Oatman, A Landmark American Legend

By Author: Ronald H. Pope
Total Articles: 2
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Oatman, a landmark American legend.

I shudder some times as does my wife, when we think back to a few years ago when we almost bought into this town.

Back in the late '90's we actually entered into negotiations with a couple from Las Vegas, NV who owned the hotel. Our accepted contract did not result in a closing and both my wife and I sigh with relief today as we think about the prospects of living there. Sorry, Oatman. But, I digress...

The Arizona Town of Oatman was born in 1906 as a tent camp, flourished as a gold-mining center, then was stricken a near fatal blow in 1942 when Congress declared that gold mining was no longer essential to the war effort. The town still thrives today as a tourist center boasting twice daily shootouts on Main Street in front of the historic Oatman Hotel where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their wedding night. And wild burros still wander through the town, mooching from the tourists, protected by state law as a heritage from the mining days of old.

Oatman is located on the legendary old U.S. 66 the trail of people who migrated in their model ...
... T's from the midwest in the '30's. It was the last stop in Arizona before the dreaded crossing of the Mohave Desert in California


About the author:

Ronald H. Pope is President of Pope Estates Arizona, commercial realtors and business brokers www.popemakesdeals.comin Scottsdale, Arizona. He has authored numerous short articles including a children's book, ‘Jack, a story about a horse.'