Happy New Year! Let’s hope that 2022 is filled with health, happiness and road trips for us all.
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 and entertain.
Arizona and Route 66
Since there’s always something about a new year that causes one to reflect, I thought I would do just that and reflect for a moment on what makes Arizona’s portion of Route 66 so incredibly special. Hey, we love all our Route 66 neighbors—we’re part of a family. But there are just some things you can only find in Arizona.
Arizona is the state that saved Route 66. This is where the tide of history turned. This is the Birthplace of Historic Route 66.
We have the longest intact section of the Mother Road still in existence.
Arizona’s portion of Route 66 was the first to be declared an All-American Road, the highest designation a highway can receive. This is where you’ll find the most famous corner on Route 66, the steepest grade, and the last town bypassed by the interstate.
Route 66 in Arizona explores the world’s largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest and the best-preserved meteor crater on earth. This is the only portion of 66 that provides easy access to alpine tundra and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Every astronaut who flew to or walked on the moon first trained on Route 66 in Arizona. This is where you’ll find the largest dry caverns in the country. It’s also where you’ll find the world’s first steel dam, the world’s largest Navajo rug, a gunfight site from the bloodiest range war in American history, the first international electric vehicle museum, and a town run by burros.
Some of the oldest trees on earth—trees that once shaded dinosaurs are here. So is the first International Dark Sky City. Pluto was discovered here, the concept of life zones was formed here, and this is where tree ring dating became a science.
Take the road trip of your dreams when you journey on Arizona’s Route 66. No other state can match the epic scenery of our distinctly western landscape. If Grand Canyon is the beating heart of Arizona, Route 66 is the main artery.
Whole lotta shaking going on
Congratulations are in order. The Snow Cap has shattered the once impenetrable milkshake barrier. Back in September, our own Snow Cap Drive-in entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the Most Milkshake Flavors! Never bet against the Delgadillo family when it comes to accomplishing goals. Somehow the mad geniuses at Snow Cap came up with 266 different varieties of milkshakes. Not all of them will end up on the menu of the little Seligman eatery. And that’s probably a good thing. I’m not sure if the world is ready for an Oreo, salsa, turkey, and root beer milkshake.
The noble quest was sponsored by Mobil 1, and it was all for a worthy cause. They were traveling the Mother Road garnering headlines with special events and collecting signatures to support small businesses. The ultimate goal is to have Route 66 designated as a National Historic Trail. That’s definitely something we hope will happen before the big 2026 Centennial when the Mother Road turns 100.
Cheer on the bed races in Oatman
Forget the Indy 500, Daytona 500, and the Kentucky Derby. For sheer drama and athletic prowess exhibited while wearing pajamas, nothing tops the Oatman Bed Races. Five-person teams, with four pushers and one sheet jockey, propel beds through Oatman streets at breakneck speeds. No wagering, please. Let’s keep the sport pure.
This annual event takes place on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. But festivities rock the old gold mining town/wild burro hangout from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Costumes and pajamas are strongly encouraged because that's how Oatman rolls. If you and four amigos have the right stuff, the entry fee for the bed races is $50 per team and beds are provided. You can even sign up on the day of the event. And don’t worry, officials will clear Oatman’s beloved burros off the street before the race begins. No admission fee for spectators. www.oatmanchamberofcommerce.com.
Attend the Super Bowl
While it can’t match the Oatman Bed Races for heart-pounding thrills, Phoenix will host a little football contest known as Super Bowl LVII on February 12. Snag a ticket if you get the urge. They can’t be too hard to come by, right? Or better still, forget all about going to the game (it will probably be televised) and just spend that weekend enjoying some old-fashioned fun along Route 66. With people flocking to Phoenix, you’ll have lots of open road to enjoy.
Make it rain
The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona has awarded another round of grants. It’s always good news when money gets put back into the Mother Road community.. Here are the latest recipients:
Mohave County Historical Society received $5,000 to replace the Grapes of Wrath exhibit in the beautiful Route 66 Museum housed in the Kingman Powerhouse. The new vision will be a more comprehensive display all about the Great Migration that took place in the 1930s.
The Route 66 Motel in Kingman received $11,500 for the most noble of causes—restoration of their neon sign. (If I ever win the lottery, neon will blaze all across Route 66 because I’m buying signs for everybody!) The rehabilitation will include repairing the electrical wiring of the big sign. The historic motel opened in the 1960s as the Pony Soldier but became the Route 66 Motel a couple of decades later. The Valmonte family has owned and operated the property for more than 30 years. Mom-and-pops remain the sturdy backbone of Route 66.
Another family-owned inn, the Postcard Motel in Seligman received $10,000 for some wonderful upgrades. Many folks remember the former Romney Motel, now under new ownership, as a place full of charm. The money will help maintain that charm with renovations to the lobby and pool, as well as upgrades to electrical and plumbing, and roof repairs. We wish the new owners, John and Christina Quense, a tremendous amount of success.
The City of Kingman received a $10,000 grant for something that we are all going to cherish. They will be remodeling the mezzanine at the Kingman Visitor Center to house the Angel Delgadillo Storyfile, an interactive technology that allows visitors to ask Angel questions and have him respond in real time. I saw a little snippet of this and it is magical. It makes me feel like we’re living in the future. Can’t wait for it to open.
The Osterman Weekend
See what I did there with the title? I’m about to provide an update on the Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs and The Osterman Weekend is a Robert Ludlum novel and film directed by Sam Peckinpah so I used that as…ah, just skip it.
Here’s the latest on the much loved and oft-photographed historic John Osterman Gas Station. A lot of people are working very hard to save it. The poured concrete building with the distinctive “House of Bays” style was a fixture for decades to Route 66 travelers. After it closed, the Hualapai Tribe took ownership and had been working for many years to repair and restore it.
Unfortunately, a devastating microburst in 2021 destroyed the roof. That’s often a death knell for historic buildings but Route 66 folks don’t give up easily. The Association provided a $25,000 grant for architecture and engineering services. The tribe is moving forward with planned repairs while also looking for additional sources of funding to cover the extensive costs.
The building, which dates back to the 1920s, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also a rare gem with some architectural flourishes, like the gable roof canopy over the pumps. This is one we don’t want to lose.
Fun Run is around the corner
It’s never too soon to start making your plans for the rolling party known as Route 66 Fun Run. Last year’s event was a huge success and most welcome after the pandemic-spawned hiatus. So don’t wait too long. Register today and be part of road trip history. In 2023, Fun Run will take place from May 5, 6, and 7. The colorful caravan pulls out of Seligman and travels the longest intact stretch of Route 66, with festivities at every stop. All are welcome to ride along but for those that want to register for the car show, 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
My new book
If I can toot my own horn for just a moment, I’m proud to announce my latest book hits the shelves in January! It’s called Awesome Arizona: 200 Amazing Facts about the Grand Canyon State. This is an unabashed celebration of my beloved Arizona and it’s chockfull of facts, information, anecdotes, historical tidbits, humor and storytelling—with lots of Route 66 coverage. I get tired of all the misconceptions about Arizona and wanted to set the record straight about what a remarkable state I call home. This is the encyclopedia that lovers of Arizona have been craving.
Awesome Arizona is published by the University of New Mexico Press and it retails for $16.95. For any businesses that would like to carry the book, you can order directly from Longleaf, or ask your local distributor. And you can always order signed copies from my website. www.rogernaylor.com.
Hope to see you soon
Well, that’s it for now. Make sure that 2023 full of Route 66 and Arizona adventures. Look for the next newsletter to arrive in you inbox in April.
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!