Further west, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico
Motel Safari, Tucumcari, New Mexico
11/1/24
I hadn't played in Tunica since before COVID....and I found that there's not much left. One of the casinos had been demolished, another had been demolished and they were working on the hotels which had obviously been vandalized. Tunica used to be a beehive of activity. It is a mere shadow of its former self. I have a lot of memories there, playing different places, tournaments won, traveling with friends. That's all gone now....and what's left is struggling.
From Tunica I drove around 8 hours to Shawnee, Oklahoma. I stayed at The Grand Casino/Hotel, and it was VERY nice. I played a tournament and busted out 2 from the money, costing me $130. I played cash games after than, finishing the evening up $180 for a net profit of $50. This gives me a running total of up $520 so far on the trip. This is NOT a bad outcome.
I hadn't played in Tunica since before COVID....and I found that there's not much left. One of the casinos had been demolished, another had been demolished and they were working on the hotels which had obviously been vandalized. Tunica used to be a beehive of activity. It is a mere shadow of its former self. I have a lot of memories there, playing different places, tournaments won, traveling with friends. That's all gone now....and what's left is struggling.
From Tunica I drove around 8 hours to Shawnee, Oklahoma. I stayed at The Grand Casino/Hotel, and it was VERY nice. I played a tournament and busted out 2 from the money, costing me $130. I played cash games after than, finishing the evening up $180 for a net profit of $50. This gives me a running total of up $520 so far on the trip. This is NOT a bad outcome.
Grand Casino, Shawnee, Oklahoma
This morning I left Shawnee, driving across Oklahoma and the panhandle of Texas. Neither are particularly photogenic so I didn't do any photography. I tried to run route 66, using a route 66 navigation app on my phone. It led me 6 miles to a dead end/bridge out. I had to back track 6 miles more and get back on 40.
I pushed across Texas, planning on stopping in Amarillo to take photos at Cadillac Ranch. I planned to fly the drone over it and shoot some cool stuff. It wound up being hazy, dusty, and very windy. I didn't even stop. Conditions were terrible.
I pushed across Texas, planning on stopping in Amarillo to take photos at Cadillac Ranch. I planned to fly the drone over it and shoot some cool stuff. It wound up being hazy, dusty, and very windy. I didn't even stop. Conditions were terrible.
A twelve mile wild goose chase
Right as I crossed into New Mexico I stopped and shot an abandoned gas station on route 66. In the middle of nowhere and not much left. The photos show how remote these places are...and it makes you wonder how they ever were a working business to start with.
My destination for the night would be Tucumcari, New Mexico. In the old days, this was THE place to stop along Route 66. Back then there were something like 2000 rooms back in the day when Route 66 was the only route through here. After I-40 went through it was all downhill.
My destination for the night would be Tucumcari, New Mexico. In the old days, this was THE place to stop along Route 66. Back then there were something like 2000 rooms back in the day when Route 66 was the only route through here. After I-40 went through it was all downhill.
Route 66, abandoned places, Glenrio, Texas
I don't know how many rooms there are now. There are tons of boarded up motels, res,taurants, and businesses. The motels that are left cater to nostalgia travelers, retro places that look like 1968. There are still several restaurants catering to both locals and travelers, but the town is like Tunica. A shadow of its former self.
I'm staying at Motel Safari, a fully renovated "retro" motel. The owner is originally from Knoxville and has done an amazing job restoring the place. If there is a rating system for how retro something is, this is the standard they have to meet. It was truly impressive.
I'm staying at Motel Safari, a fully renovated "retro" motel. The owner is originally from Knoxville and has done an amazing job restoring the place. If there is a rating system for how retro something is, this is the standard they have to meet. It was truly impressive.
My lodging for tonight, Tucumcari, New Mexico
My intent on coming to Tucumcari was to photograph the neon around town. There"s nowhere near how much there used to be. In the past this was said to look like a mini-Las Vegas. It doesn't anymore...but it's still kinda cool.
I had dinner at a great Mexican restaurant, enchiladas with a homemade red sauce that was to die for. I threw sodium caution to the wind.....I'll make up for it by drinking a lot of water tonight and flushing it out of me. But man, it was good.
I had dinner at a great Mexican restaurant, enchiladas with a homemade red sauce that was to die for. I threw sodium caution to the wind.....I'll make up for it by drinking a lot of water tonight and flushing it out of me. But man, it was good.
The famous Blue Swallow motel
I drove around town and photographed a few places. Neon is different from what I normally do....it IS light, where I normally photograph the stars in very dark places. It's different but I enjoy playing with it. A few of the photos are in the slide show below.
Tomorrow I head north, destination Cauplin, New Mexico.
Tomorrow I head north, destination Cauplin, New Mexico.
