Route 66 association awards chamber

The New Mexico Route 66 Association on Friday presented the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce and executive director Scott Crotzer its annual Heritage Award for renovating and beautifying the nearly 60-year-old, midcentury-style building.

In addition to the Heritage Award plaque, association President Melissa Lea Beasley-Lee gave Crotzer and the chamber a one-year complementary business membership, a listing in the association's quarterly magazine and a "Historic New Mexico U.S. 66" metal sign to display.

Crotzer, whose background includes historic preservation, said of the renovations: "This definitely was a work of my heart. I'm really excited."

The ceremony was taped for a future episode on the Fast TV Network, which is scheduled to move into the vacant Kmart building in Tucumcari this summer.

The century-old Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce began construction on its current building at 404 W. Route 66 Blvd. in September 1966. It displays a golden-colored shovel from Tucumcari Lumber Co. used in the original groundbreaking ceremony.

Crotzer began renovations shortly after he became chamber director in mid-2021. The building had been closed for months during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its sewer pipe had backed up.

About 15 months later during an open house to celebrate the face-lift, the building sported brighter colors, a polished concrete floor that features a Route 66 shield, lots of tourism rack cards and plenty of souvenirs and apparel.

The chamber added ADA-compliant bathrooms, free Wi-Fi and a Tucumcari Visitors Center sign that aims to draw in tourists, especially those who exit Interstate 40 from the city's west side.

In all, more than $40,000 in lodgers tax funds had been spent for the face-lift by last fall.

Crotzer wasn't finished. During an interview before Friday's ceremony, he said he switched the building to LED lighting to cut electricity costs and added a dispenser for tourists' water bottles.

On his to-do list is having former local artist Doug Quarles repaint two murals there, have the murals illuminated at night and repairing a flagpole.

The chamber is selling tickets for the upcoming Cinco de Mayo Celebration on May 6, and many customers are being exposed to the renovations for the first time.

"A lot of people hadn't been in here, and they've been blown away to see it," Crotzer said. "Just walking in here explains what the chamber is trying to do."

As for souvenir sales, Crotzer said those have become "a great revenue generator for us."

"We're getting $200, $300 a month, and we can do better," he said, noting the renovated building hasn't yet experienced the summer peak of Route 66 tourism.

"I'm really happy to have the recognition for something I've done here," Crotzer said of the award. "I was surprised and very thankful for this."

The building also houses the Film Tucumcari film liaison office.

Previous New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Award winners in Tucumcari were Motel Safari, Loretta's Burrito Hut and Roadrunner Lodge Motel. The honor recognizes restoration and tourism-friendly efforts for historic properties on Route 66.

Beasley-Lee said Crotzer's Heritage Award plaque was designed by Bare & Wild Creations of Tucumcari. She said she and other members of the association's board of directors were so pleased with it, the organization will use the same design with future award winners.