Waking up in The Mystic’s 1950s-themed room is a trip. The bedside radio clock, kitschy cowboy tabletop lamp, and other throwback decor could make a drowsy guest at the Santa Fe roadside motel believe in time travel—in this case, to the heyday of America’s legendary Route 66. But since this is 2024, the popularity of this special, nostalgia-steeped room in the renovated and renamed Silver Saddle Motel proves that the motor lodge is once again cool.
We’ve known that for a while here in New Mexico, where roadside culture shines like its neon-lit signs. Mom-and-pop diners, curio shops, tourist attractions, and unique motels appeal as much to modern travelers as they did to the millions of Americans who drove this fabled highway during its prime. “People are wanting an adventure, that sensation, which is devoted to Route 66 and its related Americana. “They’re flocking to these motels because of the unfamiliarity, the quirky. People want to have an experience when they travel.”
