06/05/2026
The Abandoned Friends Inn Motel located on Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
Friends Inn was the former site of the historic Sahara Sands Motel and Restaurant. It was Built in 1959 and the location was a notable stop on Route 66 for decades.
Back when it was the Sahara Sands Motel in 1959, the motel and restaurant were built by the Whittington family, who were prominent owners of several other local motels. Visitors would stay, swim in the pool, and have a wholesome meal during their trips. The restaurant was named Joe’s Back in the Day Diner.
The large, notable neon sign at the Sahara Sands was famously moved from a motel of the same name in Amarillo, Texas, which was undergoing a name change.
For many years, the property operated as a Best Western, holding this designation until 1999. In its heyday, the Sahara Sands featured 32 units with amenities like wall-to-wall carpet, tub-shower combinations, “refrigerated air,” and “Long Boy” or King Size beds. The on-site restaurant was a well-known local hangout.