TheRoute-66.com is reader-supported. Oatman's climate is high-desert, which is arid, dry and thanks to its altitude, cooler than the low lying terrain close to the Colorado River. The origin of its name is unclear because it never marked any demarcation point. This town is a place that you need to see to believe. 203. View of the Tom Reed Mine nowadays; ruins and white tailings: As you drive south towards Topock, 4 miles from Oatman you will meet another unusual craggy peak: Boundary Cone. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. It is on the old route 66 and has some interesting little shops an old mine entrance and little jail. Population reached 10,000 during that period, now it is less than 50!. Answer 11 of 11: We are passing through Oatman from Prescott on the way to stay in Laughlin. Later the road features numerous switchbacks, but is paved, albeit a bit narrow. Proceeds from the sale of Passports benefit this cooperative marketing initiative. Located in the Powerhouse is the Arizona Route 66 Museum, at 120 W. Andy Devine Avenue. The wood plank exterior and sun-faded saloon sign add to its charm. Are the scrappy burros worth a trip to the iconic Oatman ghost town? Please cite by using: [a description of the item]. His route took him to what is now Needles, CA. Seriously, those burros will steal your ice cream cone in a heartbeat. The town of Oatman is nestled in the Black Mountains at an elevation of 2,700 feet in elevation. You can also take a day tour from Vegas to explore Oatman. 181 Main Street. the road then dropped into Oatman, falling 915 ft. in a winding course along 4 miles. Another great time enjoyed it Oatman. And there are signs all over town about this.would have been nice to know in advance. Do not miss the hotels saloon. Route 66 took a southwest alignment from Oatman on its way to Topock and Needles. Hackberry. These days there are plenty of gift shops . We then left Oatmen after being there only about 35 minutes, It was terrible, uncomfortable and not worth the drive in. The hard basaltic plug remains in place while the softer volcanic ashes that form the cone ae weathered away by erosion. It can be a bit of an edge of your seat drive at times with the very narrow road and no guardrails as you drive up the mountain, leaving no room for error. Driving from Kingman to Oatman, Arizona on Route 66 The Route 66 stretch from Kingman to Oatman starts out flat and fairly straight. The donkey population is around 2,000. Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Yuma? highway that went to Needles and crossed the Colorado River using a ferry until the Trails Arch Bridge was built in Topock in 1916. Ahead is the summit at Sitgreaves Pass followed by a winding descent with hairpin bends through Goldroad, a Mining Ghost town. Gold was re-discovered north of Oatman in 1901 at Goldroad and this led to the construction of better roads both west (to Kingman) and east (to Needles and Topock). After years of receiving handouts from tourists, they are extremely friendly and probably the main reason so many tourists still come to town. There is no additional cost to you. Traveling with a dog or cat? Enjoy your road trip along Route66 in Oatman AZ. BURROS. Sq. From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. They were used as pack animals to carry goods in tricky terrain, especially in the mountains. Get the reverse directions for a Oatman needs to focus on their wild west theme, mining and burrows, They should remember they are a tourist attraction and not a political hub If you dont believe the big lie dont go. Each county page contains full color The Oatman burros are direct descendants of the beasts of burden used by the gold miners in the late 1800s. While you cant stay at the ghostly Oatman hotel, it remains open as a restaurant and museum. The Atlantic & Pacific Railroad (later the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad) reached the area in 1882 but went around the Black Mountains along the flat Sacramento Valley to the east and south of them. 12.70 miles. Oatman Chamber of Commerce P.O. Beds. Categories Destinations, Southwestern United States, United States, Western United States. Oatman Ghost Town: Address, Phone Number, Oatman Ghost Town Reviews: 4.5/5. Search for RV campgrounds. highway took a more steep and winding rout through the gold-mining area of Oatman, further north. During World War II, the U.S. Government closed the mines to use the workforce in other mines producing critical metal needed for the war effort. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:33 pmdrive for about 49 minutes, 1:22 pm Parker (Arizona) Popular attractions include the Historic Route 66 Museum and the Kingman Railroad Museum. The part of the road passing through the mountains is a very narrow two-lane with no shoulders, At one time it was a Saloon, a Soda Fountain, Drugstore and Sundries shop. Perla Eichenblat. Only 23 more miles through Mohave County to Oatman, Route 66 travel kiosk between Kingman and Oatman, Cool Springs cabins, tasty foods, gift shop and museum between Kingman and Oatman Meandering wild burros, a wild-west shootout, and a dusty village on a desolate stretch of Americas favorite highway. 7. you can buy burro food for a dollar at. It was rebuilt in 1922 as a two story adobe structure, with eight rooms. Map showing U.S. Route 66 from Kingman to Oatman, Arizona, Welcome to Historic Downtown Kingman, Arizona the Heart of Route 66, The one-story Spanish Mission style station in downtown Kingman was built in 1907 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railwaycommonly referred to as the Santa Fe.. open-ended. First I want to address one of the reviews (ghost town..really) first I happened to be there when you were there. Magical Candlelight Show st Las Vegas Magic Theater 810 S Las vegas blvd. Although one did kick a small child .. now there is a memory for her. By 1952 mining had dwindled so the Route 66 alignment through Sitgreaves Pass and Oatman was no longer needed. who wants the trip to end? This section could be endless, so rather than trying to He took care of them and included them in his household as domestic slaves. Oatman is a great way to get your kicks on Route 66. to double check the weather. Frying an egg on the sidewalk under the searing midday sun is one of the fun things to do in Oatman, and part of the July 4th celebrations too. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. This little candy shop was one of the highlights of our trip to Oatman. From Topock 66 on the Colorado River in the west to The Painted Desert Trading Post in the east plus miles of famous sights, shops, eats and towns in between, the free digital passport makes planning a Route 66-centric road trip easier than ever. 6:31 pm arrive in Oatman (Arizona) driving 4.5 hours. This is the map of US66 from Kingman through Oatman and onwards to Topock. Address: Route 66, Oatman, AZ. The surrounding scenery is beautiful, especially in the early morning and sunset light. Sitgreaves Pass, elevation 3,550 feet, lies between Cool Springs and Oatman. Box 423 Oatman, AZ 86433 928-577-9139 928-234-0344 Official Website 28 miles (45 km) 45 minute drive Year Round Description Details Map & Directions TripAdvisor Oatman Shops Enjoy the majestic scenery that surrounds Oatman, experience live gunfights, costumed dancers, and be greeted by our friendly wild burros. idea to have either printed out directions, Oatman Western Mining Village/Museums & Scenic RT66 Experience Small Grp 34 Recommended Adventure Tours from $125.00 per adult Arizona Ghost Towns and Wild-West Day Trip from Las Vegas 11 Recommended Bus Tours from $239.00 per adult Small Group Desert Wine, Distillery Tastings, Route 66 with Lunch 30 Recommended Bus Tours from $139.00 per adult DON'T GO! stay for about 1 hour and leave at 4:11 pmdrive for about 50 minutes, 5:02 pm Needles (California) drive for about 30 minutes. We have been to Oatman, Az. Parker (Arizona) (2 answers) Burros first came to Oatman with early day prospectors. Vintage Oatman Arizona T Shirt Tee Image West 1996 Fruit of the Loom Made USA Size Large Phoenix 90s . Even if you are not an avid traveler, we hope you are able to find a story that inspires you! Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon here in 1939. suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it Via: Where should I stop along the way? This marks the end of this leg of your Route 66 Road Trip, continue your journey by heading west towards Topock. Some of the stores sell alfalfa cubes that you can feed the burros. Horseback Riding Tours. No fun for them! We were there in early September this year, and saw a couple people walking through town with dogs on leashes. The woman who threatened me "cheers" for the donkey to keep going and attack my dog. Camping along the way? Cruise along the Mother Road, collecting stamps at locations along the way. My dad, who lived in Arizona at the time, had been mentioning Oatman for years, and the only thing that stuck in my head was the troupe of feral burros that live there. guide mentioned that it had "Stores, hotels, garages and camp grounds the largest undeveloped gold mining field in the U.S.". How either myself or my small dog are threats I have no clue. A classic since 1902. But fun to drive through it anyways. A classic since 1902. Home > Near the summit, the road hugs the mountainside, with no shoulders and few guardrails. Its yet to be seen if a lack of handouts will keep the Oatman burros out of town for good. Head to Oatman for the annual Oatman Sidewalk Egg Fry, which happens at high noon every Fourth of July. Lots of shops and merchandise, interesting things to see and petting the Donkeys was a great thrill. Kingman is located on Historic Route 66, Interstate 40, U.S. Route 93, and Arizona Highway 68. 364 days on Zillow. In 1930, it was estimated that 36 million dollars worth of gold had been mined around Oatman. Originally named for its builder John Durlin, the Durlin Hotel is the only historic two-story adobe building in Mohave County. Unfortunately, you can no longer spend the night in the Oatman Hotel, but you can visit the bar, restaurant, and museum during the day. Rent an Escape Campervan in Las Vegas and use it as your tricked-out adventure mobile! The once historic site is not worth visiting again. DIRECTIONS. Mural at The Ore House, Oatman AZ. You can click each direction to see them in the map. Sitgreaves Pass on Route 66, elevation 3,550 feet, between Cool Springs and Oatman, Arizona. open-ended. and leave at 6:02 pm. Perla Eichenblat. Planning a Road Trip on Route 66? Want to give it a go? The burros were very friendly but lost some interest if you didn't have any feed for them. Oatman is located in northwestern Arizona, about two hours southeast of Las Vegas. It was replaced by a new one, that was safer and straighter; it ran along level ground, through Yucca. Cool, off the beaten path place to stay overnight in Lake Havasu But first, park your car on the street, and take a tour of an iconic Arizona ghost town that refuses to die. A second N.O.T. highway which in turn was used to move ore out of the mines at Oatman and Goldroad. Like the driving directions from Bullhead City to Oatman? Boundary Cone (3,432 ft- 1,046 m) pictured below, is a plug of white colored rhyolite (a type of volcanic rock). They run with a north-south alignment and measure 75 miles long (121 km) and some 10 mi. A big feature of this place are the Burros, or donkeys as they may be better known. DESTINATION with ease. Right down the road from the historic town of Oatman, our house offers a once in a lifetime experience of small town, western living. Perkins with 5,456 ft. (1.663 m). It was formed when the lava flowing in a vent or chimney of a volcano solidifies. 9.2 miles from Oatman #1 of 3 speciality lodgings in Mohave Valley By Chris R "The park has recently changed hands and the prices and maintenance reflect it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); World Adventurists was created by Debbie and Darcy Fettback, two avid travelers and parents of four, based in Vancouver, BC. CreditsClick on thumbnail map to enlarge, Thumbnail of the 1971 Arizona highway map. Kruger National Park: A Safari Guide This page contains affiliate links. or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world. Breakfast at Olive Oatman Restaurant and Saloon. Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You will notice the donkeys roaming about, they are the famous "Burros": The word "Burro" (plural: Burros) is the Spanish name for a donkey (don't mistake them for similar looking mules or asses, which are cross-species hybrids between mares and jackasses). Historic Route 66 runs right through Oatman. Oatman is about 13 miles (or 21 km) down the road. Not much came of the discovery until two lucky prospectors struck it rich in 1915, with a 10 million dollar claim. Unless you like scorching temperatures, avoid Oatman during the summer. Oatman AZ 20 yrs ago was worth the trip. We recommend booking Oatman Ghost Town tours ahead of time to secure your spot. There are plenty of lodging options in the cities and towns along Route 66; click on the links below to find your accommodation in these towns: >> Check out the RV campground in neighboring Topock, Location of Oatman on U.S. Hwy. Olive later wrote her memoir telling her story. Cute shops, fun restaurant filled with $$$$$$, and friendly donkeys roaming the streets. Oatman (Arizona) to Phoenix drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. As you approach it climbing the Black Mountains from Kingman, you will pass by the Cool Springs Service Station on the The Historic Route 66 Back Country Byway; with a US66 shield painted on the roadway. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. From 1926 to 1952, the Mother Road coursed through the heart of Oatman, sustaining a healthy tourism business. Oatman Arizona, little over two hours from Las Vegas in a good hour from Laughlin Arizona. After the mining boom, that earned Oatman an impressive $40 million (the equivalent of $2.6 billion today), residents of Oatman had to find a new way for the town to flourish and turned to Route 66 tourism. $100,000. The Escape Room was a highlight and really fun experience. One of t, Are you cut from the same cloth? Among them was the Oatman family. Lorenzo Sitgreaves on an expedition to the area. The food at the Hotel was delicious and the service was quick and friendly. Laughlin Tours escorted us there from Harrah's in Laughlin. Learn to research where you are going, OK Now that I am done with that. Also as soon as you park there is a sign warning you about the donkeys not liking dogs. In the 1920s and 30s, the population grew to around 10,000. It is located right on the Historic Route 66, on the section between Kingman and Topock. A free history walk with literature is all set up on the Sputh end of town and is expanding each year to include more old buildings for all to photograph & read the stories! 627-3-01-0014, ADMMR Map Collection, Arizona Geological Survey. If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map.