Oatman

Oatman was named posthumously for Olive Oatman (1837-1903). History tells that she was a young Illinois girl kidnapped by (presumably) Yavapai Indians and forced to work for them as a slave. Later, she was traded to Mohave Indians who adopted her as a daughter, had her face tattooed in the custom of the tribe, and eventually released her in 1855 near the current site of the town.
Gold was discovered in the nearby hills in the early 1900s and the town was home to a boom that lasted until the mines closed in the 1930s. The current population of 150 is down from about 23,000 in its boom years. The main street, lined with gift shops, looks like a set from a Hollywood Western, and with good reason: Hollywood dolled up the facades to film How The West Was Won here in 1962. A staged gunfight takes place every day at high noon. On the other side of the equation, if you show up after the tourists go home, you'll start to get a real feel for the place: a town of grizzled miners and dogged entrepreneurs determined to make a living at the far edge of civilization.
While the main street is known alternatively as "Main Street" and "Oatman Road", it is also the Historic Route 66.

• Oatman Chamber of Commerce

  phone: +1 928-768-6222

Follow Route 66 from Kingman or Laughlin. This portion of Route 66 is twisty and narrow and thus not appropriate for larger vehicles.
Another route from Laughlin and Bullhead City is to take Arizona State Route 95 South into Fort Mojave, and turn left onto Boundary Cone Rd. Oatman is about 13 miles (21 km) down the road.

Those expecting to find transportation available from the Oatman Metropolitan Subway System (OMSS), or even simple bus and monorail transportation, will be disappointed at the lack of options. For those able to put that disappointment aside, the tiny town is completely walkable; however, due to the frequent burro visits be careful where you walk. Parking is available in dirt lots at either end of the main street.

Local characters stage a gunfight on Main Street at high noon and donate the proceeds to the Shriners Hospital for Children. They're available afterward for photographs. Road traffic will be held up for the duration of the show.
A group of wild burros visits daily to munch on carrots that local shopkeepers are all too happy to sell. They have become obese from the practice and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has requested shop managers stop selling carrots. Some are selling alfalfa cubes to offer the burros instead. Feeding baby burros is discouraged, and some may sport a "Do Not Feed" sticker on their foreheads, provided by the BLM. Feeding wild burros on the road outside the town of Oatman is not legal and causes a road hazard. Pull well off to the side of the road to watch them.
Although they roam the main street and will walk right up to passers-by, these are wild burros and will kick, bite, and otherwise behave like wild animals if they feel threatened. Keep dogs away from them as the burros won't distinguish a dog from a coyote and will attempt to kick and/or stomp it.
Also see the large number of Confederate flags that are flown and sold at many locations in Oatman.

• Gold Road Mine Tour

  phone: +1 928-768-1600
  address: Route 66 (Just east of Oatman)
  Tour of century-old mine shaft lasts about an hour.

• Oatman Stables

  phone: +1 928-788-1764
  address: Route 66
  Horseback rides.

• July 4th Sidewalk Egg Frying Contest

  phone: +1 928-768-8595
  An annual event, contestants can participate in groups or singly, originality is encouraged.

The downtown contains a large number of souvenir and other stores. Amidst the mix of t-shirts, burro-related novelty items, and Route 66 souvenirs are a handful of unique establishments run by grizzled locals.

• Jackass Ron's

  address: Main St

• Jackass Junction

  address: 219 Main St
  Large selection of Native American pottery and other Indian items. Prices are very low compared to other Indian Galleries.

• The Leather Shop

  phone: +1 928-768-3833
  address: 162 Main St

• Main Street Emporium

  phone: +1 928-788-3298
  address: 150 S Main St
  Locally made hand-crafted items such as art and candles that you can watch being made.

• The Ore House

  phone: +1 928-768-3839
  address: 194 Main St
  Rock and gift shop. Large selection of Southwest area rugs.

• United States Post Office

  phone: +1 928-768-3990
  address: 251 Main St
  Postcards mailed from here will have a special postmark featuring a cartoon of a bearded prospector and a donkey.

• Oatman Hotel

  phone: +1 928-768-4408
  address: 181 Main St
  Former two-story, eight-room inn built in the early 1900s and supposedly haunted by several ghosts. Now a restaurant/bar and museum, no longer taking overnight guests. The restaurant has a wall papered with dollar bills. The suite where Carole Lombard and Clark Gable spent their honeymoon may be viewed; there's also fudge and souvenirs for sale.

• Olive Oatman Restaurant and Saloon

  phone: +1 928-768-1891
  address: 171 Main St

• Prospector Café

  phone: +1 928-768-2555

• Route 66 Deli & Expresso Shop

  phone: +1 928-788-2661
  address: 134 Main St

• Judy's Pool & Saloon

  phone: +1 928-768-4463
  address: 260 Main St

There is no innkeeper in Oatman. Bullhead City, a little over away, is the closest lodging. On route 66, try Kingman or head west to the California border.