2. Oatman: a gold rush timewarp On the last leg of Arizona’s Route 66 is Oatman, a gold rush town surrounded by desert. It’s sort of like a timewarp to the Wild West.

For those willing to slow down and experience a taste of America that largely goes unseen, these small towns are well worth the detour.

As the 100th anniversary of Route 66 approaches in 2026, join us as we spotlight the stops and people who live along America’s highway.

For Route 66 towns, progress came at a cost But by the 1980s, Interstate I-40 was built in the name of progress, part of a nationwide highway revolution designed to supercharge commerce and tourism.

This is a stretch of Route 66 in Oatman, Arizona, and the Colorado River. Photos and words tell the Mother Road’s history in “Route 66: The First 100 Years.” Courtesy, Jim Ross ...