Oatman, Arizona Promotes its “Classy Asses”
©Bert Gildart: Family has kept us busy here in Bullhead City with some wonderful tours to local attractions, the little mining town of Oatman being the highlight.
L To R: “Classy asses” roam streets of Oatman, abandoned years ago by miners; Christmas decorations adorn trees on fringe of Oatman; Biblical use of the other word for burrows adds to this old mining town’s colorful ambiance.
The town harkens back to a mining era and is located in the Black Mountains of Mohave County, Arizona. The drive from Bullhead City requires about half an hour and the road ascends to a height of 2,710 feet. Christmas decorations grace the many juniper trees as we approach, imparting a festive atmosphere to an already interesting history.
Route 66
Oatman is particularly proud of its Route 66 heritage and replicas of 66’s black-on-white US highway shield are posted all over the town. Route 66 souvenirs abound and many tourists have pasted autographed one-dollar bills on the walls and ceiling of the Oatman Hotel’s bar and restaurant.
Granddaughter Halle with "miner" and grandmother Pat
Signs posted around the town explain that Oatman began as a tent camp soon after two prospectors struck a $10 million gold find in 1915. Though the area had been already settled for a number of years, Oatman’s population grew to more than 3,500 in the course of a year.
Classy Asses
Stores of various types graced the town’s streets, and a “gunman” walking the town’s streets imparts a Wild West atmosphere, but the chief attraction were the burros, (signs everywhere remind us they are “Classy asses”) which roam the streets. Though normally gentle, the burros are in fact wild and signs posted throughout Oatman advise visitors to exercise caution. The burros are descended from pack animals turned loose by early prospectors, and are protected.
The town is full of burrows descended from ones prospectors abandoned years ago.
Granddaughter Halle enjoyed feeding the burrows and also enjoyed the opportunity to pan for gold. Janie and I both enjoyed the trip and the opportunity to experience a slice of history from Arizona’s past. With all the entertainment family has provided, we feel as though we’ve been treated like honored guests.
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THIS TIME TWO YEARS AGO:
