FREBRUARY 17
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, is undergoing $6 million in renovation.
Shane Ortega, grandson of long-time El Rancho owner Armond Ortega (who died in 2014) bought out his aunt and uncle's share in 2018.
R.E. "Griff" Griffith, brother of the famous movie director D.W. Griffith, opened El Rancho in 1937 and encouraged film makers to shoot in the area (and, of course, stay at his hotel). And they did.
Many stars stayed there including John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck and Humphrey Bogart.
The place started declining after I-40 by-passed it and Route 66. Armond Ortega bought it in 1986 for $300,000 and spent another $300,000 restoring it.
We stayed there one night on our retirement trip across Route 66 from end-to-end in 2006. Sadly, we stayed in the newer part instead of the older one (next time the older one), but had the good fortune to meet and have a nice talk with Mr. Ortega in the bar. Such a gentleman.
First Class All the Way. --RoadDog
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