bluewater
County: Cibola
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Year Established: First established in 1880 as Agua Azul and then Mormontown, but faded and officially became Bluewater in 1896
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Year Abandoned: Semi Ghost Town
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Population:
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Location: State Highway 612, off I-40 on Historic Route 66
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About: Tucked by the Zuni Mountains in Cibola County, Bluewater is a nearly deserted town along historic Route 66. Named for the bright blue waters of Bluewater Lake, this small farming community once thrived but faded when Interstate 40 bypassed the old highway. Today, its crumbling homes and empty trading post stand as quiet reminders of New Mexico’s past.
In the 19th century, Navajo, Hispanic, and Anglo settlers came to this fertile valley, calling the lake “Blue Water” or Agua Azul. By the early 1900s, Bluewater was a lively stop on Route 66, serving farmers, ranchers, and travelers. Its trading post was the town’s hub, surrounded by simple homes and fields.
When I-40 rerouted traffic in the mid-20th century, Bluewater lost its spark. Younger residents left for cities, and the town slowly emptied, leaving buildings to decay. Unlike vanished mining towns, Bluewater’s story is one of quiet decline, capturing the loss of rural life. decline.
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Remains: A few adobe ruins, the old trading post and what is left of the Hotel & Inn
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Bluewater Motel & Inn
Remains of a motel with its classic neon sign, and its restaurant: The Bluewater Motel and Inn. The motel had 22 New Ultra Modern Units (Completed May 1957) with Air Conditioning, Wall to Wall Carpeting, Ceramic Tiled Baths (Tub & Shower Combinations). Telephone in Every Room, and TV Rooms. It also had a complete children's playground. The motel was one of the three motels owned by Nestor E. King and his wife.
Bowlin's Old Crater Trading Post
The Bowling Trading Post, was previously the Old Crater and then the Thunderbird Trading Post
This is one of the few remaining examples of genuine trading posts in this area. It dates back to 1936 and its legacy continues today. It sold rugs, dolls, jewelry, and pottery to the locals and tourists. The murals depict the natives for the tourists in bright colors. It was owned by Claude M. Bowlin who set up his first post on Route 66 here in 1936 and named it after a local volcanic crater.
Allens Garage
Allen John Payne opened his "Allen's Garage" on old U.S. Route 66 in January 1955
Quonset hut
This was originally the second building that housed Brock's Trading Post. Quonsets were prefabricated buildings made with curved sheet metal walls typical of the post-WW II period. Louise Rapaport née Brock (1923-2011) born in Connecticut and raised in Pasadena California moved to Bluewater in October 1947 and purchased the old Frontier Trading Post. It was the boom days of the post-WWII era and business was good. Louise's parents Otto and Mae moved out to Bluewater a few years later and became partners in the business. They renamed it Brock's Trading Post.