Happy summer! And welcome to the newsletter of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. I’m Roger Naylor, Arizona author and travel writer, and it’s my privilege to pen these quarterly newsletters that we hope will inform and entertain.
All the Accolades
Back in the spring, Chrysler Capital, an auto financing company, told us something we already knew. Arizona is the best state for road trips in 2023, according to them. The company conducted its study using data and information from TripAdvisor. That seems like an awful lot of trouble when they could have just asked me. I would have given them the exact same answer.
Chrysler Capital singled out three specific Arizona road trips in its ranking of best scenic drives. See if there are any you recognize. There’s Red Rock Scenic Byway, rolling into Sedona on State Route 179, Sky Island Parkway up to the top of Tucson’s Mount Lemmon, and oh yeah, Historic Route 66. That’s a nice little shout out to be included among the best of the best.
There’s so much to see while traveling the Mother Road, Chrysler Capital recommends at least four or five days for a Route 66 getaway in Arizona. But why hurry? My suggestion is to take a week at least. Even then you won’t see everything our stretch of 66 has to offer.
But what a week you’ll have!
Americana Motor Hotel is the Future of Retro
When you’re planning your jaunt across the Mother Road this summer, you’ll have yet another great option on where to lay your weary head for a night or two. The Americana Motor Hotel is slated to open in Flagstaff in the coming weeks. This is one of our favorite kinds of stories: an old business that didn’t get torn down but instead given a second chance.
Built in 1962, the reimagined motor lodge will be a welcome addition to Flagstaff, where we’ve already lost too many fine old properties. Practice Hospitality brands the style “retro-futuristic,” and after seeing the photos, I would heartily agree. Vibrant design, eye-catching colors, and nods to the past yet also comfortably modern—the Americana has it all.
They are also planning lots of fun additions such “dive-in” movies in the year-round heated pool, a Mission Control lobby, complete with telescopes for stargazing (a nice connection to Flag’s deep astronomy ties), backyard fire pits, and a walk-up dining concept serving burgers and fries. Sounds like my kind of joint!
Make sure you support this former old-time now brand new business at 265 E. Route 66. Snag one of their 89 rooms soon as they open. 928-833-3060, www.americanamotorhotel.com.
Passport to Fun
And don’t even think about hitting the road without your Arizona Route 66 Passport. You can visit some great locations while collecting stamps. Fill out the survey and you may even snag an official certificate suitable for framing so that everyone who comes over to your house will know you’re the kind of person who gets their kicks on Route 66. Also, this handsome little guide offers plenty of good travel tips. Check them out on the Association website. https://www.historic66az.com/
Return to Osterman
Maybe we started something. If you recall in the winter newsletter I shared an update on the beloved Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs that’s fallen into disrepair. The Hualapai Tribe is trying to restore it after separate weather incidents took a toll and the Association ponied up $25,000 to help out with that worthwhile cause. Well more people are also sounding the alarm.
In May, the Osterman Gas Station was added to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 36th annual list of Most Endangered Historic Places. The Arizona Republic ran a nice article on the notification with a little bit of history of the station and some updates on the Hualapai Tribe’s plan. In fact, the article even linked to our winter newsletter, a very nice surprise.
The good news to come out of all of this is that the more people made aware of the issue, the better. Route 66 has always been about community. It’s better to have lots of eyes on a problem. The National Trust is working to designate Route 66 as a national historic trail before the old road turns 100 in 2026. According to their announcement, their endangered list “continues to be a powerful, galvanizing tool for historic preservation, with over 350 sites listed and only a handful lost.” You can read the Arizona Republic article here.
Spreading it Around
Seems like the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona is always quick to hand over some dough for worthy causes in the community. They just awarded another round of cost share grants. Here are the latest recipients:
Grand Canyon Caverns received $10,000 for their ongoing work on their all-important elevator. Let’s face it, if the elevator is not functioning it’s tough to get the guests 200 feet underground. They can always bring back founder Walter Peck’s “Dope on a Rope” technique, lowering them one by one into the cavern but I don’t know how successful it would be today. They just don’t make tourists like they used to.
Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive In got $5,000 for refurbishment of their exterior signage. Since the iconic eatery just turned 70 this summer, they were probably due for a little spiffing up.
And here’s one you can help out with, too. Seligman Chamber of Commerce received $10,000 for new Welcome Arches, befitting the Birthplace of Historic Route 66. They want them at both ends of town so travelers will know they’re entering hallowed ground when they drive this stretch of Mother Road. This is where it all started. And the chamber will continue to raise money for this terrific project. They’ve recently set up a Go Fund Me page. Why not drop by and put something in the kitty? You can find the page here: gofund.me/8e1d871f.
Take a Cool Spooky Hike
If you’ve never explored Lava River Cave hidden away in the pine forest outside of Flagstaff, you need to check it out. But come prepared with flashlights and ghost stories. This mile-long lava tube in Flagstaff is one of the chilliest summer hikes in Arizona, because temperatures underground hover around 42 degrees. Formed 700,000 years ago by a river of molten rock blasted from a volcanic vent in nearby Hart Prairie, the cave is an ice cellar beneath the forest floor. Carry at least two sources of light and watch your footing. After squeezing through a narrow opening, you’re able to walk upright the rest of the way, so you’ll have time spin tales of ghosts and giant spiders that are no doubt lurking in the darkness.
Drive 9 miles north of Flagstaff on US 180 and turn left on Forest Road 245 (at milepost 230). Continue 3 miles and turn left on FR 171. Drive for 1 mile and turn left on FR 171B to the parking lot. 928-527-3600, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino.
Business Spotlight: Pine Country Restaurant
This may come as something of a shock but Pine Country Restaurant in Williams actually serves food that isn’t pie! Hard to believe but true. And it’s very tasty. Scratch-made comfort food, the kind you hope to find on the Mother Road. Steaks, burgers, sandwiches, country fried chicken, pastas, salads, and more. You’ll enjoy whatever you bite into, just save room for pie.
Not that you’ll be able to resist. Pine Country pies are works of art! Colorful and enticing, they’re on prominent display, dozens of them like Dutch Apple, Coconut Cream, Key Lime, Chocolate Cherry Cream, Triple Layer Chocolate Cake, and .. and I’m getting a sugar rush just thinking about them! Plus, you can hear them whispering to you from across the room. Or maybe that’s just me. Don’t fight it. Indulge a little. If you can’t enjoy a scrumptious homemade pie on Route 66, where can you? Pine Country pies are world famous, and if I may be so immodest, I’m responsible for a tiny sliver of that fame because I’ve been singing their praises for years in books and articles. But all I do is let folks know where to find them. The pies keep them coming back for more. 107 N. Grand Canyon Blvd. 928-635-9718, www.pinecountryrestaurant.com.
Stand on a Corner Tapping your Feet
Wrap up the summer in a big way with a visit to Winslow. The wildly popular annual Standin’ on a Corner Festival takes place this year on September 29 and 30. This family-friendly event always makes for one great party. Along with all the vendors and food trucks, there’s a horseshoe tournament, a live auction, and a brand new beer garden. Of course, there is an excellent lineup of bands rocking the stage at the Eagles Pavilion. And there may even be a few folks snapping photos at a certain corner that’s now part of rock history. Don’t miss out on this memorable bash! www.standinonthecorner.org.
Hope to see you soon
Well, that’s it for now. Remember, we’re only given so many summers in our lifetime. Don’t let one slip by uncelebrated. It’s a season built for fun and adventure. I expect you to have plenty of both in 2023. Look for the next newsletter to arrive in your inbox amid the cooler weather of October.
If you have items of interest you’d like to share in an upcoming newsletter, I’d love to include them. You can email them to me, Roger Naylor, at [email protected], or to Nikki Seegers, Director of Operations at Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona at [email protected].
Thanks for being part of the Route 66 family. Happy motoring!