Update on the Shalimar Inn

I was in Gallup for Memorial Day weekend with a couple of buddies, planning on hiking at Canyon de Chelly and other areas around the four corners. When we got into town on I-40, we got off the interstate at the far west end of town in order to drive Route 66, and for me, to see the Shalimar. Things we much different this time. The broken windows up at the lobby were fixed, lights were on, the place in and out was very well lit. The old building, of which I spoke about the open doors with the room almost intact except for mold and such, was now completely boarded up. All the doors we covered with plywood, preventing entry. I did a quick new search, but didn't find any events that happened there, probably just closing it up to keep kids from going in and partying.

Gallup, New Mexico Pt. 1

I decided to take a break from the decay and promote Gallup, New Mexico. I like Gallup. I won't go into the history of Gallup too much, this site sums it up pretty well. Basically it is a railroad town. It is also known for its place in Route 66 history (in the song) and for some of its sites. I have already talked about the Shalimar Inn and its current state, but there are some other interesting things to see there. 

This is Richardson's Trading in Downtown, right on Route 66.

Eagle Cafe just down the block. 

                                                    

BNSF/Amtrak trains run through the town on a regular basis.

The tracks run parallel to Highway 66 right through downtown. Most motels are located on the main drag through town and and you can hear the sound of the trains. But its cool to hear. And not much different then home if you, like me, live close enough to the train tracks that the sound doesnt bother you anymore.

    

  Pt. 2 will include a bit about Blake's Lotaburger and the El Rancho Hotel.

Rudolph/Lou Grubb/Power Chevrolet, 27th+Camelback Rd. Phoenix

I made my way to the now deserted Rudolph/Lou Grubb/Power Chevrolet dealership on 27th ave and Camelback on saturday night, got some pictures before security chased me off. I only use my 35mm camera anymore for these pics so i must get them developed...but in the mean time, anybody have any info on the history of this dealership/building?

Grocery Stores

I was standing in line at a Fry's Grocery Store today, and I began thinking about the old grocery stores we used to have her in Arizona. I can still recall walking the aisles in the ABCO at 35th ave and Glendale with my mom and hearing that over the loudspeaker. I also remember the televisions in the dairy aisle (im sure they were elsewhere too) that had commericals for "America's Funniest Home Videos." I remember Danny Tanner (the name I knew Bob Saget by in those days) laughing, and the footage of a black dog, possibly a lab, and a blue kiddy pool and green grass. I have no idea what the hell was going on in the video. I also remember the girl at the deli counter reminded me of Nicole Sullivan from Mad TV (that was during the Desert Market years)
I think the location at glendale and 7th st(or ave? its by the 51) had little carts for the kids to use.

I remember Mega Foods also. How the aisles were stacked high with products, seemed like a warehouse. Seemed kinda gross to me, at an early age. We went to the one at 43rd Ave and Indian School, in the "West Phoenix Plaza." Its blue and has like weird metal frames around the anchor store entrances. I remember the commericals and how you had to bag your own groceries at the store. I really looked forward to doing that when I was old, but the stores were bought out before I ever got a chance to do that.

Oh and Smiths. Nothing really spectacular stuck out to me, a recent visit to a Smiths in Albuquerque seemed like the Smiths we used to have...just a regualr grocery store. I do rememeber the picture of the owner over the entrance to the store. It was faded, and I think he was from Utah. I always wanted to have that picture in my room.

But my favorite, Smitty's. Man, that was the store. A grocery store combined with the extra stuff you would need for your home, and on top of that, a full service restaurant and, AND, a pizza place. (I think ice cream and candy as well) I remember going there with my parents and shopping for groceries first, then getting pizza on the way out. I dont remember much about the restaurant, just a pale gold, yellow and blue color scheme, and the old men who sat by the window drinking coffee from a cup. At 35th and Bethany Home, there was an old shopping center next to it as well, seemed futuristic to me (as a little kid) but at the same time was musty and worn out. I remember alot of concrete over hangs at the "plaza." All concrete. I recall my father taking me into some weird old Toy shop, maybe it was a comic book store, but it was creepy and smelled bad. It had yellow carpeting and lots of dusty olf action figures. I seem to recall mostly Star Wars. Mostly kids in there. If my memory serves me correct, It got torn down pretty soon after that.
Then Smitty's became Fred Meyer. Didnt like it as much, especially not after they closed the restaurant and pizza express. I remember plywood covering the restaurant/pizza entrance, it was painted white. My mom told me it would re-open, and we would be able to get pizza again.

It never did.

Lone Wolf Annex, Jackrabbit, Arizona

Lone Wolf Annex is off of Exit 269 (jackrabbit rd) on Interstate 40 in Arizona. When you exit the interstate, go to the North frontage road and head down the dirt road east, until it curves. Right ahead of the curve will be Lone Wolf Annex. I'm not sure of much of the history of this building, but it seems to have been maybe a store on an early alignment of Route 66. From the outside it is a stuccoed exterior on top of what might be an adobe or brick wall. 

Most of the windows are either covered, patched, or gone.

The entrance is on the east side, through a wood addition. 

Bad floor, be careful. Don't linger too long, snakes were 

seen. 

Inside the room is...weird. Of course it is starting to fall a

part, plaster falling, floor warping, moldy smell.

But.....it seems to have been a classroom. Seemed to be a decomposing chalkboard on one wall.

Some sort of geography graph or something. Not a big math person so im not sure.

Lone Wolf Annex is worth a stop. Neat to explore, the grounds are littered with broken pop bottles, chunks of cars, and some old souvenirs (pair of dice, broken tomahawk, etc.) Another warning, snakes are in the area, be careful.

Gallup, New Mexico's Shalimar Inn

Gallup's Shalimar Inn is located right on old Route 66, east of Nizhoni Blvd, in front of the Gallup Municipal Airport and across from the BNSF/Amtrak railroad tracks. The picture above was taken back in Spring 2008. To the best of my knowledge, the Shalimar doesn't function as motel anymore, it seems like it acts as an apartment building. About a third of the units seem occupied, but the rest seem deserted and closed for many years, obviously a haven for drunks and drug dealers, etc. The rooms that are abandoned seemed like they were simply closed and not rented out anymore, one room was open and everything seemed in order, except the ceiling had fallen in, and the wood siding was warped and a thick layer of dust and mold covered everything.

Not a very good picture, but you get the idea

The office was empty but also seemed as if it was left 

in a haste. The tourist brochure rack

 was still intact, a candy bowl filled next to it. The window was broken and the receptionist desk was covered in cardboard and duct tape. 

The overhang in front of the office was visibly weathered, and chunks were missing from it.

I'm not sure about the past or the future of the Shalimar Inn. Its listed under Google so it seems like there is some recent past...but who knows. The picture to the right is a "Shalimar Inn" in Gallup, I wonder if this is the same one. Its worth a quick stop if your heading through Gallup, New Mexico...or at least a glance. 

A Study of Decay in the Southwest

I've been interested in the abandoned roads and buildings that cover Arizona and New Mexico. I've always been eager to crawl into them, to search the roadside for broken bits of old soda bottles, just souvenirs of a time long ago. I've found many websites documenting the forgotten buildings of the areas across our country...but few about the Southwest. I plan on having pictures up and a little bit of history, if you know anything about what I've posted, what I haven't written about, or something I've missed. comment. I'm always looking for more information.