Oatman, AZ—Donkeys and Danger on Route 66

Oatman, AZ, is a ghost town. Don’t tell that to Oatman, though.

Despite having technically been abandoned, Oatman is still bustling with motorcyclists and other motorists traveling on Route 66. This small hamlet in the western Black Mountains of Arizona is known primarily for two things—danger and donkeys.

The danger stems from the mountainous section of Route 66 going through town, known as Oatman Highway (more on that later). The wild burros, on the other hand, are a longer story.

The first European settlers arrived in the area by the mid-1800s. Life wasn’t easy for them, as Oatman’s name demonstrates. The town draws its name from Olive Oatman, an Illinois girl who was taken into captivity by Native Americans after they massacred her family in 1851.

Then came the year 1863 when prospector John Moss struck gold in the area, kicking off a half a century of mining activity. Oatman became a typical mining boom town between 1915-1917 during one of California’s last gold rushes.

In 1924, the United Eastern Mines ceased operations, and all gold mining activity came to an end by World War II. This is where Oatman’s burros originate. They’re descended from animals left behind by miners.

The closure of the mines would’ve surely spelled doom for Oatman, had it not been located on the newly designated Route 66. The Mother Road began funneling in travelers and tourists, giving Oatman a new lease on life.

Yet, the road provided only short-term relief, as a new road bypassed the precarious Oatman Hwy in 1953. By the end of the decade, Oatman was virtually abandoned.

You wouldn’t believe that when you motor through the town, though. The saloons and many gift shops and boutiques, housed in Wild West-style buildings, are still busy with activity.

The structures aren’t that old, though, since most of Oatman was wiped out in a 1921 fire. The oldest structure in town is the surviving Oatman Hotel, which was built in 1902. 

Of course, one of the main attractions in town are the more-or-less wild burros. They’ve technically gone feral, but they’re quite friendly and will accept (and expect) treats from tourists.