Oatman, Az

Three generations... mama, new baby and last year's baby

Today we went to Oatman, Az!  It was awesome.  It used to be a gold mining town and is now a "ghost" town.  Aka... a town with lots of cool little shops to shop in.   Ahhhh Shopping!  The names are so interesting as well. Ha! Ha!

Almost all the shops made a reference to the town's notorious beggars!

 The coolest thing about Oatman and what they are known for is the burros!  The burros were let loose after the gold mines closed up shop.  The shop keepers are quick to tell you they are wild and to be careful so if your finger gets mistaken for a carrot you have been warned.  The funny thing is that they all tend to hang out in town where tourists, can, you know, buy some hay chunks from the shop and feed them. I also noticed that the babies all had stickers on their foreheads warning not to feed them.

Not a tattoo but it is a sticker..

Now a wild burro really can't do this to itself now can it?

  I asked about this and a shopkeeper informed that the baby burros could choke on carrots and compacted hay.  So they are "wild' but well looked after wild!


  Be careful though.. They are competitive for food and will get into kicking contests. 

Me feeding one.  I had to break up a few kicking contests before they got me!

They also tend to express their affections in the street as well so if you have kids you might want to explain a few things before you come.  You might also want to bring some closed toe shoes or walk very very carefully!

Proof that burros can't open doors!

While in one of the shops I noticed a picture hanging on the wall.  It seems that the store was in the movie, "How the West was Won".  It was actually an old saloon before it was transformed into a store.  I really don't remember the name of the store so don't ask:)

I think the bull won this one!

We went into the restaurant and had some pretty good burgers.  The decor was interesting as well.  They had a mannequin at a player piano and one standing behind him for tips - they both were halloweeny looking.  Then I looked up and saw this....
The morbid person in me enjoyed this far too much:) 





 After we shopped and ate it was time for a gunfight!  Every day at 12:00 and 2:45 locals put on a gunfight.  After the gunfight, they pass around their hats and people donate money.   The money goes to the Shriner's so that families with  chronically ill children don't have to pay.  To date they have raised more than 20,000 dollars!  How's that for community service?  It's fun.. it's neat and it's charity. 

The other great thing that happened in Oatman was in another shop.  The gentleman in this shop asked if we were driving Route 66.  We said that we were (mostly - sometimes the road gets too rough and sometimes we lost it along the way).  He gave us Route 66 passports. The books are supported through Arizona.   From Oatman to Holbrook, Az you have the opportunity to get 10 unique cancellation stamps.  If you get at least seven you can send off for a certificate stating you drove 66.  OMG.. I have to have one! :) Another checklist!  We are already getting our National Park Passports all stamped up, now we have another one to complete.  I am such a child!  I love it!

Finally, all tuckered out from our experiences, not to mention the heat,  we headed out.  Side note:  I was in a store and one of the sales clerks asked another if she thought the hangers would melt in her car. It was hot baby!  We did manage to snap a few head shots along the way.  I think I got the raw deal here....

Mom is looking great don't ya think?

Hee Haw...Hee Haw...