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By Larry Baker Source: KRQE News (Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. ) ‘Build it and they will come.’ It’s not just a memorable line from a movie. Consider a weed-choked vacant lot on Albuquerque’s West Mesa. Beginning in 2021, construction crews transformed barren acreage into a multi-million-dollar, two-story architectural masterpiece. And then, a year later, a parade of community leaders and politicians celebrated with a marathon ribbon cutting ceremony complete with music, food, specially designed t-shirts, and a host of political and community leaders. Among the 36 guest speakers, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “This is a celebration bigger than the West Side, bigger than Albuquerque. This is about the Land of Enchantment and about the story of America,” Mayor Keller proclaimed. And, State Senator Michael Padilla. “You’re going to be able to tell your children, your babies, your grandbabies, your great grandbabies, ‘I was there the day that they opened the Route 66 Visitor Center’. I’m so excited,” Senator Padilla said. Welcome to Albuquerque’s newest government attraction, the Route 66 Visitor Center. But don’t be deceived by the enthusiastic ribbon-cutting crowd. Once the hoopla died down and the politicians headed home, reality set in. It has been three years since that ribbon-cutting celebration. However, as a tourist destination, the project has been a bust. Today, the parking lot is empty, the gates are locked, and the building is closed. Over the last decade, city, county, and state politicians have poured more than $13,000,000 into a facility plagued by mismanagement, financial improprieties, and procurement violations. In fact, from the very beginning, the Route 66 Visitor Center had all the tell-tale signs of a pricey government venture gone wrong. “This was probably not the best use of public funds, but officials pushed forward with it anyway,” said Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas. Read full story at: https://www.krqe.com/news/larry-barker/politicians-sink-13m-in-closed-new-mexico-tourist-attraction/ See article from Route 66 New Mexico magazine, Spring/Summer issue regarding this subject: Association Meets with West Central Community Development Group in Albuquerque to Discuss Proposed Route 66 Visitors Center  Left to right: Rendering of Route 66 Visitor Center; locked gate at the Route 66 Visitor Center; Route 66 Visitor Center
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