Part of Our Route 66 Everytown Collection – Budville Edition
Step into one of the Mother Road's most chilling legends with this ultra-soft unisex jersey tee, expertly crafted from 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton. Featuring "Site of the Bloodville Murders," this design honors Budville, New Mexico: a once-bustling trading post that became an infamous, real-life crime scene on Historic Route 66.
Perfect for true crime enthusiasts, seasoned Route 66 travelers and collectors of our exclusive Route 66 Everytown Collection, ensuring one of the highway's darkest stories is never forgotten.
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About Budville, New Mexico: The Dark History of "Bloodville"
Along a quiet, windswept stretch of Route 66 west of Albuquerque, the small settlement of Budville holds one of the most haunting tales on the Mother Road.
Once a lively stop for motorists and locals alike, Budville was best known for the Budville Trading Post, a popular family-run business offering fuel, groceries and genuine roadside hospitality to travelers crossing the desert. For decades, it was a comforting beacon along the highway, until one day, tragedy struck.
The 1967 Tragedy
Budville’s reputation took a dark turn in 1967 when the trading post’s owner, H.N. “Bud” Rice, and his employee, Blanche Brown, were murdered during a robbery. The crime was so brutal that locals and Route 66 travelers started calling the town “Bloodville.”
The investigation was a mess of dead ends. One suspect was held for 18 days before being cleared by an airtight alibi and mismatched fingerprints. A second suspect eventually went to trial but was acquitted. The killings were never truly settled, and the town’s "friendly stop" image never recovered. What was once a reliable roadside landmark became a grim reminder of how fast things can go south.
Budville Today
Today, Budville is little more than a ghostly remnant of its former self. The abandoned Budville Trading Post still stands, its weathered façade and fading signage serving as silent witnesses to both prosperity and loss.
For Route 66 historians and explorers, Budville represents the darker undercurrent of the Mother Road’s long story - one not only of neon lights and classic cars, but also of danger, mystery, and the human stories left in the dust.
Standing amid its ruins, one can almost hear the whisper of the desert wind carrying the memory of that fateful night: a haunting reminder that even along America’s most beloved highway, tragedy could strike unexpectedly.
Product Features:
- 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton for premium softness
- Side seams for added structure and durability
- Tear-away label for comfort
- Classic crew neckline with a flattering unisex fit - true-to-size for all day comfort (see size chart for details)
- Fulfilled in the USA
Care Instructions:
- Machine wash: cold (max 90°F / 30°C)
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Non-chlorine bleach as needed
- Iron or steam: medium heat
- Do not dry clean
