City Lights Up Sign Park at Route 66 Visitor Center

 Last night, Albuquerque City Council President Klarissa J. Peña and the Department of Arts & Culture flipped the switch on Neon @ Nine Mile Hill, a new park featuring a collection of vintage roadside signs that reflect the style and culture of the Mother Road. 

Visitors can now experience the glow of these restored signs at Route 66 Visitor Center, where the 2026 State of the City celebration will be held on August 15. 

"We started this over 30+ years ago and it was a vision from the community," said Councilor Peña of the center. "These people have never given up on the dream of this visitor center."

Neon @ Nine Mile Hill includes new landscaping, accessible walking paths, seating areas, and a collection of historic Route 66 signs on loan from a local collector. Together the signs recall the bold architecture, roadside businesses, and neon legacy that helped define our state’s place along America's most famous highway.

The new space complements the Route 66 Visitor Center, which reopened earlier this year following upgrades. Inside guests can view Centennial Roots, a photography exhibition celebrating the enduring spirit of Route 66 through the lens of New Mexico photographers Gabriella Campos, Jessica “Jessree” Roybal, and Nathaniel Tetsuro Paolinelli.

"Route 66 Visitor Center continues to grow as a place where history, culture, and community come together," said Acting Director of the Department of Arts & Culture Diego Lucero. “Neon @ Nine Mile Hill and Centennial Roots invite visitors to experience Route 66 through the landmarks and memories that have shaped Albuquerque for generations."

The Route 66 Visitor Center is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit the Route 66 Visitor Center webpage. 

NOTE TO MEDIA: Access b-roll here.