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Day Trip

Jim Hinckley • April 1, 2021

There is never a dull weekend for visitors or residents of Bullhead City on the Colorado River in western Arizona. Day trip, and even half day trip, options abound. Each is unique and fascinating. Each has a special charm. Each is a memory making odyssey.

As an example the historic community of Needles, California is only a short drive south on highway 95. At a Colorado River crossing for a Native American trade route the survey expedition of Lieutenant Amiel Weeks Whipple of 1854 labeled the jagged peaks along the river as “The Needles.” The Atlantic & Pacific Railroad established a station and small construction camp on what is now the Arizona side of the river at this crossing in 1883.

A post office under the name Needles opened there in February of that year. In conjunction with plans for construction of a division point, the railroad relocated the tent city to the California side of the river On October 11, 1883.

In the early 20th century, the National Old Trails Road, and then Route 66 added a new chapter to the city’s history as a transportation hub. Both of these early highways followed Front Street parallel to the railroad tracks and then around Santa Fe Park, in front of the stylish El Garces, a Harvey House hotel and restaurant.

The El Garces Harvey House dates to 1908 and was the replacement for an older wooden depot that burned. The namesake for the establishment was Father Garces, a Franciscan priest that led several expeditions in the area during 1775 and 1776.

The hotel closed in 1949. Shortly after this date, the Santa Fe Railroad tore down the north wing and converted the remaining structure into offices. Only extensive lobbying from the city of Needles saved it from the wrecker’s ball after centralization of operations by the railroad led to its abandonment and scheduled demolition. Part of the campaign to save this historic structure was its designation to the National Registry of Historic Places. The El Garces with its stylish fountain in the courtyard was renovated as a conference center.

It is but one of the the gems and treasures found in the historic heart of Needles. In addition to the El Garces, the Directory of Motor Courts and Cottages, an AAA publication from 1940, lists the Robinson’s Bungalow Hotel & Motor Inn as recommended lodging. This time capsule has also survived into the modern era as an apartment complex.

A clearer picture of the importance of this desert oasis to travelers on Route 66 is found in A Guide Book To Highway 66 by Jack Rittenhouse published in 1946. In addition to the El Garces he lists three other hotels, California, Gateway, and Monarch. Auto courts and motels listed include West End, Gray’s, Swain’s, The Palms, Havasu Court & Trailer Camp, and Motor Inn Motel. He also notes three garages, numerous cafes, and stores.

A surprising number of early motels are still existent although they now serve as apartments with rooms rented by the week or the month. The two most notable are the 66 Motel and The Palms, a facility with origins dating to the late 1920s.

Another location with association to Route 66 and Hollywood history is Carty’s Camp. Bill Carty established the facility in 1925 with tent-cabins similar to ones he had experienced during a stay at the Grand Canyon. Expansion during the 1930s included a gas station, garage, campground, and cottages advertised as Havasu Court. The complex appears in a scene of the 1940 film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath.

Picturesque historic structures and tarnished treasures abound in Needles. Located at W. Broadway Street and F Street is the Needles Theater built in 1929 with a Masonic Temple on the second floor. It is being renovated. The Art Deco masterpiece that opened as Claypool & Company in 1930 is now used by Palo Verde Community College. Valenzuela’s Café at 224 Chestnut Street with its colorful murals is a one family owned restaurant that opened in 1952.

Needles is but one many fun filled day trips near Bullhead City. If you are looking for more day trip ideas contact the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce.

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America

Apples & Oranges

By Jim Hinckley • June 3, 2021
If you are in search of a new place to call home, have you considered Bullhead City on the banks of the desert oasis that is the Colorado River? Yes, summers are warm. In fact there are a couple of months when it gets downright hot. But in Bullhead City you can beat the heat with a forty five mile drive to Hualapai Mountain Park. This pine forested oasis in a sea of desert is laced with miles of scenic hiking trails, and there is an excellent RV Park. And there is Hualapai Mountain Lodge with an event center and rustic stone cabins built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Unlike Minneapolis, Duluth, or Schenectady, New York, it seldom snows. In fact snow in measurable amounts is so rare it is deemed an historic event. Still, if you happen to miss the white stuff, again, Hualapai Mountain Park is just forty five miles away. And unlike Seattle or San Francisco there are seldom cloudy or rainy days. The United States average is 205 sunny days per year. With an average of more than 345 days of sunshine annually Bullhead City is ideally suited for a home that taps […]

A Visit To The Land Down Under

By Jim Hinckley • May 23, 2021
Visitors or residents know that when it comes to recreational fun on the Colorado River, Bullhead City is the place to be. Few, however, know that Bullhead City is centrally located to a vast and diverse array of all season outdoor recreational opportunities. But one of Bullhead City’s best kept secrets is that with a short scenic drive it is possible to beat the heat with an adventure in the land down under. Mitchell Caverns in the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is less than 85 miles to the west. Mitchell Caverns had been used by the Chemehuevi Indians used for ceremonies and food storage before the arrival of Spanish and American explorers. Bones of a Pleistocene-age ground sloth found near the entrance indicate that the caverns had provided shelter to people more than a thousand years ago. Mitchell Caverns is actually a system that consists of three caves. They are “El Pakiva,” or the Devil’s House, and “Tecopa” named for a Shoshone chief. The deep and nearly vertical “Winding Stair Cave” is deemed to dangerous for general public admission. It is off limits except for previously approved and authorized scientific explorations. In the 19th century prospectors visited the caverns in […]

In All Seasons

By Jim Hinckley • May 5, 2021
The weeks of early spring are an ideal time to explore the scenic wonders of northwestern Arizona. Mornings are cool, even in the Colorado River Valley, with a touch of rain the harsh desert is transformed by the bright colors of wildflowers. But even in the midst of summer with soaring temperatures the opportunity for outdoor adventures abound. Bullhead City is centrally located in an adventurers paradise for all seasons. As an example, the Mohave & Milltown Railroad Trail near Fort Mohave follows seven miles of an historic railbed from the foothills of the Black Mountains to the Colorado River Valley. The Bureau of Land management lists this as a motorized and non motorized trail system With the exception of washouts, hikers and mountain bikers travel along the actual railroad grade for most of the way. OHV and equestrian users follow a route which does not lie on the grade, but parallels and frequently crosses the railroad bed. The BLM notes that the best season is anytime from September through May. The railbed is a tangible link to an obscure chapter in Mohave County history. The narrow gauge was built in 1903. But the seventeen miles railroad was short lived. […]

In The Beginning

By Jim Hinckley • April 25, 2021
Before there was a Davis or Bullhead City, before Hardyville, the Colorado River Valley was the home of the Pipa Aha Macav — “The People By The River.” Today our neighbors are better known as Mojave. The Mojave are the most northern of the Yuman tribes. The traditional homeland stretched along the Colorado River from Black Canyon near the present site of Hoover Dam to the Picacho Mountains below Parker Dam. The tribe lived in three groups or clans. The northern Matha lyathum clan lived along the river from Black Canyon to near the present site of Mojave Valley. The central Hutto-pah inhabited the central Mojave Valley. The southern clan, Kavi lyathum, lived in villages between the Mojave Valley to a point below Needles Peaks. The Mojave masterfully used the the regular overflow of the Colorado River to irrigate crops planted along the banks. Foods grown were supplemented with wild seeds, roots, mesquite beans, fish taken from the river with nets and traps, and game hunted in the mountains along the river. There is increasing evidence that the Mojave, and tribes in northwestern Arizona, were prolific traders. A trade route that was later incorporated into the Mojave Road across the Mojave […]

Driving U Bananaz Escape Room

By BHC Chamber • April 1, 2021
Bullhead City, AZ –The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce and the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce helped commemorate the grand opening of Driving U Bananaz Escape Room in Bullhead City this week. Owner Juan Lizarraga has been in the area for many years running Thunderbird Taxi and has now been able to open a second business that will bring entertainment to the tristate. Driving U Bananaz Escape Room want players to know the satisfaction of escaping that can be achieved by teamwork and participation in a safe and sanitized environment. Each Session is 45 minutes with two rooms to choose from. Among those attending and pictured are Lizarraga, City Mayor Tom Brady and Chamber Ambassadors, Board Members and staff including George Smith, Carey Fearing, Terri Sponder, John Hassett, Ellen Brown, Yvette Pursley, Tristan Johnson, Todd Levitt, Nicole Diaz, Mary Schramm and Jeanette McCartney and Laughlin Chamber staff members Jackie Mazzeo and Val Gabaldon. Also pictured are Rosa Sandoval, Maria Adams, Amalia Guerrero, Bianca Bedoya, Mathew Najera, Seth Najera, Vanessa Sandoval, Charisma Silvestre, Ximena Perez and DJ Loki. The business is located at 2160 Hwy 95 Suite 6, Bullhead City, AZ 86442 and is open 1 pm – 9 pm on Thursday […]
A large building with palm trees in front of it

Pick Your Season

By Jim Hinckley • March 20, 2021
Before the COVID 19 pandemic an increase in opportunities for remote work was transforming American migration trends. Often these new migrants abandoned large metropolitan areas and relocated to progressive rural communities. And communities that could offer a diverse array of recreational opportunities became a primary focus. Bullhead City, Arizona on the Colorado River is ideally suited to capitalize on this trend. It is at the center of recreational opportunities for every season and interest. And it is also conveniently located in proximity to major cities such as Las Vegas, Nevada, Phoenix, Arizona and the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. With Bullhead City on the Colorado River as the center point, within a radius of 100 miles are a diverse array of attractions, recreational opportunities and cultural activities. As a bonus, a resident of the upper Colorado River Valley can literally pick their season with a relatively short drive. As an example, during the months of winter when the temperatures along the Colorado River are moderate or even warm, it is a drive of less than seventy miles to Hualapai Mountain Park. Snow is common on the peaks around Hualapai Mountain Resort that offers fine dining, an event center and motel. […]

Choose Our Charities RatherThan State General Fund, Chamber Urges

By admin • March 18, 2021
Bullhead City, AZ – “Giving the money to a deserving local charityrather than to State to use on anything in its general fund is the best way to invest in our quality of life,” said JoElle Hurns, Executive Director of the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce. “Look, if you owe the state taxes, they will get it one way or another. If you donate to the charity of your choice – a number of nonprofits from bridge to bridge – you decide to how to meet the needs of ourof residents at risk, our youth programs and our population with disabilities. You get a dollar-for-dollar deduction on your tax bill, even if you don’t itemize.” Hurns is referring to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, aunique and straight forward way to direct tax dollars back to local communities. Between 2011 and 2016, Arizona donated upwards of $35 million to nonprofits and foster care programs through this allowance. ​The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit is intended to spur donations to charitable organizations that provide a significant number of services for Arizona residents experiencing financial insecurity. ​For most Americans preparing federal taxes, donations made to charitable organizations offer minimal financial benefits, tax-wise. That is because of the higher standard deduction implemented through the 2018 Congressional changes to the tax code. Charitable giving is not gone from the tax code, but it has been rendered almost […]

Land of Sunshine & Opportunity

By Jim Hinckley • February 21, 2021
While much of the country is being battered with record low temperatures and a wave of snow storms, here on the shores of the Colorado River we are enjoying sunny days. During times such as these I am reminded of a story told about Ed Edgerton of Ed’s Camp on Route 66 near Oatman. When asked why he had immigrated from Michigan to Arizona, purportedly he simply said that at least I will be warm when I starve to death. I have little information about the employment situation in the area during the post WWI economic recession. However, I do know that today Bullhead City is the land of opportunity. And I also know that it is a modern, progressive community with an eye on the future. In the pre COVID world several companies had begun experimenting with the concept of employees working from home. Some employees were even working from city’s far from their office. GIG workers and independent contractors were also becoming an integral part of the work force. COVID and the resultant quarantine measures dramatically escalated the evolutionary speed of work place transformation. The United States Department of Labor estimates that last year an astounding 62 percent […]

There Is Gold In Those Hills

By Jim Hinckley • February 5, 2021
Before there was a Davis Dam, a Bullhead City or a Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce, prospectors, speculators and investors were discovering that there was gold in the hills above the Colorado River Valley. Soldiers stationed at Fort Mohave often passed off duty time by prospecting the hills along the river. They would return from their prospecting trips with tantalizing traces of gold. Organized mining operations in the area of Union Pass as well as modern day Katherine’s Landing and South Telephone Cove commenced in the 1860s. High grade ore from the Pyramid and Gold Cycle mines near South Telephone Cove, the Homestake Mine across the river in Nevada and the Sheeptrails Mine in Union Pass initially was shipped by paddle wheeler down the river on the first leg of a long trip to processing at a smelter in Swansea, Wales. A small mill for the processing of ore was built at the Sheeptrails Mine in an effort to curtail costs and make the mining of low grade ores feasible. A road built to the Sheeptrails Mine from the river landing passed by a distinctive granite knob that protruded from a flat rocky desert plain. Acting on a hunch in […]

What’s In A Name.

By Jim Hinckley • January 25, 2021
There is general agreement that the town of Oatman is named for Olive Oatman, but only conjecture about why it was named after this amazing woman. Olive survived the massacre of her family, adapted to life among the tribes of the Arizona Territory, and successfully transitioned into a celebrity. In 1850, the Oatman family, including 14-year old Olive, joined a California bound wagon train led by James Brewster. They left Independence, Missouri on August 5, 1850. When it became evident that Brewster was not as familiar with the route as he had claimed, and the immigrants suffered deprivations of hunger, a lack of water, and other issues, dissensions arose. At Santa Fe the Oatman’s and other families made the decision to leave the wagon train and continue to California following the southern route through Socorro and Tucson.  When they reached Maricopa Wells, in the Arizona Territory the other families decided to rest. Royce Oatman and his family decided to press on. On the fourth day of their solo journey across the desert they were approached a band of Yavapai that asked for tobacco and food. On February 18, 1851, the Oatman’s were attacked on the banks of the Gila River. This […]
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