Winslow’s tourism season began early with Glenn Frey’s death

Apparently The Eagles’ loss was Winslow’s gain.

When Glenn Frey died in January, it wasn’t surprising Winslow, Arizona, and its Standin’ on a Corner Park saw a sudden influx of tourists wanting to pay tribute to the founder of the massively popular country-rock band.

Standin’ on a Corner Park pays tribute to The Eagles’ first hit, “Take It Easy,” and its now-iconic lines: “Well, I was standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, and such a fine sight to see, it’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me.” The park at Old Highway 66 and Kinsley Avenue includes the flatbed Ford and a statue of a musician many people believe is either of the song’s co-writers, Frey and Jackson Browne.

Lighted candles, flowers, balloons, cards and Eagles memorabilia appeared at the statue within hours of Frey’s death. And I spotted a Facebook video from the park Friday that showed small memorials still being left at the statue two months later.

I thought the surge of tourists would be a one-week thing. However, the Arizona Journal newspaper there reports businesses in Winslow’s downtown area have remained busy since January. Winslow usually doesn’t become busy with tourists until spring.

The Sipp Shoppe across from Standin’ on a Corner Park attests to the unexpected bump in visitors:

Nikki Greer, who runs the shop, said that it’s been “total chaos” for the past couple of months, ever since the death of Eagles co-founder Glen Frey. “This is usually our slowest month of the year, but so far it’s been crazy busy, mostly with people from in the state,” she said.

So did the nearby Arizona 66 Trading Co.:

Sabrina Butler runs the shop and said it’s been busy like this since January. “It seemed like the day after Glenn Frey died people just started showing up,” she said.

It will be interesting so see how this plays out over the rest of 2016. But if the boost in Eagles-related tourism persisted into March, it shouldn’t be surprising if Winslow experiences a very prosperous year.

(Image of Standin’ on a Corner Park statue after Frey’s death by Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News via Facebook)