Happy late summer! It’s going to be a hot one and a fun one. At least if we do it right! 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. So, let’s get started.
Celebrate Wupatki’s centennial
On the quiet prairie north of Flagstaff the pueblos of Wupatki National Monument rise like red-boned ghosts above swaying grasses. The eruption of Sunset Crater in 1085 covered the dry basin with volcanic ash and cinders creating arable terrain. Soon afterwards, the Ancestral Puebloans moved in and built the free-standing dwellings that appear almost as natural rock formations. Wupatki National Monument was created in 1924 to protect this rich heritage site. This year it celebrates its centennial as a national monument, a perfect reason to return.
Short pathways lead to up-close encounters with a handful of these ancient structures. Behind the visitor center, a paved trail leads to Wupatki Pueblo, the largest dwelling in the park. The sprawling three-story ruin contains nearly 100 rooms and straddles an outcropping of sandstone. Admission fee covers both Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, connected by a scenic road, just north of Route 66. 928-679-2365, www.nps.gov/wupa.
Hang out in Flagstaff
After your visit to Wupatki and Sunset Crater, take a couple of days to experience Flagstaff, Route 66’s unofficial summer capital. Come on, at 7,000 feet above sea level, and nestled at the base of Arizona’s highest peaks, there’s no better place to beat the heat. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Families with kids can tackle the tree-top thrills of Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course. Conquer rope swings, climbing walls, hanging nets, wobbly bridges and ziplines. There are multiple circuits on the adult playground, and one course designed just for children. 888-259-0125, www.flagstaffextreme.com.
If you prefer indoor activities, FlagTagAZ offers axe and knife throwing, laser tag, darts, arcade games and more. They also serve beer, wine and mead in their pizza café. 928-707-9824, www.flagtagaz.com.
Speaking of beer, there’s still something supremely satisfying about a day spent walking around Flagstaff’s Route 66 fueled historic downtown and southside district with its eclectic collection of shops, galleries, restaurants, and yes, craft breweries. There are eight of them to be exact, all waiting to quench your thirst with a cold craft beer. You can download a digital passport and score a free commemorative pint glass. Learn how at www.craftbeerflg.com.
Discover Rock Art Ranch
Summer and early fall make a great time to schedule a visit to Rock Art Ranch, located between Winslow and Holbrook. Encompassing 5,000 acres, this working cattle ranch is home to one of the best preserved and most extensive collections of ancient petroglyphs in the world. Tucked away in scenic Chevelon Canyon, panels of images etched into the rocks adorn cliff faces, alcoves, and overhangs.
Rock Art Ranch was purchased by Brantley Baird’s parents in 1945. It features a museum stocked with artifacts found on the property. A Navajo hogan and sweathouse are also part of the ranch, as well as ancient cliff dwellings. The Baird family knew these treasures needed to be protected. Each summer crews from various museums camp out to continue seeking more archaeological discoveries.
And Brantley also offers visitors a chance to tour the site, to see those canyon walls etched with hundreds of petroglyphs. They date from 6000 BC to 1400 AD. Baird gives visitors an overview of the rock art and the culture of these ancient tribes. Rock Art Ranch is one of those hidden gems for travelers looking for something beyond the standard tourist attractions as well. And that sounds pretty ideal for Mother Road afficionados. Call and schedule a tour. 928-386-5047.
Best Diner in Arizona is on Route 66
It seems like you can’t turn on your computer these days without spotting more accolades for Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In. The little Eatery That Juan Built was named best diner in Arizona by LoveFood, a well-known culinary blog. They described the Snow Cap as “delightfully ramshackle” and “busily decorated,” and it’s hard to argue with either statement.
The Snow Cap stands as a Route 66 icon, an entertaining piece of Americana, a mom-and-pop establishment that snagged a Guinness World Record for “Largest Display of Milkshake Varieties.” Underneath all of that, never forget that they serve up some really good food! Stop and grab a meal on the patio.
Mama B’s is back
Speaking of good food, a longtime Flagstaff favorite reopened this spring. Mama Burger has returned, although with a new moniker. Now known as Mama B’s, the little eatery was closed for more than a year as they went through extensive remodeling with some complications. And honestly, is there any such thing as remodeling without complications?
The wildly popular restaurant is known for their fresh burgers and creamy shakes. While the refurbished digs sport a trendy diner feel, Mama B’s sacrifices none of its old-school charm. It’s always good to know there’s another locally owned burger joint just minutes from the Mother Road. 991 N. Fort Valley Road, 928-226-0616.
Running of the bears
Okay, the chances of seeing bears actually running at Bearizona Drive-Thru Wildlife Park in Williams are slim. It’s not like bears are known for their zest or that they have anything to prove. But you will get to see them at play and at rest and just generally enjoying summer in the pines. Bearizona seems like a relaxing place.
The park offers visitors a chance for an up-close encounter with a variety of animals. Just drive through the gate and into 160 acres of pine forest populated by bears, wolves, bison, bighorn sheep and more, all roaming freely—although bears and wolves are partitioned off from their snack-like neighbors. The layout of the park provides excellent views to all corners of the habitat. At the end of the three-mile drive, park the car and stroll the winding paths through Fort Bearizona, a walk-thru setting that includes a barnyard petting zoo and mine shaft housing nocturnal critters. 928-635-2289, www.bearizona.com.
This isn’t Holbrook’s first rodeo
In fact, it’s downright historic. Folks have been coming out the Navajo County Fair and Rodeo since 1926, the same year as Route 66 opened. So that’s another centennial coming up! The fair started in the town of Taylor but moved to Holbrook in 1931 where it’s been ever since. The fairgrounds were built just to accommodate the big shindig that continues to grow and expand. This year festivities run from Sept. 11-14.
Along with the county fair and its assorted rides, games, and deliciously decadent food, there’s also the rodeo with some serious competition. There’s a full lineup of concerts, a demolition derby, motorcycle barrel racing, and plenty more. 928-524-4757, www.navajocountyfair.net.
The Corner is packed
It’s time to head for Winslow. Hard to believe that the popular annual Standin’ on a Corner Festival turns 25 this year! This family-friendly event always makes for one great party and this year’s bash will be extra special. The festival will take place on September 27 and 28. Along with all the vendors and food trucks, there’s a horseshoe tournament, a live auction, and a beer garden. Of course, there is an excellent lineup of bands rocking the stage at the Eagles Pavilion. And there may even be a few folks snapping photos at a certain corner that’s now part of rock history. Don’t miss out on this memorable bash! www.standinonthecorner.org.
Hope to see you soon
Well, that’s it for now. Look for the next newsletter to arrive in your inbox amid the cooler weather of October.
If you have items of interest you’d like to share in an upcoming newsletter, I’d love to include them. You can email them to me, Roger Naylor, at [email protected], or to Nikki Terlesky, Director of Operations at Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona at [email protected].
Thanks for being part of the Route 66 family. Happy motoring!