Grants Camp, NM
Yes, Grants was initially called Grants Camp. It was established as a railroad construction camp in the 1880s, named after the three Grant brothers who were contracted to build a section of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad through the area.
Grants was the carrot capital of the Southwest. Railroad cars full of carrots were shipped around the country. Uranium was discovered in 1950 and turned Grants into a boom town. Old Route 66 is now Santa Fe Avenue as you travel through Grants.
For our recommendations, see below or Click Here for a quick view of Grants.
WHAT TO SEE IN GRANTS
This is an area of rich diversity, including dinosaur diggings, volcanoes with magnificent lava flows, desert-like areas, high, rugged mountains, lakes, and lush valleys. Key attractions include El Malpais National Monument, the Ice Cave, and Bandera Volcano, and the New Mexico Mining Museum. Other notable places to visit are El Morro National Monument, La Ventana Natural Arch, and majestic Mount Taylor.
GRANTS’ RETRO MOTELS
There are a dozen chain hotels and motels in Grants, but the Sands Motel is the retro motel on Route 66.
- Sands Motel – Built in the 50’s, and still operating, the motel’s famous Googie neon sign is a mid-century giant. The motel is ½ block north of Route 66.
- Southwest Motel – Built in 1950 and features a lot of neon and a four star Tripadviser rating.
- Lavaland Motel – Located at 416 E. Santa Fe Avenue, this 1940s motel is no longer open.
- Zia Motel – Located at 411 E. Santa Fe Avenue. Built in 1941, no longer open. The sign is in disrepair but still standing.
- Bluewater Motel – Built in 1957, this motel is 9.5 miles west of Milan, which is west of Grants on historic 66. It closed down but still has a huge sign.
Retro Restaurants on 66
- Junkyard On 66 Brewery (NEW) – 1436 E. Historic 66 (east of town on old 66) Craft beer and good BBQ sandwiches. Cool interior with vintage cars and parts.
- El Cafecito – A solid 39 years in the same location with 113 seats plus a banquet room. On the corner of Nimitz and Santa Fe Ave. on historic Rt. 66. New Mexican breakfast, lunch, and dinners made fresh daily at reasonable prices.
- Gabby’s Diner – Relatively new (2009) for Route 66, located at 1300 Motel Dr, Milan, NM A few miles west of Grants. This 1950s style stainless steel diner – very retro.
- Roarin’ Twenties Speakeasy – Only the sign remains at 218 W. Santa Fe Avenue.
- Monte Carlo – Built 1941 but now closed. Located at 721 W Santa Fe Avenue.
- Pat’s Lounge – Closed but the neon sign remains at 304 W Santa Fe Ave
Theatres
- West Theater – Built in 1959 and still showing movies. Their big, beautiful neon sign is at 118 W. Santa Fe Avenue.
- Lux Theater – The colorful neon sign is still standing at 1018 W Santa Fe Avenue. The Lux Theatre opened in 1937, replacing an earlier theater that closed in 1930. The new theater could hold 518 viewers. It was one of several theaters in town by the 1950s. In 1967, the Lux theatre reopened after remodeling but closed in 1970 after a boiler fire.
Attractions
- Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru Arch Sign – 620 W Santa Fe Avenue, Downtown. This 18-foot landmark features neon lights, painted flames, and a classic shield design, offering travelers a unique drive-thru photo opportunity along historic Route 66.
- New Mexico Mining Museum – 100 Iron Avenue, (Just off Santa Fe Avenue, Just off Route 66. Go underground in the Mining Museum and see a collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the Uranium mining boom. Take an elevator down to immerse yourself in an underground simulated mine.
- El Malpais National Monument – I-40 Exit 85 to the Visitor’s Center. The Badlands. Explore incredible geologic features like lava flows, cinder cones, lava tube caves, and sandstone bluffs.
- Cibola County Museum – 525 W High Street, located in the Grants Library.
- Double Six Gallery – 1001 W Santa Fe Avenue, Art & History