For years I've wanted to buy this fading Whiting Bros. gas station on Route 66 in Holbrook to save it from ruin. I imagine the Joad family filling their rickety truck up with 93 cents worth of gas here during the Dust Bowl era.
The Hubbell-Joe Rug, the largest single-loom Navajo rug, is on display at the Affeldt Mion Museum in the former train depot behind La Posada Hotel in Winslow. Julia Joe completed the rug in 1937 for the Hubbell Trading Post in Winslow. It is 21' 4" x 32' 7". The rug was displayed
Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Trattoria is taking shape on an 8-acre perch above Old Town Cottonwood. It's the latest creation from Tool vocalist & vintner Maynard James Keenan. Included is a funicular or incline railway to carry customers up a terraced hill planted with grapes.
Starlite Motel on Main Street in Mesa, Ariz., opened in 1958 and the Diving Lady sign was erected two years later. It was damaged by high winds but restored a decade ago.
My son Austin completed the Tushar 100k trail run in Utah just before midnight. In just under 19 hours, he traversed 62 miles with 17,400 feet of elevation gain in the heat and a few evening showers. Well done, Austin.
Colorado River through Marble Canyon. We drove US 89 across the Rez listening to Tony Bennett digging his voice, the dramatic landscapes and intermittent rain showers. Oh Arizona…
I finally got to have a beer at Buckskin Tavern just shy of the Utah border in Fredonia, Ariz. The 100-foot bar has been open since April after an extended closure.
On this day in 1973, I drove into Arizona at Hoover Dam for my first visit to the Grand Canyon State. It was love at first sight. Spent 2 days at the South Rim, saw the Peaks & Flagstaff, camped 2 nights at Picacho Peak State Park & 1 in Tucson. 11 months later I moved to
Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema and Rep. Juan Ciscomani are backing a bill to reclassify Chiricahua National Monument as a national park. The beautiful but remote national monument in far southeastern Arizona only attracts about 50,000 annual visitors.
Buckhorn Baths in East Mesa is fading away but The Mesa Historical Museum has an impressive exhibit that shows the mineral bath motel in its glory years when it was a fixture of early spring training.
@pjbreenphoto
You should ask tournament officials to eject anyone who threatens you. It used to be a point of pride for parents if their kid’s photo was in the media while playing sports. What’s wrong with these hateful parents?
President Biden is scheduled to speak Tuesday at the historic Red Butte Aerodrome, according to Axios Phoenix. Established in 1927, Red Butte was the first successful airstrip at Grand Canyon. Famous pilots Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart both flew to Red Butte. It was
Stock Exchange Saloon in Bisbee’s Brewery Gulch has been closed over the past few years. Too bad since I’ve seen good bands there. It operated as a brokerage until 1961.
And they’re off to run and hike the Cocadona 250 race from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff via Crown King, Prescott, Jerome, Cottonwood, Sedona and last leg up and down Mount Elden. Grueling route from desert to alpine terrain.
Cruising' down Route 66 west of Kingman you take the twisty, narrow road up to quirky Oatman where feral burros are the star attraction. This gold-mining ghost town is one of the last stops on Route 66 in western Arizona before you cross the river.
I'm a fan of Williams, Ariz., and its World Famous Sultana Bar on Route 66. The bar opened in 1912 when Arizona became a state and the awesome sign looks like it could almost be that old. Stop in for cocktails or package goods.
Stone cold logic: When cactus is melting in Phoenix it's wise to get in your car, put on oven mitts to hold the sizzling steering wheel and head for higher elevations. Flagstaff can be at least 25 degrees cooler and Greer's high can be close to 30 degrees cooler.
Frank Luke Jr., Arizona's ace WWI pilot known for shooting down German balloons, was remembered today as Air Force pilots shot down a Chinese balloon offshore in South Carolina. The two Air Force F-22 Raptors that it shot it down had the call signs Frank01 & Frank02 in his honor.
The Bedrock City bank at 44th & Camelback was designed by Weaver & Drover. It was a Valley National Bank when it opened in 1968 and for several decades. Fred & Barney were often spotted cruising through the drive-thru.
One of Arizona's best assets is its canyon creeks: Sycamore, Horton and Aravaipa (3 shown here). Plus, Oak Creek, West Clear Creek, Havasu Creek and Sabino Canyon. Where else? What's your favorite?
Mesa plans to create a neon sign garden next year at a restored 1936 post office, according to AZ Republic reporter Maritza Dominguez. 20 signs rescued from along Main Street (formerly US 60) will be refurbished for the neon garden at Macdonald & Main.
My Year in Pictures: Buckskin Tavern reopened on US 89A just shy of the Utah border. I finally had a beer at one of Arizona’s longest bars. Love the vintage neon sign.
#2023
The Bureau of Land Management begins a wild burro roundup Monday west of Kingman. A herd of 1900 burros is about 3 times what’s sustainable, BLM says. Burros will be available for adoption. The jennies will receive fertility control PZP.
Happy 97th Birthday to Angel Delgadillo, a Seligman barber and guardian angel of Route 66. He was instrumental in renewing interest in the Mother Road and getting it designated as Historic Route 66 in Arizona.
Osterman gas station on Route 66 in Peach Springs, AZ. is on the 2023 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places as identified by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was built in 1929 using a concrete block kit from Sears-Roebuck. The Hualapai Tribe owns
I scoped out a few of Tucson's vintage dives today. Several were closed until 3 p.m. I felt I needed a wingman to imbibe at Bambi's and The Mint. I've previously visited the Buffet Bar. Ended up having a strong Cubre Libre at Mojo, a nice Cuban restaurant at Grant & Campbell.
My son Austin on his trail run from the South Rim of Grand Canyon to the North Rim and back. He covered about 44 miles and 22,000 feet of elevation change in under 14 hours.
Once a thriving roadside oasis, Buckhorn Baths on Mesa's Main Street is weathered and crumbling in its old age. Established in the 1930s, the mineral baths operated until 1999.
#oldarizona
On this day in 2013, 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed battling a wildfire at Yarnell after a change in wind direction pushed flames back toward their position. I will never forget seeing the 19 hearses carrying their coffins thru Congress on the way to
A proposed new national monument unveiled this spring would protect 1.1 million acres adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park. The monument would be called the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. Baaj Nwaavjo meaning “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai
The main road thru Cherry, Ariz., a former mining camp between Dewey and Camp Verde. AZ pioneers were big on dessert in the desert. We have towns named Strawberry, Cherry, Peach Springs, Punkin Center & Dateland. Pie anyone?
Delgadillo's Snow Cap drive-in on Route 66 in Seligman, Ariz., is among 25 businesses receiving $40,000 grants awarded by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Juan Delgadillo opened Snow Cap in 1953. His family still operates the roadside stand.
Get your licks on Route 66. This vintage stone building on Route 66 in Kingman, Ariz., is now Scoops on 66, an ice cream shop that opened in July at 207 Andy Devine Ave. I'm anxious to try their handcrafted ice cream on my next visit to northwestern Arizona.
A historic gas station on US 89 in Junction, Utah, is a relic of an era of motoring when there were fewer cars on the road and one or two gas pumps were adequate to serve travelers. This is classic road architecture and it's begging for a restoration.
Arizona has more than a dozen delightful & historic hotels, including 7 built from 1927-30: Jerome Grand, Monte Vista, Hassayampa, San Carlos, La Posada (in photo), Gadsden and Arizona Inn. Where have you stayed? What's your favorite? Others?
It's always a pleasure to roam the streets of Bisbee. On a recent visit, I noticed several news businesses (or new to me spots) along Tombstone Canyon, such as Bisbee Social Club (a speakeasy), Taqueria Outlaw, Patisserie Jacqui, plus The Quarry, a bar in Brewery Gulch.
#Bisbee
One of my favorite old shots of this battery garage off Route 66 in Holbrook near the Wigwam Motel. The $19 price gives you a sense of how old this place is.
Bisbee's 48-room Copper Queen Hotel that opened in 1902 is for sale for $12.5 million. The five-story building has a swimming pool, elevator and a saloon that often features local musicians.
When the thermometer reads 100, it does not suck to be on a boat on a lake with a cold beverage and friends. I like the layers here of Bartlett Lake, Sonoran Desert, mountains, clouds and blue sky. Heavenly.
A fading sign and a robust cactus are what's left of the Saguaro Motel on US 60 in Aguila, Ariz., west of Wickenburg. It opened in Feb. 1953 with W. Clyde Gilliland as manager, Arizona Republic reported. Mamie Richardson was listed as new proprietor of the nearby Aguila Cafe.
I shot this Navajo Lodge neon sign a few years ago at the Cortez Street Emporium in Prescott. I don't know where this lodge was but it's impressive neon art.
#FF
A sundial at the Sunset Point rest area on Interstate 17 honors state highway workers killed on the job: "As the sun sets on our fallen companions, may they always be remembered." This memorial plaza also has expansive views of the Bradshaw Mountains.
The heart of downtown Flagstaff with Babbitts and the 1927 Hotel Monte Vista, one of Arizona's vintage hotels. It was 19 degrees yesterday morning when I got up.
Buckskin Tavern reopened in April after a long closure. The new operators also refurbished and relit the neon sign. The mid-50s Chevy pickup is still there. This is in Fredonia, Arizona, just south of the Utah border.
My Year in Pictures: Mike Anderson in the dugout of the 1909 Warren Ballpark in Bisbee, Ariz. It’s one of America, oldest ballparks. Mike founded Friends of Warren Ballpark.
Smith's Texaco on Route 66 in Winslow has been restored & serves as a real estate office. It's a 1930s design by Walter Dorwin Teague with porcelain siding, 3 green stripes and red stars. Reports say 10,000 of these were built, with various configurations, across the U.S.
I was on KJZZ's "The Show" this morning talking about Arizona travel destinations for the summer. Thanks Mark & Amy... See more road trip ideas at my blog On the Road Arizona.
Tirrito Farm near Willcox, AZ, is adding glamping geodesic domes for guests. The 80-acre farm that opened in 2022 has a brewery, dairy, farm store, restaurant, event center & 3 lodging suites. Plus, goats, chickens & cows. It was founded by Tucson cardiologist Dr. Sal Tirrito.
So sad to see the fire that destroyed two businesses and historic brick buildings Wednesday on Bisbee's Main Street. We will still be going back to Bisbee often to support this wonderful Arizona town. 😢🌵
Cool Springs filling station on the Route 66 hill climb to Oatman, Ariz. Built in the mid-1920s, it was in ruins at the turn of the century. Cool Springs was rebuilt and reopened in 2004.
#FF
On the Road Arizona at the wheel on Interstate 17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff. I’ve made this trip close to 250 times over a half century. The road is being transformed big time from Sunset Point to Anthem. Well overdue. It should be much safer and less congested.
How about an Alice Cooper license plate for your car? Seventeen dollars of Arizona's $25 specialty license plate fee goes to teen centers. Who's next among Arizona rockers and musicians for a specialty plate?
Who wants to "Sleep in a Wigwam" on Route 66 in Holbrook, Ariz.? Who has already slept in a Wigwam? This Wigwam Motel was built in 1950 by Chester Lewis. His family still operates the roadside attraction. Old cars are staged among the Wigwams.
Holbrook's Plainsman restaurant opened in 1966 on Route 66, the same year as a western film of the same name. This classic sign was one of Arizona's best. Sadly it was sold to a collector and removed last June.
Ya gotta love the Google architecture of Bowlero Christown bowling alley at 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road. It opened as the 300 Bowl about 60 years ago.