Tucumcari Mountain's big 'T' relit

Residents and travelers in Tucumcari were treated to a surprise sight Friday night - lights glowed brightly on on the big "T" of Tucumcari Mountain's northwestern face for the first time in many months.

The sight also signaled a stronger possibility the faded whitewash on the big "T" would be refurbished soon after the mesa's previous part-owner had blocked access for several years. The "T," formed from rocks and boulders, had been repainted annually by Tucumcari High School students since at least the 1930s.

Receiving permission from new owners of that side of the mesa, former Tucumcari Rotary Club president Robert Hockaday and four other volunteers from the organization ascended the mountain Friday afternoon to replace worn-out or damaged solar-powered bulbs on the large "T."

Hockaday said during a telephone interview Saturday the previous lights installed on the mesa tend to have a lifespan of three years. The bulbs initially were installed by the Rotary Club in July 2016, and damaged ones were replaced in May 2018.

Citing improved technology, Hockaday said he was optimistic that not only would the new bulbs last longer, but they would burn longer through the night. Previous bulbs faded after a few hours in the darkness, especially when less sunlight powered the solar panels during the winter months. But Hockaday noted the big "T" remained lit until sunrise Saturday morning after the bulbs were replaced.

"It's nice. Santa Claus will find the town now," he said, laughing.

Hockaday said the entire repair job Friday cost only about $400.

He declined to name the new owners of that section of Tucumcari Mountain who gave them permission to repair the lights.

He also didn't entertain any thoughts on the "T" being repainted.

"I can't speculate on that," he said.

According to the Quay County Assessor's Office, Patrick B. Thomson and Jamie Vance of rural Tucumcari in August acquired the road-access portion of the land once owned by Ronald Mueller.

Al Patel, owner of the Desert Inn hotel in Tucumcari and a member of the city's Lodgers Tax Advisory Board, has been raising funds for 18 months for a possible long-term refurbishment project for the "T."

That idea was blocked by Mueller, who bought the road-access portion of the mesa in February 2017 and blocked public access, citing vandalism, trespassing and littering on the site.

Patel said Mueller's departure reignited talks with the new owners and the Rotary Club about his project.

"We've had good discussions, and we have good options," Patel said, declining to elaborate.

Patel added he was hopeful the large letter on the mesa would be refurbished in April or May, depending on weather conditions.

Hockaday said the timing of bringing the nighttime "T" back to life wasn't entirely coincidental. He said he wanted to bring a little light - no pun intended - to residents during the darker winter months, during the Christmas holiday and during the ongoing trials of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's a little symbol of hope," he said.