Budville Trading.jpg

Budville Trading Company

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Location Details

The GPS coordinates for the historic Budville Trading Company (also known as the Budville Trading Post) in New Mexico are 35.069261, -107.525735.

Another commonly cited mapping reference for the property is 35.070042, -107.525883.

Address: HC 77 Box 1A, Seama, NM 87007

County: Cibola County

Access: Located approximately 1 mile west of Interstate 40 at Exit 104, roughly 46 miles west of Albuquerque.

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Budville Trading Co. Click to open side panel for more information is an iconic, albeit notorious, abandoned roadside complex situated along U.S. Route 66 in the tiny community of Budville, New Mexico. Located between Grants and Albuquerque, the property serves as a crumbling monument to the golden age of American highway travel—and to a darker, more violent history.

  • A Roadside Empire: Established in 1928 by Howard Neal "Bud" Rice and his wife Aurora "Flossie" Rice, the business grew from a simple service station into a sprawling trading post, grocery store, wrecker service, and tourist court. Bud Rice wielded significant local power, serving as Justice of the Peace and establishing what many considered speed traps for passing motorists.

  • The "Bloodville" Murders: The site is infamous for a shocking, unsolved double homicide that occurred on November 18, 1967. Bud Rice and his 82-year-old clerk, Blanche Brown, were shot and killed during a robbery by a gunman who also tied up Flossie before fleeing with cash and jewelry.

  • Current Status: Following Bud's death, Flossie continued to operate the trading post until she passed away in 1979. The business officially closed after an impressive 66-year run, driven in part by Interstate 40 bypassing the area. Despite a few unsuccessful attempts to restore and reopen it over the years, the building remains permanently shuttered.

  • Pop Culture Connection: The trading post left a mark on pop culture as a visual inspiration for the animated Pixar film Cars, which features a fictional abandoned gas station in Radiator Springs named the "Budville Trading Company."

  • The Iconic Sign: Prominently featured here is the towering, weathered neon sign proclaiming "BUDVILLE TRADING COMPANY." Though the neon glass tubing is missing or broken, the rusted metal box structure and faded lettering still stand out front over a long-empty gas pump island.