Oh hay, you’re going to want to add this Route 66 roadside attraction to your road trip itinerary: the Ranch Kitchen Turquoise Horses in Gallup, New Mexico. And you heard that straight from the horse’s mouth!
This pair of big turquoise horses flank a sign for the restaurant that formerly stood at that location, The Ranch Kitchen. The Ranch Kitchen opened in Gallup in 1954 as the adjoining restaurant to the now demolished Thunderbird Lodge, a large Route 66 motel that featured a heated pool and patios.
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The restaurant served a variety of menus throughout the years, featuring steaks, Italian food, American classics, and local New Mexican favorites.
The motel was torn down in 2007 and the restaurant closed a few years after, but the signs, and horses and sign remain. Look up to see some big cookware, like a frying pan and spatula. And look down to find these colorful horses!
Say “Yay” and not “neigh” and gallop to New Mexico to check out this fun roadside attraction.
More photos of the Ranch Kitchen Turquoise Horses in Gallup, New Mexico
Visiting Gallup, New Mexico on your Route 66 road trip? Check out these other nearby roadside attractions: the Gallup Cultural Center; the Dude Man Cowboy Muffler Man; and the Giant Pottery, Rug Sculpture, and Turquoise Jewelry Sculpture at Perry Null Trading Company.
Ranch Kitchen Turquoise Horses
Address: 3001 U.S. Rt. 66, Gallup, NM 87301
Cost: Free to See
Hours: Always Visible