ROUTE 66 6 WIL D BURR OS Hackberry 4 5 Valentine M R. D’Z ROUTE 66 DINE R Cavern Grotto at Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn 7 Seligman 9 8 Williams 3 2 Kingman Oatman 1 RO UT E 66 Cool Springs Station BEAR IZONA W ILDLIFE PAR K APPROXIMATELY 320 MILES Stop 1 3 PHOTO OPS IN OATMAN Ghost towns aren’t known for being lively, but Oatman thrives on staged gunfights, roaming burros and its Old Western vibe. Get your camera ready with these three top spots for photos. Wild Burros: Wandering freely throughout the streets of Oatman, these free-range creatures are the descendants of burros brought to the area by miners during gold rush days. Buy some pellets or carrots at one of the shops and then snap a selfie with your newly made friend. Dollar Bill-Plastered Walls: Inside the historic Oatman Hotel (famous for being the place where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard honey-mooned) is the “Dollar Bill Bar,” a watering hole with walls covered in $1 bills. Strike a pose against one of the walls as a backdrop. Outlaw Gunslingers: Every day at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., make your way to the main street to watch the Oatman Ghost Rider Gunfighters as they put on a rough-and-tumble shootout show blending history, theatrics and comedy for the whole family. Stop 2 COOL SPRINGS STATION Originally built in the 1920s as a camp and service station for motorists along Route 66, this iconic stone structure outside Oatman had eventually fallen into a state of deep disrepair, a forgotten ruin in the vast desert. Today, this stop has been revitalized to its former glory days, and the addition of the Cool Springs Museum now tells the story of the Mother Road through memorabilia and historic photographs. Stop 3 A COUPLE HOURS IN KINGMAN Take a break from driving and pull over in the city of Kingman, where you’ll find the Powerhouse Visitor Center . Originally the Desert Power & Water Co. Electric Power Plant in 1907, now this center is a hub for Route 66 history, housing the Arizona Route 66 Museum , Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum and the Carlos Elmer Gallery , featuring scenic highway photography. At the Mohave Museum of History and Arts , immerse yourself in the stories of Arizona’s people through-out the centuries—American Indians, ranchers, railroaders, missionaries, soldiers and settlers— and their role in the evolution of the area. Before hitting the road, scoot into a booth at Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner , a teal and pink Americana dreamscape serving up comforting classics like chicken-fried steak, burgers, floats and sundaes— best enjoyed while listening to golden oldies. Stop 4 HACKBERRY GENERAL STORE Vintage gas pumps, road signs and a collection of old cars will signal that you’ve made it to this time capsule-meets-convenience store just outside Hackberry. Head inside the ramshackle building (where the walls are plastered with license plates and Route 66 memorabilia) to grab a cold soda for sipping on the outside chairs. Stop 5 GO ON SAFARI: KEEPERS OF THE WILD NATURE PARK Let someone else do the driving while you do all the sightseeing at this nature park in Valentine. On the 1.25-hour guided safari tour, you’ll ride in an open-air vehicle through the 175-acre canyon and get within close range of more than 130 rescued animals, from lions and primates to wolves and bobcats. Stop 6 DINE 220 FEET UNDERGROUND For a lunchtime stop, make a reservation at the Cavern Grotto at Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn in Peach Springs and take the elevator 21 stories underground. Here, in a cool 56-degree cavern, you’ll sit atop an elevated wooden platform with views of the surrounding Oatman 34 VISITARIZONA.COM KINGMAN OFFICE OF TOURISM
Arizona Official State Travel Guide Arizona 2020-21: Page 34
