Our Summer In Seligman, Az- 2011

by Bud Corwin
(Apache Junction, Az. USA)

Gerri and I stayed in Seligman, Az this past summer. We worked at the KOA, which is one of two campgrounds there. We worked two days a week and had five off. This gave us ample time to do a lot of exploring. I will try to list some of the places we visited along with pictures. Hope they all come out OK.

Above is a picture of Gerri standing with "Tomatter", one of the vehicles from the movie "Cars". This is on the Main drag running through Seligman. There are several shops in which to buy memorabilia from the days of old Route 66. There are also several good eating establishments. The Road Kill Restaurant is known for "You Kill It, We Grill It". Across the street is Lilo's, a great place for authentic German food, served in portions large enough to fill the hungriest.

Another facinating town on old 66 is Williams, Az. There were many tractors displayed there this summer. We visited this town several times and found a few good places to eat here also. The Safeway store is the closest market of any size to Seligman, so we came here several times. Also located in Williams is one of the original Harvey Houses, which back in its day was the leading Hotel and Restaurant chain of the once Atheson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. This fine old building is now where you purchase tickets to ride the rail to the Grand Canyon.

We visited the Grand Canyon twice this past summer, and I can tell you, it is as awesome now as it was the first time we saw it some thirty years ago. We really enjoyed the improvements, like the shuttle that takes people to the many observation points. We also had lunch at the El Tovar, one of the few remaining Harvey Houses.

Another old western town we like to visit is Oatman, Az. There are wild burros that roam the streets, looking for handouts from the many tourists that visit here. This was a mining town back in the early 1900's and, when the mines played out, many of the miners just left their burros and they have been in the area ever since.

The town was given its name, so it's said, by the towns people for the two Oatman girls that were taken prisoner by the Indians that attacked and killed the rest of their family back in 1851. Olive and Mary Ann were taken by the Indians and then sold or traded to the Mohave Valley tribe where Mary Ann died the following year. Olive was later rescued in 1856 and went on to be the wife of a wealthy man from Texas. One of the sons of Roy and Mary Ann Oatman survived the Indian attack and is credited with the rescue of his sister Olive.

There are many other stories associated with our stay in Seligman and will someday let you know of other things we did and places we went while here.