As you explore Quay, you’ll encounter both the history of Route 66 and a landscape of mesas, hills and grassland. Museums, murals and natural areas offer different perspectives on the region—from its long cultural history to its lakes and river landscapes.
Mesas, Grassland and Water
Distinctive mesas, gentle hills and the vast grasslands of the Llano Estacado, also known as the Staked Plains, define Quay County. In the north, grassy mesas give way to rolling plains cut by arroyos and canyons. The Canadian River flows from west to east there; damming the river created the Ute Reservoir. Ute Lake is almost 13 miles long and New Mexico’s second-largest lake. Wildlife found in the county’s natural areas and visitor destinations includes pronghorn, mule deer, Canada geese and sandhill cranes.
At Ute Lake State Park, you can use the camping facilities; Yucca Campground is geared toward RVs. Check separately for reservations and current information. The park’s coves and inlets offer fishing for walleye, largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish. The Walleye Lakes between Tucumcari and Santa Rosa also offer fishing, including for walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and catfish. The two bodies of water can be distinguished by the fish species listed for each.
For a scenic hike, the Cedar Valley Nature Trail is a 1.5-mile loop through fairly challenging terrain, with panoramic views of Ute Lake. The 770-acre Tucumcari Lake and Wildlife Area includes a shallow lake and wetlands where you can observe a wide variety of wildlife. It is described as an undeveloped wildlife area. Hunting, fishing and the nature-based recreational activities provided for under the GAIN program are designated for the area; licensing and validation requirements apply. The rolling plains of Quay County also offer seasonal hunting opportunities for deer, quail, pronghorn, Barbary sheep, ducks and doves, subject to applicable state regulations.
Route 66: History Along the Road
The historic Route 66 segment from Glenrio on the Texas border to two miles east of San Jon is 14.6 miles long. It passes through sites of former settlements along the now-abandoned Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad line. The locally maintained segment includes four creosote-treated timber bridges and several concrete culverts. The early roadbed and bridges remain largely unchanged. Historic Route 66 also runs through Tucumcari and San Jon and is considered a significant cultural resource in Quay County.
The region’s cultural history encompasses Indigenous hunting, ancient trade, Spanish settlement and ranching. Since the 1870s, ranching has played a major role in shaping the culture and economy of present-day Quay County. This broad sweep of history is also reflected in the county’s historic sites: places listed on the National Register of Historic Places include Historic Route 66, the Glenrio Historic District, the Blue Swallow Motel and the Metropolitan Park Bathhouse and Pool Historic District.
Museums and Discoveries in Tucumcari
Tucumcari has more than 40 murals, and a visitor map is available. Individual murals may change over time. The AM-1640 Talking Tour offers a self-guided way to learn about Route 66 attractions, motels, murals and museums. Check locally to see whether the station is broadcasting.
The Tucumcari Historical Museum is housed in an original 1903 school building and displays, among other things, Indigenous artifacts dating to around 12,000 BC. The Mesalands Community College Dinosaur Museum focuses on the Mesozoic Era and has more than 10,000 square feet of exhibit space. Its fossil exhibits range from small footprint casts to the skeleton of a 40-foot-long Torvosaurus. At the New Mexico Route 66 Museum, classic vehicles, photographs, a diner exhibit, a jukebox, historic gas pumps and signs tell the story of Route 66 in New Mexico.
The restored Union Station Depot in Tucumcari, built in 1926, also pairs a historic building with an engaging theme: it houses exhibits on railroad history and a GP-38 diesel locomotive simulator. If you’d like to add some activity to your explorations, Tucumcari also has the Robert Lumpkin Memorial Course, an 18-hole disc golf course with a total length of more than 7,000 feet.
A Stay with a Connection to History
The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993 and continues to offer overnight accommodations. Check current availability before booking. Staying here links you to one of the region’s historic sites, while museums, Route 66 and natural areas each offer their own reasons to visit.
Discover more destinations: Tucumcari, Sandoval, Torrance County, Cibola County, Rice County, Sierra County, Rio Arriba County, Colfax.
For the broader travel overview: New Mexico.
