Spring has sprung and I couldn’t be happier!
Welcome to the newsletter of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. I’m Roger Naylor, Arizona author and travel writer, and it’s my privilege to pen these quarterly newsletters that we hope will inform, entertain, and encourage everyone to explore more of the Mother Road.
Road trip season
If spring doesn’t awaken your traveling spirit, then you and I are very different people. We shake off winter’s chill and with days growing longer and warmer, the urge to hit the road just seems to well up inside me. I want to be out in the world during the soft months of spring as trees leaf out and wildflowers bloom. And it’s hard to imagine a better adventure than a journey on Route 66 across Arizona.
This is where you’ll find an unparalleled combination of scenery, history, and hospitality. It is a collection of small towns knitted together by breath-stealing sights. So no matter whatever else you have planned in the coming months, make sure an Arizona Route 66 quest is on the agenda. Venture out, say hello to your neighbors and make some new friends.
Rebirth of Sunset Crater
April 19 marks a sad anniversary for Sunset Crater National Monument. Last year on that day, the Tunnel Fire exploded, scorching about 60 percent of the monument in a matter of hours. Sunset Crater is Arizona’s youngest volcano, spewing lava less than 1,000 years ago as it reshaped the land and the lives of the people living in the region. As a park, it has always been something of a hidden gem with its stark lunar landscape of twisted lava flows and tall cinder cones.
After the Tunnel Fire, the monument remained closed for several months before finally reopening with limited services in late summer. I visited in the fall, braced the worst but was pleasantly surprised. There was certainly evidence of fire damage, some burned trees and the Lennox Crater Trail was closed. But there was also a lot more greenery than I expected. Many wildfires burn a mosaic pattern and that’s what happened here. And it burned so fast, many trees were singed but not killed. The visitor center survived, along with all the artifacts and the ranger residences. All other trails were open and the meadows were full of monsoon-inspired wildflowers. And to be honest, it’s not like Sunset Crater is a stranger to fire. It’s gone through this before. I’m happy to report this otherworldly scorched crust of a landscape is still as hauntingly beautiful as always. Pay a visit when you’re in the area. www.nps.gov/sucr.
All the fun of Fun Run
There is no more storied event traversing the Mother Road than Fun Run, which will take place on May 5, 6, and 7. Folks travel from around the globe to participate in the rolling party known as Route 66 Fun Run. Participants start out in Seligman crossing the windswept plains of Northern Arizona, the wide valleys and rugged mountains on their way to Topock. Festivities spring up at every stop along the way. And it’s a pleasure seeing hundreds of classic cars traveling this classic road. Fun Run celebrates the longest intact section of the historic highway still in existence while strengthening ties between the communities along the way. It’s a nice reminder that Route 66 really is one long thin town.
All are welcome to ride along but for those that want to register for the car show in Kingman, you can do so on the Association website. It’s only $66. Remember, this is a fundraising event with the proceeds going back into the Route 66 community. Sign up today. You’ll never have more fun spending $66 than on Fun Run!
https://www.historic66az.com/33-fun-run.html
Burning rubber in Kingman
Normally we wouldn’t celebrate a section of Mother Road closing but it’s all for a good cause. Right in the heart of Kingman, Route 66 (Andy Devine Avenue) gets shut down for a whole week. Because it takes a few days to get everything ready for the Kingman Rt. 66 Street Drags! On May 19, 20, and 21 the 1/8-mile drag races roar right down the middle of Route 66, with spectators cheering. It’s an old-fashioned street race, loud and proud but all perfectly legal. There will be a full timing system and all safety equipment in place for the three days of hot rodding.
Drag races start at noon on Friday and run until 9 p.m. That gives participants a chance to tune their rides before the time trials kick off on Saturday. Everyone competes for cash prizes, trophies, and the title of “National Street Champion” at the biggest legal street drags in the world. Rev up for a special time. www.kingmanrt66streetdrags.com.
Happy birthday, Snow Cap!
The iconic Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive In turns 70 this summer. Yet despite its advancing years the famed eatery looks as hearty and spry as ever. Juan Delgadillo built the Snow Cap in June of1953 out of scrap lumber swiped from the railroad. Juan specialized in serving good food with a side of goofy humor, making this little Seligman joint a beloved stop for generations. Sadly, Juan passed away in 2004 but his family kept the traditions going, tasty grub and lots of laughs.
Step inside (if you can figure out which is the right doorknob) and it’s like entering a carnival funhouse although it smells a lot better. The menu is a series of running jokes and the place is wallpapered with gags, business cards, and currency. The goofiness continues out back in Juan’s Garden with a collection of kitsch and old automobiles, including the distinctive hand-painted ’36 Chevy hardtop with the roof sliced off that’s adorned with horns, emblems, and a Christmas tree because, why not?
It was just a few months ago that the Snow Cap entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the Most Milkshake Flavors! They concocted a total of 266 different flavors of milkshake to shatter the old record, including some bizarre combinations. What a way to enter the record books. Somewhere Juan Delgadillo is smiling. Now who’s ready for a “cheeseburger with cheese” and a creamy shake? 928-422-3291.
A true Heritage Festival
It’s one of the biggest events thrown by Flagstaff’s Museum of Northern Arizona each year. The 2023 Heritage Festival takes place June 24-25 on the forested grounds surrounding the museum with the sacred San Francisco Peaks rising overhead. It’s an all-inclusive celebration that highlights all the diverse Indigenous cultures of the Colorado Plateau. Participants will include the Acoma, Apache, Navajo, Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Pai, Ute, Yavapai, and Zuni.
Visitors will enjoy traditional dances, music, food, and informative talks by cultural experts. A sprawling artist market will offer a remarkable collection of work in a variety of genres. And best of all, every purchase at the Heritage Festival benefits the artists directly who take home 100 percent of their earnings. www.musnaz.org.
World’s first steel dam
Here’s a weird fun fact—the first large steel dam in the world is a Route 66 roadside attraction in Ash Fork. In 1898, the Ashfork Bainbridge Steel Dam was constructed in remote Johnson Canyon to supply water for the railroad. It was built using large steel plates, resembling a massive radiator. But the railroad worried that steel might not be reliable long term so they constructed another dam less than a mile upstream, this one from precision cut stone blocks in 1911. Yet 125 years later, the Ashfork Bainbridge Steel Dam is still doing its job.
The two dams continue to each back up lakes, now managed as recreational reservoirs. An easy path (0.35 miles) connects them, known as the Stone to Steel Dam Trail. Exit I-40 at Welch Road east of Ash Fork. Travel north 0.3 miles. Veer left onto an old Route 66 segment and drive west 1.4 miles to Forest Road 6ED. Turn right and follow the good dirt road to the parking area. www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab.
Business Spotlight: La Posada Hotel
Built in 1930, La Posada in Winslow was pioneering architect Mary Colter’s masterpiece. She created an airy, romantic hacienda-style building. It sat vacant for years before being painstakingly restored by Allan Affeldt. Elegant rooms are filled with handcrafted furniture, handwoven rugs, and tile mirrors. They’re named for the many celebrities who stayed here. Shady lawns and gardens surround the property that is flanked by the railroad in the back and Route 66 in the front. It is a reminder that travel can still be gracious and should always be memorable. Even if you’re not a guest at La Posada, stop and enjoy the architectural details and artwork on display. The Turquoise Room dishes up world-class cuisine, often while utilizing native and nearby ingredients. The locally harvested squash blossoms stuffed with sweet corn, Oaxaca cheese and fried crispy in a beer batter are always a favorite in season. www.laposada.org.
Hope to see you soon
Well, that’s it for now. Make the most of your springtime with some memorable Arizona adventures. Look for the next newsletter to arrive in you inbox in July.
If you have items of interest you’d like to share in an upcoming newsletter, you can email them to me, Roger Naylor, at [email protected], or to Nikki Seegers, Director of Operations at Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona at [email protected].
Thanks for being part of the Route 66 family. Happy motoring!