Oatman, Arizona & Bullhead City, Nevada

We had some trouble with the pool warming up today so C called the pool guy and while we waited for him to come we headed over to Oatman AZ.

Oatman is a former mining town just on the other side of the state line about 30 minutes East of Bullhead City Nevada and is on the original Route 66. There are two main roads linking Oatman to State Highway 95. One is paved and the other is a dirt road leading to Bullhead City about 25 miles away. The dirt road is in fairly good condition and is certainly a pleasurable egress from Oatman. The scenery along this route is excellent and will really make you feel like you're back in the untamed days of the old west.

You can see the old mines and a fascinating variety of desert vegetation and rock formations. Most of today's cars would have little trouble on this road when it is dry and our cellphones worked most of the way, too.

THE BURROS

The draw for me are the wild burros, whose ancestors were brought in to haul rock out of the mines and were turned loose once the gold had dried up. 'Burro Chow' can be purchased at any of the main street stores but C new to bring carrots and when the Burros spotted them, we got mobbed.

Here's C, G, and me with a couple wild cuties. They are a bit dusty and may think your fingers are food but they are fun to pet and feed.

I had to give this one a little talking to because he was nipping at the others.

Not me from my best angle but what the 'hay'

Ken said this lady in the blue shirt was trying to feed them but she only had Burro Chow and they wanted our carrots. Apparently these burros are protected by the US Dept of Interior.

THE SHOPS

So this is like a modern wild west town. The roads are not paved and are somewhat rocky and there are bitty shops along main street with touristy type things. Anything from rocks and antiques that were better left in the dessert to this shop with postcards, magnets, and hats and a proprietor who thought it was funny to put a fart machine behind this guy and 'let 'er rip' when people looked at him.

The Oatman Hotel is a must see for a number of reasons;

1. the food was good (I had a chix quesadilla)
2. the walls are lined with autographed dollar bills and number in the thousands
3. its the oldest 2 story adobe structure in Mohave county
4. it was the honeymoon stop of Carole Lombard and Clark Gable and the hotel has preserved the suite. Apparently Mr Rhett Butler had a real fondness for the area and loved to play poker
5. its the home of Oatie the ghost

G&C above and K&I to the right

Outside of the preserved Lombard and Gable suite are many thought provoking artifacts

THE BANK ROBBERY AND SHOOTOUT

Around 2pm, the Shriner's did a little 'bank robbery' skit out in the street. The 'cowboy volunteers did a great job and this is a try to see it if your hear kind of experience.

One of the bank robbers

Here's the sheriff who was on the job for his 1st day.

He had a hard time stopping the robbers......

The shot him......

and he shot back........

But the sheriff survived because he stole his wifes pot lid and used it as a shield.......