MORIARTY, NM
Moriarty is a friendly little community centrally located on Historic Route 66. Its inhabitants enjoy the high desert climate of the beautiful Estancia Valley, located in the heart of New Mexico. Surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains that turn a rich lapis at twilight, Moriarty’s sunsets are an artist’s dream. Roadrunners and rattlesnakes thrive side by side with honest, hard-working, and caring people.
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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MORIARTY
Moriarty, New Mexico, offers a mix of Americana and Southwestern charm. Its historical, natural, and recreational attractions include vintage car museums, iconic diners, and aviation landmarks. Moriarty is a little time capsule of Route 66’s history. This page introduces you to must-see attractions, unique experiences, and local gems to make your Route 66 adventure unforgettable.
MORIARTY’S RETRO MOTEL
There are half a dozen hotels in Moriarty, but the Sunset Motel offers the retro vibe you’re looking for on Route 66. You may have seen it in movies or on television. Recently, it was a set piece in “Hell or Highwater” and “Poker Face.”
- Sunset Motel – Built in 1959, the Sunset Motel is the only remaining original Route 66 motel in New Mexico still owned by the original family. The Pogue family stewards this mid-century motel with loving care. Plus – an AH-mazing neon sign.
Retro 66 Restaurants
- Chili Hills Restaurant – Casual roadhouse atmosphere.
- Sierra Blanca Brewing – A fun place to try a flight of beers and taste the variety of beers made here. Check out the outdoor area and beer garden.
- Lisa’s Grill – Hidden at the back of Lisa’s Truck Center, this is a popular stop right on Route 66! Try the Red Rooster for breakfast – chicken fried steak, eggs and red chile!
Museums
- Lewis Auto & Toy Museum – An 8-acre, indoor/outdoor museum with an extraordinary collection of over 700 unrestored and restored vehicles, plus 1000 antique toy trucks, trains, and tractors! Open by appointment. The phone number is on gate to inquire.
- Southwest Soaring Museum – See exhibits and an impressive collection of gliders, vintage sailplanes, and flight simulators in a hangar-like building. The Albuquerque Soaring Club calls the Moriarty Airport home.
- Moriarty Historical Museum – Established in 1974, this museum shares the history of Moriarty, established in 1902. The town is named after a homesteader from Iowa, Michael Timothy Moriarty, settled in the area in the 1880s. The town thrived as a stop on the Santa Fe Central Railroad and grew as a stop along Route 66.
Attractions
- Country Friends Antiques – Formerly the El Comedor Restaurant. Above the building is a neon masterpiece, a phantasmagoric Rotosphere, the only one on all of Route 66. Currently not spinning, but a sight to see.
- Sal’s Whiting Bros. Gas Station – Authentic Whiting Bros station with a restored neon sign. Great photo-op. Used as a location in several Hollywood movies.
- Wildlife West Nature Park – 12 miles west of Moriarty near Edgewood NM. This nature park and zoo feature more than 20 species of local wildlife in natural environments. Also on site is a classic Valentine Diner. Hours: March 9th – November 1st, 10am – 6pm and November 2rd – March 7th, 12pm – 4pm.
- Schwebach Farms – a Family Farming tradition for six generations so far. Time your visit to coincide with U-pick events (flowers or produce) or attend their annual Farm-to-Table dinner.
- McCall’s Pumpkin Patch – SEASONAL – Dedicated to families and teaching kids where their food comes from. They farm 300 acres, but grow 50 acres of pumpkins, which are individually picked by farm visitors for six weeks every fall during their harvest extravaganza. Enjoy the haunted house, corn maze, Pumpkin Express train, and a dozen more activities.