Ceela McElveny

By Monika Dziamka co-editor of The Roadrunner e-newsletter.

What’s a birthday wish you have for Route 66?

My birthday wish for Route 66 is that we continue to preserve and revitalize its historic buildings while finding new ways to bring them to life. Route 66 has always symbolized movement, possibility and progress, and I hope it continues to evolve and inspire new generations. But progress doesn’t have to mean leaving the past behind. The road’s history is part of what makes it special, and its historic signs, buildings, diners and motels tell stories that deserve to be protected and shared.

I hope Albuquerque continues to embrace that balance, honoring the places and traditions that have defined Route 66 while welcoming new businesses, creative ideas and experiences that keep it vibrant. Route 66 is part of our community’s identity, woven into the everyday lives and personal memories of generations of residents. I hope the next 100 years bring countless new memories for the people who call Albuquerque home and the travelers who come here to experience it. 

What is one of your favorite spots along Route 66 in Albuquerque?

Downtown Albuquerque has always been a special place to me. I grew up in a rural part of the North Valley, and Downtown was my family’s destination for shopping. It felt like the big city to me, bustling with people on the sidewalks in their suits. J.C. Penney’s (now the Gizmo Building) was where my parents bought my Girl Scout uniform and my little brother’s Cub Scout uniform each year. Afterward, we would stop at the lunch counter at Woolworth’s (now Bourbon & Boots) for a sandwich or the soda fountain at Lindy’s Diner for an ice cream sundae. To an 8-year-old, it was the height of sophistication! Downtown has continued to hold its appeal for me as an adult, whether I'm attending a book reading at the KiMo, a concert at the Sunshine Theater or the growers’ market at Robinson Park. I have worked in Downtown for the past nine years, something that the 8-year-old version of me would have thought was pretty cool.

Describe a memory you have of Route 66.

As an Albuquerque native, Route 66 and Central Avenue figure into so many of my memories. I remember going to the State Fair every September, spending summer days shopping at the flea market, fueling my four years at the University of New Mexico with the green chile stew from the Frontier Restaurant, seeing dozens of great concerts at the El Rey Theater, and spending many Christmas Eves wandering among the luminarias in Old Town. 

But my favorite memory of Route 66 was the morning my daughter was born at Presbyterian Hospital, right on Route 66, the “Mother Road.” She arrived on an October morning during the Balloon Fiesta. I’ll never forget holding her when she was just a few hours old and looking out the window of our fifth-floor hospital room as hundreds of hot air balloons drifted toward Downtown. It felt as though they were welcoming her to the world, and it made me appreciate how fortunate she would be to grow up in Albuquerque.

Tell us about your work with Visit ABQ. Are there any special moments, behind-the-scenes details, experiences, memories, or anything else you can share with us related to any particular event, moment, or anything else connected to your work?

As part of Visit Albuquerque’s efforts to promote the Centennial, I helped develop two TV commercials showcasing what makes Albuquerque’s stretch of Route 66 unique. One spot focused on what we called the kitsch of Route 66 – the neon lights, classic diners and quirky roadside charm. The other spot captured the soul of Route 66, highlighting our city’s history, culture and scenic beauty. 

Bringing those stories to life was a privilege, and they meant some long shooting days. I remember filming the lights of Albuquerque from Nine Mile Hill at 10 p.m., a scene around the jukebox inside the 66 Diner at midnight, classic cars lined up outside the KiMo Theatre at 2 a.m., and driving a convertible under the neon arch at Central and 66th Street at 5 a.m. Those spots have run more than 7 million times over the past 18 months, sharing our city’s Route 66 story with people around the country and inviting travelers to experience the Centennial here. It’s rewarding to know that this work is introducing people to the places, history and people that make Albuquerque’s Route 66 so memorable.