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El Rancho Hotel & Motel facts for kids
El Rancho Hotel
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![]() El Rancho Hotel at night
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Location | 100 E. 66th Ave., Gallup, New Mexico |
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Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
Built | 1936 |
Architect | Joe Massagalia |
Architectural style | Rustic |
MPS | Downtown Gallup MRA |
NRHP reference No. | 87002222 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | January 14, 1988 |
The El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, is a famous historic hotel. It was built by R.E. “Griff” Griffith, whose brother was the well-known film director D. W. Griffith. Both brothers helped bring early movie productions to the area.
The hotel is located on the old U.S. Route 66, a very famous road. Because of this, many Hollywood movie stars stayed there. The hotel has a unique look, with a large entrance and a balcony. It features brick, stone, and wood, giving it a rustic, fantasy-like feel. Inside, the lobby has a huge fireplace and two stairways made from split logs. Above the main entrance, a neon sign reads: “Charm of Yesterday, Convenience of Tomorrow.”
The hotel is also part of the Trails of the Ancients Byway. This is one of the special scenic roads in New Mexico.
Contents
Hotel History: A Movie Star Home
The El Rancho Hotel first opened its doors in 1937. It was designed to be a comfortable place for movie crews and actors to stay while filming nearby. The staff even received special training from the famous Fred Harvey Company, known for its excellent service.
Over time, when Interstate 40 was built, fewer people traveled on Route 66. This caused the hotel to become less popular. However, a man named Armand Ortega bought the hotel at an auction. He worked hard to bring it back to its original glory. The Ortega family has a long history of working with Native American art and jewelry. They have also managed shops and services in many National Parks across the United States.
Famous People Who Stayed Here
Many well-known actors and actresses from Hollywood stayed at the El Rancho Hotel. Imagine walking the same halls as these stars!
- Ronald Reagan
- Jane Wyman
- Spencer Tracy
- Kirk Douglas
- Katharine Hepburn
- Jackie Cooper
- John Wayne
- Alan Ladd
Movies Filmed at El Rancho Hotel
The El Rancho Hotel was often used as a base for many movies. Film crews would stay here while shooting scenes in the beautiful New Mexico landscape.
Here are some of the films that used the hotel as their headquarters:
- The Bad Man (1940)
- Sundown (1941)
- The Desert Song (1942)
- Song of the Nile (1944)
- Four Faces West (1947)
- Colorado Territory (1948)
- Streets of Laredo (1948)
- Rocky Mountain (1950)
- Ace in the Hole (1951 film) (1951) (also known as The Big Carnival)
- New Mexico (1950)
- Fort Defiance (1950)
- Raton Pass (1951)
- Fort Massacre (1957)
- A Distant Trumpet (1963)
- The Hallelujah Trail (1964)
- Bottom of the World (2017)
See also
In Spanish: Hotel El Rancho para niños