Oatman, Arizona, didn’t start out as much of a town. In fact, it was just a tiny tent camp until, in 1915, two prospectors struck it rich in gold. After that, people flocked to Oatman to see if they could stake their own claims. Over the years, the town had many ups and downs, like a fire that burned down most of the buildings in 1921. Legend has it that the Oatman Hotel was where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon after their marriage in nearby Kingman, Arizona. For years, Oatman stayed a busy little Route 66 pit stop, that is, until a new highway was built that completely bypassed the little mining town.

By the mid 1960’s Oatman was pretty much doomed to ghost town history. Or so it would seem. As popularity in Historic Route 66 grew, so did Oatman. Now, it’s a lovely and lively little Old West style town where burros roam free and visitors get a chance to mingle with the locals, who all have interesting tales to share.

What to do: The main pastime is walking up and down the main drag and wandering in and out of the shops. You’ll definitely want to feed the burros you’ll meet along the way. They like carrots and specially prepared burro food that you can purchase from multiple shops in town.

Where to shop: Fast Fanny’s Place, right on the main drag. You can actually pan for gold right in the store! Here you’ll also find all the supplies you need for gold panning, books, t shirts and fun burro hats for the kiddos. Plus, the staff is super friendly and cheerful.

Where to park your rig: Just 30 miles away is the Avi Resort and Casino. Not only does it have family friendly entertainment (like a pool, beach, and movie theater), but there’s plenty of food to please all palates. And it’s even got an onsite KOA RV park that features Wi-Fi and full hook-ups.

Where to shop: New Digg’ns is an adorable little gift shop located near the entrance to the town. It’s got all kinds of fun, one-of-a-kind touristy trinkets to choose from.

Where to visit: You’ve got to make a pit stop at the Oatman Hotel which features a darling little gift shop, museum and restaurant. Some say the place is haunted which adds to the allure.

Who to meet: As you’re exploring Oatman, you’ll get an eyeful of many fun, colorful murals painted on the buildings around town. The artist who painted those murals, Mr. Harv, is a resident of Oatman and has his workshop at New Digg’ns. He is a super friendly guy who adds a lot of character to the town.

In addition to his murals, Mr. Harv is an Old Timey photographer, face painter, and musician with several CDs out. He’s kind of like the Jimmy Buffet of the Old West and a great Oatman resident to catch if you can.

Whether you spend a few hours, or a full day in Oatman, you're sure to be making fun memories!