The “Living Ghost Town” of Oatman, Arizona
If you are traveling out to Arizona for a vacation getaway then you are probably expecting vast desert landscapes, dusty old saloons, and perhaps even cowboys. This is certainly what Nathan and I were expecting on our first road trip through Arizona.
Amazingly, we were not disappointed! Towards the end of our road trip down Route 66 we randomly stumbled across the old town of Oatman.
This is exactly what we wanted to find during our 4 day trip through the gorgeous Arizona desert!
Location Details
This small town is located at the top of the Black Mountains of Mohave County, right off Route 66. Very close to the border of Arizona and California.
The drive to and from Oatman winds around mountain roads providing you with spectacular views of the desert landscape. Even though Oatman is an hour outside the Interstate 40, the beautiful scenic drive plus the experience of a living ghost town makes the whole journey worthwhile!
Once in town, you’re met with the charm you’d expect from a place back in the “Old West.”
Super Quick History of Oatman
Roughly 100 years ago, Oatman was originally built as a mining camp and soon became a popular gold mining center. Unfortunately a fire back in 1921 burned down most of the town which caused several mining operations to be shut down. By 1941 all operations had been closed down due to the war effort.
Today the town has experienced a tourism renaissance thanks to the popularity of Route 66 and the nearby city of Laughlin, Nevada. Refurbished towns like Oatman and Calico Ghost Town, wouldn’t be standing today without the help of those to rebuild and of course the continuous tourism.
Or Should We Call It – The “Living Burro Town!?”
Right after we arrived, we were thrown for a loop that Oatman had wild burros (spanish for donkeys) roaming everywhere!
Of course for me, I was beyond excited upon this discovery. Poor Nathan though quickly became overwhelmed trying to maneuver the car around all the burros while looking for parking! It was pretty hysterical.
(No donkeys were harmed during this event.)
The wild burros of Oatman were actually brought here by miners in the late 1800’s, but when they were no longer needed they were turned loose. Now they freely roam the area, coming into town for food and maybe for attention from all the tourists?
Either way, everyone loved interacting with the burros! These animals were calm, casual, and some even overly-friendly! Oatman just wouldn’t be the same without them.
The Only Street: Main Street
Nathan and I happily cruised down main street, so excited to have come across this quaint little town at random. Located along the streets are multiple gift shops, food establishments, and a couple saloons.
Scattered across the land are rusted mine carts and other artifacts left behind from miners during the 1800’s. A very similar environment to Bodie Ghost Town in California where endless machinery and rusty car parts are sprinkled among the dry landscape.
Always a treat to see the tools left behind from previous eras. One can really try to understand the type of work that went on here.
What’s better than beer? SALOON BEER!
After visiting a few of the local shops, we popped into one of the saloons to enjoy a couple beers.
Now for me, I LOVE (near infatuated) with the old west! Whenever I see a saloon I always want to venture into that dusty old environment and enjoy a couple drinks.
Imagining when miners and cowboys filled these locations at the end of their busy work day makes visiting these same locations today that much more interesting.
So much has changed since those days, but realistically, not so much! Many of us still gather after work at our local watering hole for a drink to let loose and relax after the long day.
Well, much of the work we do today is not as rough as it was before, but hey, I can still relate!
Don’t Miss The Gun Show!
If all this isn’t enough to satisfy your western craving, then stay for the Oatman Ghost Rider Gunfighters! This group puts on daily “wild-west shootouts” right in the middle of town.
Don’t worry, if the burros aren’t scared then you shouldn’t be either.
The Gunfighters perform daily at 1:30pm and 3:30pm (the 3:30pm show may not perform during summer months due to heat).
Make Oatman Part of Your Arizona Adventure
If you ever find yourself heading down the I-40, take some time and pull off the highway to visit Oatman! This cute little western town is perfect to add to any road trip, or even a day trip if it’s not too far for you! We were lucky to have stumbled upon it during our Route 66 road trip!
What better way to end our travels than rocky scenic views, roaming burros, and a couple cold beers from the saloon. We will definitely come back to visit next time we are cruising through Arizona!
For more ghost towns in Arizona, be sure visit the largest one in all of America – Jerome Ghost Town. More populated than Oatman, you can expect saloons, restaurants, and shopping all along the historic streets of the wickedest city in the west. And you most certainly can’t forget the famous Tombstone, Arizona. My favorite ghost town of all time!
Heading to California from Oatman? Check out our top things to do at Mojave National Preserve, directly off Interstate 40 in California, only about an hour from Oatman!
What are some of your favorite western themed towns? Share with us in the comments below! We are always looking for more to explore.
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Nice article about this old mining town! Thanks for sharing it, interesting to go back in time and feel the vibes of the gold rush era. The burros are so cute but the cactus is not so friendly looking!!!
We love visiting these old places for that reason! Imagining how it was in those days is always a trip. So much has changed but it’s amazing how much is still left in the land for us to explore. Yes, the burros were probably the best part too! And cacti need love too! 😉
This is the first time I am hearing about this ghost town and it seems so haunting, Nathan and Shelby! Thanks for bringing this place closer and informing us that such places are real!
Thank you and of course! We love spots like these along our road trips. Love the history and the charm that these towns carry. Hope you have a chance to visit it someday!