Help Wikitravel grow by contributing to an article. Learn how.

Oatman

From Wikitravel

Jump to: navigation, search
Both tourists and wild burros are daily visitors to downtown Oatman.
Both tourists and wild burros are daily visitors to downtown Oatman.

Oatman is a old mining town on Route 66 in Western Arizona. It's about equal parts touristy kitsch and real, honest-to-goodness Wild West atmosphere.

[edit] Understand

Gold was discovered in the nearby hills in the early 1900's and the town was home to a boom that lasted until the mines closed in the 1930's. The current population of 150 is down from about 23,000 in its boom years. The main street, lined with gift shops, looks like a set from a Hollywood Western -- and with good reason: Hollywood dolled up the facades to film How The West Was Won [1] here in 1962. A staged gunfight takes place every day at high noon. On the other side of the equation, if you show up after the tourists go home, you'll start to get a real feel for the place: a town of grizzled miners and dogged entrepreneurs determined to make a living at the far edge of civilization.

[edit] Get in

Follow Route 66 from Kingman or Laughlin. This portion of Route 66 is twisty and narrow and thus not appropriate for larger vehicles.

[edit] Get around

Those expecting to find transportation available from the Oatman Metropolitan Subway System (OMSS), or even simple bus and monorail transportation, will be disappointed at the lack of options. For those able to put that disappointment aside, the tiny town is completely walkable; however, due to the frequent burro visits be careful where you walk. Parking is available in dirt lots at either end of the main street.

[edit][add listing] See

Local characters stage a gunfight at high noon and donate the proceeds to the Shriners Hospital for Children. They're available afterward for photographs.

A group of wild burros visits daily to munch on carrots that local shopkeepers are all too happy to sell. Note that despite the fact that they roam main street and will walk right up to passersby, these are in fact wild burros and will kick, bite, and otherwise behave like wild animals if they feel uncomfortable. Don't feed them anything other than carrots, don't feed them outside of the town limits, and keep dogs away from them as the burros won't distinguish a dog from a coyote and will attempt to kick and/or stomp it.

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Gold Road Mine Tour, Route 66 (Just east of Oatman), ☎ ''+1'' 928-768-1600 (, fax: ''+1'' 928-768-9588), [2]. 11AM-5PM. Tour of century old mine shaft lasts about an hour. $12/6 (Adults/Children under 12).  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

The downtown contains a large number of souvenir and other stores. Amidst the mix of t-shirts and burro-related novelty items are a handful of unique establishments run by grizzled locals.

  • Jackass Ron's, Main Street (Route 66), [4]. Daily 9AM-4PM.  edit
  • Jackass Junction, 219 Main Street. Large selection of Native American pottery and other Indian items. Prices are very low compared to other Indian Galleries.  edit
  • Main St. Emporium, 150 S. Main Street (Route 66), ☎ ''+1'' 928-788-3298 (), [6]. Daily 10AM-5PM. Locally made hand-crafted items such as art and candles that you can watch being made.  edit
  • Oatman Gift Shack, 221 Main Street, ☎ 928.768.8433. One of the oldest shops in Oatman. Some of the lowest prices in town.  edit
  • The Ore House, 194 Main Street (Route 66), ☎ ''+1'' 928-768-3839 (, fax: ''+1'' 928-768-3839), [7]. Daily 9:30AM-5:30PM. Rock and gift shop. Large selection of Southwest area rugs.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Olive Oatman Restaurant and Saloon, 171 Main Street (Route 66), ☎ ''+1'' 928-768-1891 (), [8]. 8:30AM-4:30PM. Lunches $5-7.50.  edit
  • Prospector Cafe, ☎ ''+1'' (928) 768-2555.  edit
  • Route 66 Deli & Expresso Shop, 134 Main, ☎ ''+1''(928) 788-2661.  edit
  • Silver Creek Saloon & Steak, 170 Oatman, ☎ 170 Oatman.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Judy's, 260 Main St, ☎ ''+1'' (928) 768-4463.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Crystal Palace & Motel, 233 Oatman, ☎ ''+1'' (928) 768-5007.  edit
  • Oatman Hotel, 181 Main Street, ☎ ''+1'' (928) 768-4408. Hotel supposedly haunted by several ghosts. As of December 2010 the hotel is undergoing renovation and closed to overnight guests, although the lobby and bar remain open.  edit
  • Karen's cabin. Karen is a local shop-owner and miner who runs a cozy guest cabin. Find her at Arizona Girl shop to inquire. If you arrive in the evening, go to Judy's saloon and ask them to track her down. The cabin sleeps five, has a working kitchen, space heaters and wood stove. There's a barbecue in the small yard and a beautiful view of the rugged mountain-scape. If you're at all interested in gold mining, ask her about it - she's got the bug. Also, ask to see the tortoises.  edit

[edit] Get out

Routes through Oatman
Barstow ← Topock ←  W noframe E  → Kingman → Flagstaff


This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Oatman"