Oatman Things to Do

I always wanted buns of steel and after this ride through the mountains - I have them!

It was exhilarating, terrifying, breathtaking, gut-wrenching and astonishingly beautiful.

Thank goodness the two lane road was paved!

You don't want miss this stretch of Route 66, it offers the thrill of a roller coaster without the cost to ride. My muscles were tensed and my toes were curled in my shoes as Bob navigated the many twists and turns in our rental car. The view is simply indescribable and the drive is unforgettable. Unfortunately I didn't get any photographs (other than the donkey) as I was too busy gripping the dash.

Happy trails,
Bonnie

Whether you prefer gunslinger swagger or dance hall swing it doesn't really matter. The options here are limited only by your imagination. For those of you like me, a little short on imagination, Tom and Linda, owners of Making Memories Old Time Photos, have oodles of photos and suggestions to generate ideas.

Personally, I always thought of myself as more the Annie Oakley rather than painted lady type and after browsing the racks of vestments and adornments, I discovered I’d thought right. Bob and I opted for a pistol duel after some vermin polluted on Whiskey cheated us at the poker table.

Dress up, get into character and have some fun. For $36.00, we departed with an awesome “Old Time” photo that will always make us smile and remind us of the fun we had in that quirky, little town of Oatman, Arizona.

Happy Trails,
Bonnie

Why not start new business. If you are tired and have some funds and local connections, here is free space to start new life style. If you think that Route 66, gold, sand and curvy roads are causing increase of tourist flows, here is the opportunity.

A couple of cons: DIY man is required and the situation is not the best, this is about 100 meters from the most crowded centre.

On March 29, 1939 Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their wedding night at the hotel after having been married in Kingman, Arizona. Unfortunately it is not possible anymore, the hotel is museum (second floor suites) and bar only. But you never know if new era is starting in Oatman and all the old facilities are opened again.

But, again, let's be careful, the hotel is one of the biggest attractions of the small village because there are stories that mischievous ghosts are appearing there. The first and foremost ghosts are those of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who evidently had so many fine memories of the old hotel that they simply refuse to leave.

Visitors are encouraged to write their name and home town on a dollar bill, and tack it on the wall. (there are at least 25 000 bills).

NOTE! Check in advance if this is the only target of your trip. I heard later the hotel was closed in July 2011 (at least temporarily).

Unfortunately the post office was closed I was there on Sunday. Pity, I could have been nice place to send post cards to your friend and to yourself too.

This is still one of the most unique post offices I've ever seen (and the second best is in Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as they call it today).

3 more images

We were fortunate to be in Oatman on a wonderful Sunday afternoon and that one main street was filled with tourists just looking for something to do in this old mining town. And then there was this lady who started gathering up the people and there was this cowboy show which literally started off with a bang from a gun! That obviously caught everybody's attention and then someone pretended to have been shot and fell to the ground....there was a lot of shouting but it was hard to concentrate on the show because the burros (donkeys?) were just walking about and are so cute that you can't help paying attention more to them.

Note that the main street of this old mining town is part of the Historic Route 66...and these "Old West" showdowns and shootouts occur daily.

4 more images

If you love cowboy and mining stuff, you're int he right place. Oatman is loaded with these souvenir shops all found on the one main road of this old mining town. They have gun holsters, little statues of both cowboys and Indiand, and the fun thing is seeing the names of these stores like the Jackass Junction, Outlaw Willie's and so forth...

The shirts were also very reasonable - like 3 for less than $12. And I also bought nice Oatman caps for the kids and lots of other little things.

2 more images

This was what attracted me most to Oatman, Arizona --- the BURROS! I knew the kids would love them - although I really don't know the difference between a burro and a donkey (I'll probably google this later).

But after swering off the main road to go for another 13 miles off the beaten path to this old mining town, you know you are there when you spot these donkeys...I mean, Burros..

They're just everywhere and they are so tamed and used to having people around - although I still made sure my kids won't go on these burros' behinds lest they get kicked! But no such thing happened...and people were feeding them these huge carrots - just be careful with small hands of the kids but the burros seem to know to take just the carrots (and not bite the hands).

Truly a fun experience!