Nov 09, 2018
The rest of the story
So there we were at the top of the pass.
Time to hairpin our way down.
We saw an abandoned mine and hence evidence of many homes that used to make up the community.
This was only the second gas station that we saw on the drive, also abandoned. Whatever did folks do back then when they had a breakdown? There were no cell phones. The road was narrow and constantly winding. I can’t image trying to get a tow truck in those days. Even now it would take hours for someone to get to your broken down vehicle.
We turned a corner and with no warning, there it was, Oatman.
Back to Colin as the photographer. Neat place but oh so very smelly. Watch where you step!
Almost too much to take in at first glance. All shops wanting to get your attention.
No we did not pose that donkey there. The sign under his chin reads ” I found my sweet ass in Oatman, Arizona “.
A satisfied customer?
The burros came with the miners and still roam the streets.
We walked up one side of street and down the other. It was after two and my eating time and I was hungry. This is the Oatman Hotel, one of two restaurants in town and it has a liquor license.
A hotel, an ice cream parlor, the only bar in town and a fabulous restaurant.
What kind of wallpaper is that?
Dollar bills, all signed by guests over the years and taped or pinned to the walls, fans, railings, napkin containers, just everywhere. All those dollar bills are still valuable currency and when we asked, we were told that there was at least $150,000.00 hanging around. Likely much more as in some areas the bills were eight deep.
We each had a tuna melt on sourdough with fries. One of the best meals I have ever had. It was difficult to not eat it all, so I ate almost every bite. Yummy and decadent. Needless to say that was my only meal that day.
The hotel was built in 1902 and is said to be haunted.
But we went upstairs anyway. Original stairs, floor and handrails. Clarke Gable and Carol Lombard spent their honeymoon upstairs in March of 1939.
The honeymoon suite as it looked back in 1939. Room 15 was the only one that had a private bathroom. Apparently they frequently came back to Oatman because they enjoyed the solitude and Clark played cards with the miners.
A very young foal still enjoying mom’s milk.
A fun place to visit at least once.
But you need to behave or you will be put in jail or worse hung from the gallows.
So ended our full day of exploring the Kingman area.
We still had to get back to the RV but fortunately we did not require dinner. There is a lot of history here and so much more to enjoy than we had time for. We look forward to a return visit sometime in the future.
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Haven’t been there in years. looks like there are more donkeys there now. We are in Maz. Road from Gusave to Maz has some really rough places in between the nice road sections.
Certainly lots of donkey poop! Thanks for the road update.
Man oh man, that’s a lot of asses. (only place I can say it and get away with it…) 🙂
No, Bob, in the last two years, I’ve learned you can say that in political circles!
🙂
…and we didn’t even show you all of them.
Really enjoyed your photos of Oatman! The tuna melt looked scrumptious! Since $1.00US today is only worth about $.15US in buying power in the US (as compared to the buying power of $1.00US in 1970), I’m guessing that he may be jerking your chain about the $150,000.00.
Well a dollar is still a dollar. The place is plastered with one dollar bills. Easily 150,000 bills.
Such a fun town to visit with the vendors and the wild burros, we have been few times and always enjoyed lunch ch at the hotel, always a worthwhile visit.
Certainly worth a visit. Don’t think we would do it again for a long time. So many other places to see.
How would a Canadian leave a signed loonie! Maybe a five. Thanks for the tour.
I did see a peso note up on the wall.
Cool – the burros definitely add something to that town. Isn’t it funny you can go to somewhere in the middle of nowhere and get an amazing meal (likely draws people there) and go to a city and not get a decent meal anywhere?
Great question. From the appearance of the place we expected a ho hum meal. It was a nice surprise. I forgot to mention that each sandwich held at least one can of tuna.
That sure looks like a fun place to visit. We eat very few sandwiches but that tune melt looks like one I would enjoy – hope it came with a dill or kosher pickle, too.
Sadly it did not. That would have been over the top. Yummy.
Did one of those critters have a orange cheeto hair mop?
🙂