The Arizona Republic has compiled a short list of ghost towns in the state that tourists might find worth visiting. The Route 66 town of Oatman, famed for its semi-wild burros and Wild West vibe, made the cut.
Now … when I picture a ghost town, I’m thinking of a burg that’s nearly deserted and buildings that are starting to fail in from neglect. The New Mexico-Texas settlement of Glenrio comes to mind. So does the Mojave Desert town of Amboy. Jericho, Texas, comes to mind.
Oatman’s current population of about 100 certainly is a far cry from its peak of 10,000 many decades ago, when it was a burgeoning gold-mining town. But anyplace that attracts an estimated 500,000 visitors a year, where parking is often hard to find, would hardly qualify as a dying and decaying town.
Oatman’s dubious listing as a ghost town shouldn’t dissuade you from visiting it. It’s a lot of fun — a half-million people a year can’t be wrong. It’s worth it just for the beautiful and sometimes hair-raising drive on old Route 66 from Kingman.