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El Rancho Hotel & Motel facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
El Rancho Hotel
Nocturnal Hotel El Rancho.jpg
El Rancho Hotel at night
El Rancho Hotel & Motel is located in New Mexico
El Rancho Hotel & Motel
Location in New Mexico
El Rancho Hotel & Motel is located in the United States
El Rancho Hotel & Motel
Location in the United States
Location 100 E. 66th Ave.,
Gallup, New Mexico
Area 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built 1936 (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.

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!

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.

El Rancho Hotel interior
El Rancho Hotel lobby, where many stars walked
El Rancho Hotel & Motel, Gallup, NM, US (1)
A wide view of the El Rancho Hotel

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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hotel El Rancho para niños