A final hearing on May 12 by the Coconino County Board of Supervisors will determine the fate of the ambitious 2 Guns Resort project at the Two Guns, Arizona, site.
John Gunderman posted on the Facebook page for 2 Guns Resort the hearing will be held online at 5 p.m. local time and added:
Coconino County Board of Supervisors will have an open comment from the public to say what they think and to share their views and we are asking you all to voice your support for this project. We have been working very hard for nearly two years to make sure that we offered a responsible development, compatible with this important historical and natural site. The final product of years of engagement and community outreach will be a wonderful asset to the area and we look forward to being a great partner to the community we have grown to love!
Gunderman said the virtual hearing would be held here.
After someone viewed an artist’s rendering of 2 Guns Resort and questioned whether the developers would preserve the remnants of the site, Gunderman wrote:
It is (hard) to see everything we will be doing at Two Guns. Just a quick look, we will be building Rosie’s Diner in Honor of my Mom. Here 1st job in Indianapolis was at the TeePee by the State Fair Grounds. We will be hosting all kind of car shows, fundraisers and just good old times. We are also building a Drive-In off of Route 66. The old Texaco Gas Station back by the 1st zoo will be rebuilt to its original form and I will be parking my Grandpa’s 1928 Model A Ford 2dr Sedan out front. I LOVE Two Guns as much if not more than anyone else because of the rich history. Others that have looked at Two Guns does not care about the History, we do!
The 2 Guns Resort page on Facebook also posted this message on Friday. The gist: Historic structures will be stabilized or restored:
During a county zoning hearing in December, Gunderman also revealed he planned to preserve what’s left of the zoo site and other historically significant structures there. The county insisted on a few changes before they would consider approving the development, including consulting with local Native American tribes and an archaeologist’s review.
Gunderman made his plans public last summer through an extensive website for his 2 Guns Luxury Resort.
Gunderman said the idea came after the death of his mother in 2018 and venturing west with his wife “to clear my head and sort things out.”
The website lists a bunch of “glamping” accommodations. “Glamping” is a term that combines “glamor” and “camping.” Two Guns plans a Tipi Village, timber-wall tents, Conestoga wagons, equestrian camping, treehouses, bungalows and yurts for overnight stays. The RV park would include standard and deluxe pull-in sites, along with vintage Airstream trailers for rent.
Part of the plans is for a Family Reunion Lodge and the nearby Hotel at Rimrock, the latter which clearly in artist’s renderings sits on the edge of Diablo Canyon.
Two Guns also plans a huge water park, a Smoke Signal miniature golf course and a Gunslinger Shooting Gallery.
The website contains a bunch of events scheduled for certain days, including Diablo Canyon tours, interfaith church services, blacksmith workshops, roping classes, homemade ice cream, drive-in movies, a history of Two Guns tour, light shows, Native American dancers and branding demonstrations.
(Images of artist’s renderings of the proposed Two Guns Resort via Coconino County Board of Supervisors documents)
It’s hard for me to believe this is going to happen. Seems way to ambitious.
Your assessment is shared by a substantial number of people.
“A HUGE water park”, not a good idea anywhere, especially in Arizona!
I have friends who live right up the road who haul their water and all the trees are dying because of the extended drouught.
We all must conserve and share our clean air, water and the Earth!
It seems a bit to much for a couple of old ruins of Route 66 I dunno we’ll just have to wait and, see if this happens
I have misgivings about this project.
The remaining stone ruins at Two Guns are fragile. The vibration caused by heavy construction traffic nearby will certainly upset the ground and accelerate the deterioration of the ruins. Even if this could be avoided, the increase in human traffic in and around the ruins after the resort is built — exponentially more than the place ever saw when they were still roadside businesses — will do further damage. It’s virtually impossible to prevent this without enclosing the ruins entirely, which will restrict access to everyone and make even photography extremely difficult.
I’m trying to keep this in perspective. After all, Two Guns is not a religious shrine or anything. However, I can’t shake my suspicion that development must mean eventual destruction of the site — or at least significant diminution of its historic value. And what are we getting in return?
Finally, should the development project fail and close — a distinct possibility because of its remote location — it will be impossible to restore the site to its predeveloped condition. In which case, we lose twice.