Help Motel Safari’s Historic Route 66 Sign Shine Again

Hey everyone, Rich here, owner of Motel Safari in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Since 1959, Motel Safari’s roadside sign—with its unmistakable camel and rider—has welcomed travelers along Route 66. It’s part of this motel’s story, part of Tucumcari’s character, and part of the roadside history that makes traveling the Mother Road so special.

Now, it needs some help.

Decades of exposure to the New Mexico sun, wind, and weather have taken their toll. High winds damaged the camel-and-rider section, leaving a large hole. Some of the sign’s original lighting hasn’t worked in decades, and other historic lighting features have been lost over the years.

My goal is to restore this landmark while preserving the character that makes it Motel Safari.

What your donation will help fund

Working with SkyRite, the planned restoration includes:

Repairing or faithfully reproducing the damaged camel-and-rider section.

Replacing deteriorated or nonworking internal lighting with energy-efficient LEDs.

Restoring lighting on the sign’s three vertical poles, using historic photographs to guide the return of globe-style lights. The goal is to have white globes, with LEDs inside, on the tops and where I can control the color that is illuminated remotely.

Completing the fabrication, electrical work, and installation needed to bring the sign back to life.

Combining community support with preservation funding

I’m also applying for a historic-preservation grant to help fund this work. That funding has not yet been awarded. Donations through this campaign will help cover the restoration costs alongside any grant funds we receive.

I want to complete the project as soon as possible. The schedule will depend on securing the necessary funds, SkyRite’s availability, and coordinating lodging for their crew here at the motel. I’ll share updates as funding comes together and the work moves forward.

Keeping a little piece of Route 66 alive

Owning Motel Safari means caring for something that was here long before me—and doing my part to make sure it’s here for the travelers who come next.

This sign is more than the name of a business. It’s a familiar sight for our neighbors, a photo stop for road-trippers, and a welcome at the end of a long day’s drive. With Route 66 celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, restoring it feels especially meaningful.

If you’ve stayed with us, stopped to take a picture, enjoyed an evening beneath the neon, or simply love these classic roadside places, I hope you’ll consider helping.

Every donation helps move the restoration forward. Sharing this campaign helps, too.

Thank you for supporting Motel Safari, Tucumcari, and the history still standing along Route 66. Let’s give that camel and rider a brighter future!

Rich Havlik

Owner, Motel Safari

Tucumcari, New Mexico