RV Lifestyle Oatman, Arizona Prospector Johnny Moss first mined the area for gold in the 1860s, staking claims to two mines; one was named Moss and the other was Oatman after Olive Oatman who was kidnapped by Apache warriors, sold to Mojave Indians and released after five years near the current townsite in 1855. Gold mining would have its ups and downs in the Black Mountains until the early 1900s. Oatman got a boost with a major gold discovery in 1908, but it wasn’t until 1915 when two miners struck a $14 million gold find, that it experienced one of the West’s last gold rushes. By summer of 1916, more than 200 mines were operating in the Oatman district. At the conclusion of the First World War, many ex-soldiers flooded into the Oatman area both in search of employment at the mines and reportedly to take advantage of Arizona’s dry climate to rehabilitate from being gassed in the war. By 1930, it was estimated that $36 million worth of gold had come from the mines. The town boasted two banks, seven hotels, 20 saloons and 10 stores. By the mid-1930s, the boom was over and, in 1942, the last remaining mines were closed as nonessential to the war effort. Oatman was more fortunate than other former mining towns as it was located on U.S. Route 66, known as The Main Street of America, a popular and important road for travellers. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard stopped in the town during their 1939 honeymoon. Gable fell in love with the town and returned frequently to play cards with the locals. The Oatman Hotel still features the Gable Lombard Honeymoon Suite. In the late 1980s, Route 66 again became a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. Oatman started becoming very lively again. Oatman today is a tourist town. The main street is lined with shops and restaurants. Wild burros – descendants of those brought by long-ago miners – wander the streets. Gunshots are heard as the Ghost Rider Gunfighters perform daily, displaying blazing six-gun shootouts in the middle of Main Street. Where History Lives Santa Fe, New Mexico An exhibit at the New Mexico History Museum honours the 100-year history of Santa Fe’s Indian Market. Another exhibit explores the legacy of the Fred Harvey Company. Williams, Arizona Ride the Grand Canyon Railway to the national park, including special steam-powered runs on 11 days in 2023. In town, enjoy the relics of Route 66 and the World Famous Sultana Bar. Placerville, California See the historic downtown, the Fountain-Tallman Museum in an 1852 building and tour the Gold Bug Mine. Williams 22 | www.snowbirds.org
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