Villa de Cubero Trading Post

About

Established in 1937 following Route 66's realignment, Villa de Cubero Trading Post became a roadside destination for travelers crossing western New Mexico. Local merchant Sidney Gottlieb developed the complex alongside Wallace and Mary Gunn, combining a trading post, gasoline station, tourist court, and nearby café. The trading post served surrounding communities, exchanging groceries and other merchandise for pottery, livestock, and wool. An entire section showcased pottery created by artisans from the nearby Acoma and Laguna Pueblos. The adjoining tourist court featured duplex cabins with attached garages, offering convenient overnight accommodations for motorists. Vintage advertisements promoted the property as the Gateway to Acoma, highlighting its modern conveniences and extensive traveler services.

Villa de Cubero continues to welcome Route 66 travelers as a convenience store and gasoline station, while remnants of its original tourist accommodations preserve the property's roadside history. The former café and motel are no longer operating, but surviving buildings offer visitors a glimpse of the complex's earlier appearance. The property also carries an intriguing literary legend: Ernest Hemingway reportedly stayed here while writing The Old Man and the Sea. However, Hemingway scholars have found no supporting evidence that he wrote the novel in New Mexico. Today, Villa de Cubero remains a historic roadside stop where travelers can explore the legacy of New Mexico's trading posts and early automobile tourism

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