La Puerta Lodge

La Puerta Lodge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
NM State Register of Cultural Properties
The motel in 2010
Location	9710 Central Ave. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Coordinates	35.072547°N 106.540106°W / 35.072547; -106.540106
Built	1949
Architectural style	Southwest Vernacular
NRHP reference No.	97001596
NMSRCP No.	1681
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	January 9, 1998
Designated NMSRCP	May 9, 1997

The La Puerta Lodge is a historic motel on Central Avenue (former U.S. Route 66) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is notable as one of the best-preserved Route 66 era motels remaining in the city. It was built in 1949 by Ralph Smith and was one of the easternmost Albuquerque motels, located over 6 miles (9.7 km) from the city center. The property was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1997 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

The motel consists of three one-story buildings with Pueblo Revival elements. The building on the west side of the property is long and narrow, containing eight motel rooms interspersed with covered parking spaces. A continuous portal (portico) supported by wooden columns with ornamental woodwork extends the full length of the building. There is also an ornately carved wooden door (the titular la puerta) on the front corner facing Central Avenue. The building to the east is a small office and manager's residence, and there is another small residential building at the rear of the property.