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Oatman is located about 3 hours drive West from Las Vegas. I stumbled upon it by accident. I was driving through the desert, got lost, and found myself on the famous Rout 66, which was the main highway between Chicago in San Francisco between years 1920 and 1960. The nature was pretty, cactuses interesting and soon I was stopped by two DONKEYS!!! When we reached an agreement that my car is more powerful that they are I slowly drove further and noticed the traffic sign with a donkey on it and bushes with Christmas like decorations on them. On the base of all these facts I |
came to a conclusion that something interesting must be hidden behind the corner. Soon I was greeted by the sign: "Welcome to Oatman, Arizona". |
Since I didn't even notice that I left Nevada I figured it must have been the donkeys fault. The sign also promised "step back in time, and shopping, and something called wild burros, which turned out to be nothing else but my old friends down the road: therefore more donkeys coming up… |
Oh, yes,... that was a trip worth taking. Oatman turned out to be a small, no, not small but tiny desert town with its 49 houses, all huddled under the mountains and lined up by the main street, dust covering everything and everybody, looking just like one of those towns that you usually only see in the old western movies. |
There the were: old houses, some falling apart, shops with wooden sidewalks, and the saloon with pretty good burger and walls full of one dollar bills. I found one that sad: Osbourn's were here and was signed by Sharon Osbourn so I figured out that this must be a much better known place that I thought... |
It turned out that in its heyday in early 20th century it was not uncommon to see movie stars like Clark Gable walking down the street towards the (than rather famous) Oatman Hotel. Oatman was a thriving gold mining community back than and for about $10 you can still get a gold panning lesson or two. |
As I was sitting quietly in the bar and eating my burger I all of the sudden heard big commotion |
with yelling, arguing and gun shots right in front of my window although no one but me seemed excided. With my eyes wide open I found out that this happens at least twice a day and it is only a show which proceeds went toward the local hospital. I joined the crowd and came just in time to have an old hat put in front of me with the expectation of those green bills… Oh, and about the promise of more donkeys: they were everywhere - but I don't think they really are completely wild. |
