Murder In Amarillo At A Famous Route 66 Landmark; Cowboy Motel

Route 66 is a big part of Amarillo's history. But you'd never guess it just from driving by the old landmarks today. Most of them have fallen victim to the ravages of time and change. To offer a perfect example of this: one of our once-iconic Route 66 landmarks was the scene of a homicide over the weekend.

Murder At The Cowboy Motel In Amarillo Texas

According to a release from the Amarillo Police Department, they responded to an aggravated assault at Cowboy Motel Sunday evening. The male victim had suffered gunshot wounds, and died at the scene from his injuries.

A suspect was apprehended and booked in the Potter County Jail for murder.

It's a shame to see how far the Cowboy Motel has fallen from Americana grace.

The Cowboy Motel's History Along Route 66

You'd hardly believe how the Cowboy Motel once looked as compared to how it is now. The iconic cowboy sign is something that Mother Road enthusiasts have made into one of those "must get a photo there" stops.

The original design hearkens back to the bygone era of the motor courts.

It almost reminds you of another one of Amarillo's once-illustrious Route 66 destinations that is now also in a state of disrepair: the Ranchotel. The layout of the two are similar, as both were motor courts along the iconic strip of highway.

Some sources say that the motel originally began in the 1940s. Back then it was the Del Camino Motel. Interestingly enough, an old postcard refers to it as both a court and a motel.

In the 1950s, it became Cowboy Motel, and the iconic sign went up.

Another Relic From A Different Time

The Cowboy Motel suffered a similar fate to most motels and motor courts that got bypassed by the interstate. They were largely forgotten about, and their glory days live in the memories of those who were fortunate enough to have been in the right place at the right time.