possible by The Glory Hole & Making Memories Old Time Photos. For years, tourists have fed the burros carrots and special burro chow that they could buy in just about every shop. I am ,at present, reading 'The captivity of the Oatman girls,among the Apache. Lt. A. W. Whipple visited this area during his expedition in 1854 to find a route for a transcontinental railroad along the 35th parallel. The road is legally accessible by any vehicle under 40 feet in length. It is a Volcanic plug. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Allowing them to graze in the hills is healthier and safer for both the burros and tourists. favorite small towns to visit in the United States. We then left Oatmen after being there only about 35 minutes, It was terrible, uncomfortable and not worth the drive in. The Honolulu Club and Shell garage You can also take a day tour from Vegas to explore Oatman. Driving Directions Summary Your directions start from Bullhead City, AZ, USA and end at Oatman, AZ 86433, USA. Like the driving directions from Bullhead City to Oatman? Unless you visit with a tour group, you will have to drive to get there. Created / Published ca. We explored Flagstaff on a day trip and cant wait to go back. Easy to get started: Don't worry about car inspections or vehicle restrictions. Population 43 (2020).Time zone: Mountain (MST): UTC minus 7 hours. The town of Oatman is nestled in the Black Mountains. After the pass, the road descends with a constant grade and plenty of curves. Now there is ample parking space on both the eastern and western sides of the pass. After the burros, the Ghost Riders draw the most tourists. 10 acres lot - Lot / Land for sale. Every day at 1:30 and 3:30 pm, traffic stops in Oatman, Arizona for a wild-west shootout, just like in the movies. Oatman Ghost Town: Address, Phone Number, Oatman Ghost Town Reviews: 4.5/5. of rain (178 mm). Oatman certainly prospered during a decade-long gold rush, but when the mines dried up, so did everything else. You hav, Save for trip planning! The rate of crime in Oatman is 74.40 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. Find a room in neighboring Needles California, just a few miles to the west: Find more lodging & accommodation close to Oatman. Many locals claim that ghosts occupy the Oatman Hotel and are often heard whispering and laughing in empty rooms. Tripadvisor. His route took him to what is now Needles, CA. And if you know Phoenix well, please help your fellow When the mines closed, the burros were set free and they took to the hills. We decided to post our travel stories as a testament to how powerful travel is and what an impact it can have on your life. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. British Columbia is, Save for later! Oatman is just one of the fun places to explore on historic route 66 in Arizona. There is enough of an old west feel about it to make it an interesting visit for a few hours. Address: 170 Rte 66, Oatman, AZ 86433. Later the road features numerous switchbacks, but is paved, albeit a bit narrow. It features some steep climbs. As you drive south and leave the town, to your right is the old Tom Reed Mine, discovered in 1910. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, laid its route from California to Kansas, it chose the road through Oatman. $64,000. So timing is everything. If you're planning a road trip to Oatman (Arizona), you can research locations to stop along the way. questions about Lake Havasu City: Don't miss Oatman's Gunfights and Burros, visit the Glory Hole Soda Fountain, and The historic Durlin (Oatman) Hotel. Theres even the chance to win prizes by checking in and uploading photos through the passport. Route 66 ran southwest out of Kingman through Cool Springs to Oatman, and onward to Golden Shores and Topock where it turned west to Needles, California. Learn to research where you are going, OK Now that I am done with that. Just as the Vivian mine was about to close, Tom Reed discovered another vein in 1910 and the United Eastern Mining Co. struck gold again in 1915. Long wheelbase vehicles should approach Oatman via hwy 95 from I-40 at the Topock exit at the AZ/CA border. Keep in mind that feeding wild burros outside of Oatman is not legal. I was so excited to go visit Oatman, I have been wanting to go there since I was a kid. Oatman, AZ is home to a population of 43 people, from which 100% are citizens. List Map. By Kiararamirez. Like many other old towns, Oatman has become a ghost town. There are lots of little shops along the road to get little gifts. Popular attractions include the Historic Route 66 Museum and the Kingman Railroad Museum. Among them was the Oatman family. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. Places you didnt, Save this bucket list Hobbit House! more, Step back in time to Oatman, once a booming mining area that's now a ghost town and popular tourist attraction. Oatman Chamber of Commerce P.O. Great loss. 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. Your email address will not be published. Near the summit, the road hugs the mountainside, with no shoulders and few guardrails. The Google map above shows directions from Bullhead City to Oatman. There is no additional cost to you. 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. Main Street through Oatman, AZ is tiny, with just a handful of souvenir stores, restaurants, and gift shops that are entirely dependent on tourist dollars. Box 423 Oatman, Arizona 86433 Phone: 928-577-9139 or 928-234-0344. Nearby cities include Bullhead City, AZ (28 miles away), Kingman, AZ (29 miles away), Needles, CA (22 miles away), and Lake Havasu City, AZ (54.2 miles away). Below is a "Then and Now" set of pictures of the now closed mine: A view of Tom Reed min in a late 1920s early 1930s postcard. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. But fun to drive through it anyways. It was formed when the lava flowing in a vent or chimney of a volcano solidifies. As always the wild donkeys were wandering town, looking for handouts and pleasing the crowds looking for photographs. Oatman Arizona, little over two hours from Las Vegas in a good hour from Laughlin Arizona. An interesting stop off point. Motorhomes will have problems coming from the Kingman, Arizona side due to the switchbacks. Heres the plan for a perfect day in Oatman, Arizona, the best place to eat for miles and miles. Foll, Save this National Historic Site! The town of Oatman was named after Olive Oatman, a woman who was kidnapped by the Yavapai tribe in Arizona in 1850. 16 year old Olive had her face tatooed with blue ink as was the native's custom. The animals are tame, unless spooked, and can be hand-fed. Rude locals and shop owners are shouting at me, "Are you CRAZY bringing that dog here???" Access to the free digital map and passport is delivered instantly to phones and mobile devices after a quick sign-up., Read how the Passport works and how to get one: Arizona Digital Route 66 Passport, Read the Press Release here: Arizona Office of Tourism Launches Digital Route 66 Passport. We describe the segment from Kingman to Cool Springs along the The Historic Route 66 Back Country Byway in our Kingman (page #2). We havent actually visited Oatman in July and because we are cold-weather creatures, I cant imagine that we ever will. From California, its about 30 miles east of Needles. Instead we bought the kids ice cream at Sallys where they know customer service. Fort Mojave Twins. The origin of its name is unclear because it never marked any demarcation point. Buildings such as the oatman cafe and the oatman hotel are horribly run down and overused. Then, there are some sharp hairpin curves: Kingman to Oatman Arizona in the Black Mountains, a hairpin bend: 1929 postcard of a hairpin bend on Route 66 in Goldenroad. One of the most noteworthy buildings in Oatman is the historic hotel. Known as Reed Bird Fraction and in the San Francisco Mining District MS3281. Fast Fannie's shop is filled with quality merchandise including whimsical wind chimes and authentic Native American jewelry all at reasonable prices. 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. For more Cool Springs information, history, museum gifts and more, visit Planning a Road Trip on Route 66? Do not miss the hotels saloon. Explore different ways to experience this place. In the early years, this road was a challenge to navigate. The staff there were completely rude and wouldnt help us with a table for 8, even though they were only a quarter full. who wants the trip to end? The Oatman Hotel, full-service restaurant and saloon. On the southern side of town. trip dates & more! The Kingman area is served by about 35 hotels and motels, and over 100 restaurants, diners and cafes. Travel within United States is: . So take a day and drive to Oatman either from the east side, Kingman Arizona or from the west side. "aha", water, and "macave", along or beside, therefore: "close to the water". OATMAN. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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 Just sign up and receive everything you need to start earning. We were simply enjoying our walk. Tucked away on the northwestern corner of Arizona, to the south of Kingman, the road is very narrow and makes a number of hairpin turns. There were over 10,000 people living inOatmanarea. If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Oatman is often described as a ghost town, but that isnt quite accurate. Steep switchbacks and 15-mph (24 km/h) hairpin turns carry the old road on a breathtaking more than 2,100-ft (640-m) change in elevation over a short 8 mi (12.8 km) of blacktop. the road then dropped into Oatman, falling 915 ft. in a winding course along 4 miles. Enter a city to drive through, or find all, Cool, off the beaten path place to stay overnight in Lake Havasu. from MapQuest! 380 days on Zillow And it is still standing as you can see in the photograph and in the set of "then & now" photos below. 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. Later the road features numerous switchbacks, but is paved, albeit a bit narrow. Flappy. When traveling westbound Route 66, Oatman Highway continues another 20 miles to Golden Shores. Oatman has a fun kitschy sense of humor that will make you giggle as you wander the stores of this town stuck in time. Follow the signs for Oatman, 23 miles. Alternatively, you could drive from Laughlin and Bullhead City by taking Arizona State Route 95 South into Fort Mojave and turning left onto Boundary Cone Rd. Hackberry. As could be expected in a roudy mining town of the "Old Wild West", there were plenty of gunfights in Oatman. Head southeast on Oatman-Topock Highway (CR 10) 2.4 mi. Jose Jerez discovered gold there in 1900 and dug the first shaft shortly after. Marker can be reached from Oatman Road, 8.8 miles north of Agua Caliente Road. A spring in the dry mountains. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 364 days on Zillow. and leave at 6:02 pm. The Oatman family, from Illinois, was attacked in Arizona by the Tolkepayas (Western Yavapai) or Apaches in 1851. Ahead is the summit at Sitgreaves Pass followed by a winding descent with hairpin bends through Goldroad, a Mining Ghost town. You can get information about various public transit systems available in Oatman using special icons. Kingman Biggest disappointment of my entire Rte 66 trip. Oatman, Arizona, is a great blast from the past and is well worth the visit. It is located at elevation 2,700 feet. Trippy is where Route 66 enters the small town and becomes its Main Street. Trippy is where This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Loved this small quirky donkey filled town. Oatman, Arizona was sparsely settled starting in 1863 when a small bit of gold was discovered in the surrounding Black Mountains. We saw the burrows and learned about the mining history. Just make sure you keep your cones away from the four-legged scavengers. West of the pass, They look tame but don't fool around with them either. Not only is Oatman one of the most unique stops on a southwestern road trip, but its also a playground for dozens of wild burros who roam the streets like scruffy vagabonds begging for food. Ahead lies the Negro Head mountain. The Best Western in Kingman is very family-friendly, with an outdoor pool and free breakfast. Only once place to eat which is the Oatman Hotel. Firs, Follow @WorldAdventurists if you agree! Seriously, those burros will steal your ice cream cone in a heartbeat. Some of the stores sell alfalfa cubes that you can feed the burros. RE/MAX PREFERRED PROS. The towns biggest mine closed in 1924, and by 1941, the government ordered the closing of Oatmans remaining mining operations as part of the countrys war efforts. Oatman and Kingman are 44 minutes far apart, if you drive non-stop . This town is a place that you need to see to believe. Here, you can check out the little shops, visit the towns jail and museum, stop for a drink at the old saloon, and get up close with the Oatman's famous tiny donkeys. The Route 66 Road Trip website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Get the reverse directions for a Car rentals are affordable, especially when you rent at McCarron International Airport. Enter a city to drive through, or find all, distance from Phoenix to Oatman (Arizona). OATMAN, ARIZONA ELEVATION 2700 FEET Oatman was founded about 1906. While you cant stay at the ghostly Oatman hotel, it remains open as a restaurant and museum. Box 423 Oatman, on the Next Route 66 Segment? The Oatman Highway is a very demanding drive. The cheapest way to get from Arizona to Oatman costs only $46, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. GPS to accompany it to ensure you'll make it to your They lived south of what is now Hoover Dam along the Colorado River. Easy access through Oatman! Plan your Route 66 Road Trip online with us. One of the "people in charge" said it again (this was time number 8). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. When traveling and navigating using a map it is a good Show Times may vary due to weather or special events. Mohave Valley, Mohave County, Arizona, USA . The Drulin Hotel, built in 1902, did a brisk business to the area miners. DESTINATION with ease. Renting a car is one of the best ways to get around Orlando, but it can be expensive. Today, the popular small town of Oatman is an interesting stop, with numerous gift shops and small restaurants. On. The Route 66 stretch from Kingman to Oatman starts out flat and fairly straight. highway that went to Needles and crossed the Colorado River using a ferry until the Trails Arch Bridge was built in Topock in 1916. There were burros just roaming the street like they owned the place! Automobile Association Developments Ltd. 2018 . From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. We especially liked looking at the antique farm implements no doubt gathered from the area. Oatman-Gold Road Chamber of Commerce in In the 1920s and 30s, the population grew to around 10,000. For more Cool Springs information, history, museum gifts and more, visit www.Route66CoolSpringsAz.com and Cool Springs on Facebook, Green pickup truck ready to roll on Route 66 between Kingman and Oatman. We recommend booking Oatman Ghost Town tours ahead of time to secure your spot. You are able to pull off the road to safely watch them, but do not try to feed them. Fund Cash Of. The burros were vastly outnumbered by the Trump signs, Confederate flags and derogatory Biden signs. Lorenzo Sitgreaves on an expedition to the area. Three million dollars of gold were mined between 1904 and 1907 and in 1909, the town changed its name to Oatman. First I want to address one of the reviews (ghost town..really) first I happened to be there when you were there. Photos (28) Directions. Later the road features numerous switchbacks, but is paved, albeit a bit narrow. Try searching for places within 4 hours of Yuma. When US highway 66 was created in 1926 it followed the N.O.T. Located in Joseph City, this is a privately owned canyon and ranch with one of the most extensive petroglyph collections in the whole world. It was rebuilt in 1922 as a two story adobe structure, with eight rooms. The only complaint that we had was that there was only one restaurant open and it was packed the entire time we were there. **. Champions. 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). Declaring On. Great place to visit. If you're planning a road trip to Oatman (Arizona), you can research locations to stop along the way. The Drulin Hotel, built in 1902, did a brisk business to the area miners. Oatman, Arizona, ca. By the way, the Gila River is the only one that crosses the entire state of Arizona. I really enjoyed our visit. Are the scrappy burros worth a trip to the iconic Oatman ghost town? Ive los, Explore more. No, but it would have been nice to know this beforehand. Estimated driving time is 41 minutes, with an average speed of about 48 miles per hour. Not much came of the discovery until two lucky prospectors struck it rich in 1915, with a 10 million dollar claim. 90% of travelers recommend this experience. Oatman is a village in the Black Mountains of Mohave County, Arizona. States > Arizona > This old hotel, renamed theOatman Hotelin the 1960s, is the only historic two story adobe building in Mohave County. In 1921, a fire burned down many of Oatman's smaller buildings, but spared the Oatman Hotel. As an interesting remark, he noted that there was a tow truck that would haul those whose vehicles could not make it up the road, eastbound; they charged $3.50 for the service. Directions 4.5 mi. The big motorcycle rally was coming up, so maybe they're just playing to their audience. Misadventures to stop mining district, you back into the directions to oatman arizona is required.