Hilltop Lodge
5410 Central Ave. SW., Albuquerque, NMThe Hilltop Lodge is one of the best examples of a largely unaltered tourist court remaining along Route 66 in New Mexico. Constructed incrementally, as was common of small owner-operator tourist courts as discussed in the Multiple Property listing, the Hilltop Lodge began as a three unit residence for single men in 1941. In 1946, the owner E.H. Stopple completed the L-plan, hoping to take advantage of the increased tourism along Central Avenue. Shortly thereafter, a manager's residence and a new office were added. Because of this close association with the golden era of tourism along Route 66, the property is eligible under Criterion A. The property also qualifies under Criterion C for the way in which its setting, location, design and materials reflect early tourist court construction in New Mexico. In particular, the garage/lodging unit pattern, the spatial arrangement of the motel, office/residential and patio elements, and the continued use of early signage convey the historic significance of the property.
Local significance of the building:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.