HISTORY OF CLINES CORNERS
Clines Corners est. 1945
 Detail of a 1927 Map of Route 66 showing Santa Rosa, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, the "loop through Santa Fe" and the shorter NM state Highway 6 through Clines Corners. Credits located on Associated Websites.
Roy E. Cline had an idea, give road weary travelers a place to stop, shop and eat. In 1934, his vision came to life with the opening of a filling station and café at the intersection of New Mexico State Highways 6 and 2. This placed his new business in between Moriarty and Santa Rosa New Mexico.
At that time Route 66 had a totally different alignment: it ran north towards Las Vegas and Santa Fe, in a wide arch between Santa Rosa and Albuquerque. But due to New Mexico politics, Route 66 would have a new, shorter path, bypassing the state capital. The sixty-nine miles of new road named New Mexico State Highway 6 would shave ninety miles off of Route 66. This new road was the opportunity that Roy needed. In 1937, AASHO approved the Santa Rosa Cutoff that shortened Route 66. New Mexico Highway 6 moved slightly north and was renamed Route 66/U.S. 285. This posed a problem for Roy Cline and he would have to move the gas station and restaurant to the new Route 66. He purchased the land northwest of the intersecting Highway and convinced map makers to place Clines Corners on the map. Today, eighty-one years later, travelers can find Clines Corners in the same spot that Roy Cline purchased in 1937. In 1939 Cline sold his property to S. Lynn Smith ("Smitty") who worked the place with his wife. The Smiths prospered and expanded their business. After Smitty's death in 1961 his wife Helen sold Clines Corners. Over the years, Clines Corners Retail Center has had 5 owners. 
CLINES CORNERS TODAY
Clines Corners Travel Center, 2018
In the 81 years that Clines Corners has been serving the travelers along I-40, the facility has grown to match the demands of our customers. Clines is no longer a little building and cafe, but has grown to 30,000 square feet of retail space, two convenience filling station, RV park, and restaurants. Clines Corners is committed to providing our travelers with the finest handmade Native American jewelry, amazing gifts, first class hospitality, and the best food in the Southwest.
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