Things that make you say “hmmm”???
One of the delights of driving with no fixed timetable or destination is having enough time to see the things you aren’t looking for. And there is no place like the desert for finding oddities. People in these wide open spaces are sometimes moved to make their marks. You might see a row of fence posts topped with overturned cowboy boots… or a Stonehenge-inspired arrangement of wrecked cars… or a giant ball of twine.
In this case, along a remote section of Arizona highway, the Idiots found a weird take on “adopt a highway” – a series of desert bushes adorned with Christmas-style decorations.
When is a ghost town not a ghost town?
A remote section of Historic Route 66 rises into the mountains from Topock, Arizona toward Sitgreaves Pass. Abandoned mine shafts and deteriorating homesteads dot the landscape as it approaches Oatman. The map describes it as a Ghost Town, but it is actually a mighty lively spot. It’s a ghost town that refuses to die.
Still life in refuse and plywood…
Oatman, Arizona, should be abandoned. It was founded in 1908 when gold was discovered. By the 1930s, almost 2 million ounces of gold had been extracted and all the rich veins were played out. It Is in the middle of nowhere and there is little reason for people to live there. Most similar communities simply die out when the mines close.
For a ghost town, Oatman sure is full of life. The twisting main street is clogged with vehicles and pedestrians. Tourist-oriented stores thrive. The town has found a recipe that generates enough tourism to stay alive. The formula seems to be:
Take a large dose of Route 66
Add a bunch of feral burros – allow them free range throughout the town
Put some old furniture and memorabilia on rooftops
Build it and they will come
There are LOTS of burros. People feed them. They have no fear of humans. They either lack common sense or are incredibly stubborn – probably both. They will walk in front of vehicles… sometime even into the side of vehicles. They stop traffic. They wander into stores. Sometimes it appears they are attempting to buy t-shirts and sodas, just like the tourists.
Good taste and tourist traps seem to be mutually exclusive. Despite of claims to the contrary, there is nothing that is classy about Oatman. Fun and lively – yes… but classy? Nope!
The Idiots didn’t stay long… not really their kind of place… but the drive from Topock to Kingman is gorgeous and Oatman is a fun interlude along the way.
