"...El Vado, is the purest surviving Route 66 motel in Albuquerque, faces "The Main Street of America," as it has since 1937. Our enclosed motor court is a reminder of days gone by and the Neon Indian is known worldwide.
Built in 1937 it is listed on the National and State Historic Registers...."

17 February 2007 UPDATE: From Preservation Online: "After years of debate, a Route 66 motel in Albuquerque can't be torn down for townhouses, the city ruled last month.
The city's landmarks and urban conservation commission voted 4-2 to deny a certificate of appropriateness for demolition to the owner of the El Vado Motel, built in 1937. Owner Richard Gonzales wants to build townhouses on the site and told the Albuquerque Journal he will appeal the commission's Jan. 10 decision.
The El Vado Motel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993 and was named a city landmark last year, at the request of Mayor Marty Chavez.
"I want the building preserved," Chavez says. "It's a really prominent architectural feature for Albuquerque."
Gonzales listed the El Vado for sale last year for $3.4 million and later lowered the asking price to $2.4 million. According to a city-commissioned appraisal, the property is worth $574,000.
Under city law, a demolition rejection invokes a one-year demolition delay. In a year, the city council will rule on the El Vado Motel's future. According to the city's ordinance, the council can approve demolition only if the owner will suffer economically..."