Oatman

Where Are We Today

Bullhead City Arizona

(click on pics to enlarge)

 We have been here at Ridge View RV Resort in Bullhead City Arizona since Nov. 22nd. The days have been mostly lazy and relaxing with a couple trips into town for groceries and a trip across the Colorado River into Laughlin for a drive pass all the casinos, no gambling , yet.

Today's post is not about any of that, check out Pat's for details on our time here so far.

Today I would like to tell of the drive to Oatman, Arizona, recommended by several fellow RVers. Oatman is an old mining town born in 1906, as a tent camp,  it flourished as a gold mining center until 1942, when Congress declared that mining was no longer essential to the war effort. It got its name in honor of Olive Oatman, who at the age of 14, was captured along with her sister by Indians. Google her name to read more of her story. The ghost town was revived and receives over 500,000 visitors each year, drawn by its history as a gold mining center which produced over 36 million dollars in gold at 1930 prices. Film makers use the area for making feature films such as " How the West was Won," " Edge of Eternity," "Universal Soldier," "Foxfire," as well as commercials, calendars and historical documentaries. The info above was taken from a pamphlet put out by the Oatman Chamber of Commerce.

Along with its history, it is on the "Mother Road" better known as Route 66, the historic route taken by people who migrated from the Midwest. Starting in Chicago Illinois to Los Angles California. It is the last stop in Arizona before entering the dreaded Mojave Desert in Southern California. Along with its shops, gunfights you will find wild burros that roam the street. They will walk right up to you looking for a hand out of food, which can be bought in one of the shops. A must visit when you are in the area.

Entering Oatman

wild burros

more burros

 The real reason for this post today is what we did when we left Oatman. One of the vendors suggested that when we leave, that we drive thru Oatman up the mountain and down the other side to at least the Cool Springs Museum and turn around and come back the same way. What a tip!! This old two lane narrow, barely enough room to pass by someone when you meet them,  Route 66, twists and turns and climbs to an elevation of 3550 ft, at the Sitgreaves Pass, and then down the other side. At speeds of no more than 30 MPH, mostly down in the 15 to 20 MPH range, you crept along this highway taking in the awe of the mountains splendor. Stopping at pull over's and lookout spots to take in the beauty and breath taking views,  we made our way over and back to Oatman. At one look out there is a cemetery,  so to speak, where crosses mark where one's ashes have been strewn to the wind. 

Route 66

A switch back warning sign

What a view!

Turn around at Cool Springs

Mining around half way

Can you see the road

Through ashes to the wind

The route of twists and turns

We oohed and awed and laughed like a couple of kids in a candy store, loving every twist and turn and  moment of this adventure. On the way over we were on the inside of the road and on the outside coming back. Pat wasn't sure how she would handle being on the outside of the road, where there was not much more then a foot until you drop off the edge, she loved it. This was a great drive and one we will do again.

The pictures here don't do it justice, but I hope you can see what we saw in the beauty of the mountains and what excitement the road was.

Thanks for following along, until the next time, take care and be safe.