniture in each room, are original mid-century modern pieces from the day the motel was built, and were custom made on site during construction. The outdoor patio area, where guests gather next to the neon sign in the evenings, is where the original pool was located and later covered over.

Richard & Gail continue to renovate and restore the property on an on going basis, providing top of the line modern amenities integrated into the room's original dècor, without sacrificing its historical appearance. With Sealy Posturepedic pillowtop mattresses, down pillows, luxury linens and bath amenities, 32" flat panel HDTV's and WiFi, you'll be hard pressed to find another motel as comfortable and yet maintain its original identity, which has always been the goal.

Two wall murals have also been added by local artists Doug & Sharon Quarles. One of Elvis arriving to check-in with a 1959 Cadillac, on the outside wall of the front porte-cache. Another outside, behind the Front Office, of a 1950's Flxible Clipper, Santa Fe Trailways tour bus, with TUCUMCARI TONITE as its destination. More art will continue to be added over time, like our newest "Retro Boomerangs" all around the property. Doug & Sharon have completed over 45 other Wall Murals throughout town, continue adding to their collection, produce Sign Art, run a local Art Gallery with a variety of mediums, and even give lessons.

So sit back and enjoy a true Route 66 Icon and Legend of the Road, or just stop by, have a visit and take some photos. We are merely humble stewards of this piece of history along the Mother Road, and hope you will come to love and appreciate her as much as we do. "It's not about the destination, it's all about the Journey!" We're also on Facebook - Become A Fan & Like Us!