While Tucumcari at night showed off a nice dash of neon color, Tucumcari by day was a different story.

This town is just one more example of what the creation of Americas Interstate system while good for the broader the economy and the lifeblood of many businesses today – did to many small towns.

Tucumcari clearly lived and breathed on Route 66, which brought people and money through the town. A raft of small, family-run motels once thrived up and down the highway, along the towns entire length. Some are still in business, but a number have already gone and for others it may just be a matter of time.

Along the towns main street, these disused motels and other businesss are a sad sight. The buildings are slowly decaying, with grass growing in their forecourts, swimming pools empty except for sickly green, trash-filled puddles.

Almost the only hotels that seem to thrive here, as in any small or medium-sized town on Route 66 so far from Santa Monica to here, close to the Texas Panhandle are the big chains, Motel 6, Econo Lodge, Days Inn and others. These chains have set up shop by the off-ramps of Interstate 40, so travellers dont even need to go into town.