Arrow Motel

The Arrow Motel was torn down the same time as the Speedway Laundromat, mentioned in the post for 30 September 2018.

It probably wasn’t built until after Riverside was paved in the late 1950s. [1] Then, it’s likely it grew in phases. The basic rectangular building was stuccoed. The shake roof and decorative tiles could have been added later.

To the north was a small, octagonal building that looked like it had been a food stand of some king. There was a small window on the street side that could have been used for sales. Donna Roy said El Paragua began as a roadside stand in 1963 "where the Arrow Motel now stands." [2]

Behind the restaurant was a long low structure which may have been added later. Then, west of that was a home built in a style that became popular nationally in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Like everything in New Mexico, the Arrow Motel changed with conditions. What might have been the office was converted to shops. One was last used by Becky’s Styling Salon.

Beyond the office, another building was added on the south side with stucco that was only a near match.

It’s purpose remains a mystery. The wide opening suggests vehicles were able to enter it. Perhaps it was added after the motel closed. I’m sure someone out there knows more about the history of these buildings.

End Notes
1. Kevin Huelsmann. "The Villages of Española." Rio Grande Sun. 29 May 2008.

2. Donna Roy. "In Española, a Restaurant and a Tradition Are Reborn." The Santa Fe New Mexican. 26 July 1992. 9.