El Rancho Hotel, From The Heyday of Hollywood in Gallup, NM

Back in the heyday of Hollywood’s western movies, film crew and actors stayed at Hotel El Rancho while they filmed around nearby rocky landscapes. 

It was built in 1937, and was the ideal lodging for a few decades, and a popular stop along Route 66. 

By 1987 it was saved from the wrecking ball by local residents and reservationists. Martin Ortega purchased it and restored it to its original glory. 

We spent one night here on a westward roadtrip. We especially enjoyed looking at all the vintage photos of all the stars that have stayed here, including Errol Flynn, John Wayne, Olivia de Haviland, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Ronald Reagan, and many more.

There is not much to do in this town, but it’s a fun overnight stop. Just a little west of town there is Window Rock, a sandstone arch, but also the capital of the Navajo Nation. There is a statue as a tribute to the Navajo Code Talkers and their contribution during World War II.