Tucumcari leaders, volunteers seek temporary storage and restart for Route 66 museum ahead of centennial

A newly formed group seeking to revive the New Mexico Route 66 Museum asked the Tucumcari City Commission to allow museum artifacts to be returned to a room in the convention center for up to 30 days while the group works on nonprofit reinstatement and a longer-term plan.

Attorney and former registered agent for the Route 66 Museum, Jason Frost, told commissioners the museum’s prior board had vacated its space and that he and allied volunteers filed a lawsuit and obtained a restraining order in Clovis district court to prevent further removal of museum-owned property. Frost said he and the museum’s attorney have a draft agreement and expect the current board to appoint new members next week, who would resign and return material to municipal custody.

Frost said the group has been negotiating to lease the ALCO building and refurbish it for a combined New Mexico State Police Museum and the Route 66 Museum. He described the ALCO building work as contingent on roof, HVAC and electrical repairs and on legislative funding, and said the State Police Museum proponents have placed the project on a county funding eligibility list.

Johnny Meyer, who identified himself as owner of the Classical Gas Museum and a long-time Route 66 preservation volunteer, said he would serve as curator under a proposed contract between the New Mexico Route 66 Alliance (a nonprofit) and the city. Meyer described a plan to make the museum a regional educational draw with regular hours and exhibits aimed at school groups and tourists.

Commissioners and attendees raised legal and financial questions during the discussion. Matthew Benoerts, representing the convention center advisory board, said he and the board reviewed anti-donation restrictions in the state constitution and noted museums are not among enumerated exceptions; he asked who would pay for appraisal, separate metering and utilities if the city provided space below market rent. Frost and other supporters said a joint agreement with an established nonprofit or a fiscal agent could address those concerns.

Commissioner Rico and others questioned the museum’s past governance and finances. Frost acknowledged the previous nonprofit status had lapsed and that records, including attendance and bank-account details, were incomplete; he said the group would attempt to reinstate nonprofit status within 30 days and that if they failed they would remove the artifacts.

City staff and the commission discussed legal review. The commission’s attorney was asked to advise on whether a 30-day temporary storage arrangement could comply with state anti-donation law and other constraints; no motion was made and the item was handled as a discussion rather than an action item.

Supporters urged the commission to permit short-term storage so artifacts and items owned by the Chamber of Commerce and other lenders could be returned and preserved prior to the Route 66 centennial. Frost asked for the commission’s assistance in facilitating custody and return of property to owners while the group finalizes agreements and funding plans.

The commission did not adopt a formal motion or vote on storage during the meeting. Commissioners directed staff and the city attorney to review legal details and communicate with the museum organizers; Frost said his group would appear at the next relevant meeting with a formal proposal if possible.

The discussion combined legal, property- and governance-focused issues: an active court restraining order, questions about nonprofit status and ownership of artifacts, and a parallel proposal to refurbish the ALCO building pending legislative funding.