First Stop On Route 66 – Tucumcari

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We left Slaton early in the morning and headed to Tucumcari.  We found a spot at the Ute Lake State Park about 20 minutes from town.  It’s a reservoir lake and is known for great fishing.  I had made the reservation in advance and booked two nights.  That would give us one full day to tour Tucumcari.  The spot was perfect, and the daytime weather was just great.  Nighttime temps in this part of the country are cold.  It was down to 3C both nights, but we kept nice and warm with the electric included in the site.  The showers had hot water that was not adjustable but scalding.  I sent them an email with youngsters in mind. 

We took off for Tucumcari and the town is pretty much like it says.  On Google, they show the highlights and the most popular Route 66 related things to do.  Pictures are always deceiving.  Although we enjoyed the sights, the town itself is depressed with a per capita income of $30,000 for a family of four.  As we drove around the back streets we saw may abandoned and crumbling homes.  We also saw two or three fairly new housing projects all of which were very nice, and well-constructed.  Small town or not, things can be the same price or at times more expensive.   

What took us by surprise was that there was a dope shop on each block of the main drag.  Looking for a mouse for the laptop (mine is pretty much shot and I hate to get out of bed to skip the commercials on YouTube), I ask a clerk in a store about the mouse.  She said they don’t carry any and there isn’t anywhere in town to buy one.  She said, “Ironic isn’t it, we don’t have a place for computer repair or to buy related items, but we have weed shops on every corner”.  That was a true statement.

The first stop was the famous Tee Pee Curio Shop.  It is exactly as it appears in the photos and offers quite a bit of nostalgia.  Lots of souvenirs and Native American-related items.  The family that runs the shop is not only friendly but amusing to listen to as you walk around the shop.  They have two cute little dogs, and I could tell one wanted to come home with me.

You may be wondering where the name Tucumcari comes from.  It is a Comanche word that means “lie in wait for someone to approach”.  The Comanche would have lookouts on the mountain in the picture to keep an eye out for the enemy.  That included the white man.

Those citizens of Tucumcari who fought in WWI and WWII.

Famous families responsible for the founding and growth of Tucumcari.

The next stop was one of the most interesting for me.  The Tucumcari Historical Museum.  It is in an old schoolhouse built in 1902.  The place is packed with memorabilia from the town's beginning.  The railroad came to the area and the town was first started in 1901.  Native Americans had lived and roamed the area though for over 10,000 years.  The initial start was called a “rag city” or tent city.  Within the first few years, construction began of small businesses and the town began to flourish.  Many famous cowboys have come from the area including Tom Ketchum, a famous outlaw who had worked on the Bell Ranch.  The Bell Ranch is one of largest in the U.S. even today.   The Bell Ranch covers over 2.2 million acres mostly used for cattle ranching. 

The museum also has displays of items used in the late 1800s including the advent of electricity and the use of small electric appliances.  Most if not all the items come from residents.  Many war heroes, businesspeople, lawmakers, politicians, and judges are included in the museum.

Juan likes to take pictures of murals so if you are on Facebook, you can see his posts.  Here are a couple I took. 

An "antique" car lot on the main drag.  Believe it or not, many people throughout the day would stop and look at cars for sale.  

We also used the day to buy water, do laundry, and do some grocery shopping.  The local Lowe’s supermarket had problems taking my debit card because I had to show them a driver’s license.  All I have is my Mexican license and they thought that was a bit odd.  In the end, though, it all worked out. 

The scenery on our drive has been truly amazing.  The changes that occur as you head west.  It takes a long time to get out of Texas, but we still find it an amazing state.  We are already talking about our drive home in January or February and heading through West Texas and all the towns and stops we have enjoyed on past trips.  Familiar territory.