Kingman, Ariz., much more than place to stop for gas
Trovatore Motel, right on a remaining portion of Route 66.
Sam and Monica Frisher bought the place several years ago and renovated it from sketchy apartments to a quirky place covered in murals of Route 66 and Looney Tunes characters.
The Frishers are full of information about Kingman and happy to share it. Upon check-in, they gave me a Route 66 pin and a history of the town, which included a map, colored markers and scandalous stories about celebrities who’ve stayed there. (Who knew Clark Gable was married so many times?)
Their dog, Taco, showed off his tricks for us, and we couldn’t open our eyes wide enough to take in all of the decorations that cluttered the office.
Each room is themed after a Hollywood star — we stayed in the Michael Jackson room, complete with glittery pillows and 3-foot-tall framed photos of him. The room had free Wi-Fi and was clean, though the carpet was outdated and the fixtures were original. Some found that endearing, but I wasn’t so sure.
But the bed was among the more comfortable hotel beds I’ve slept in.
I woke up early to the sound of a train and realized that the field behind the hotel was close to tracks. That’s something many people would boast about during the course of the day — the city is on a major railway line and also has Amtrak service. There’s a train museum downtown, too.
We ate at Cracker Barrel to see if it measured up to the town’s more unique venues. Only a few hours into our trip, it already didn’t. After breakfast we wandered through some of the antique shops downtown, as well as the century-old Mohave County Courthouse and jail.
Afterward, we paid a visit to the Powerhouse Visitor Center — basically, an electricity plant in a warehouse from the early 1900s. Now, it’s full of train sets, pamphlets, hiking permits and souvenirs. Upstairs in the Powerhouse is a Route 66 museum that we walked through for $4 per person. It spanned from when the experimental U.S. Camel Corps made its way across the country to the town being used as an air field in World War II to the present day.
Ken Matthews, who has worked and volunteered at the Powerhouse for almost 15 years, filled our day’s itinerary to the brim. We signed the guest book, which gets about 300 entries per day.
Apparently Route 66 is still “a thing” after all.
We lunched at Mr. D’z Diner, another nod to the old highway. The food was less than $10 and the portions were huge — I had a green chili-and-bacon cheeseburger with fries. The pink and turquoise paint, black-and-white checkered tiles and old-fashioned soda fountain were fun. Their homemade root beer was a hit with many in the restaurant.
Full of food, we wanted a drink. So we drove about 15 miles out of town to Cella Wines. Carlos Cella owns the place and grows grapes in Kingman and Napa Valley, Calif. We toured the winery and Cella showed us how his family plants, picks, smashes, ferments and bottles the wine on his property. My favorite of Cella’s selection was his cabernet sauvignon.
It was late afternoon when we left the winery to head back to Vegas. The only thing we didn’t get to do was explore Hualapai Mountain, which has an excellent campground high enough above sea level to be a cool respite during the summer. Camp sites are $17 per night.
After spending two days exploring, I strongly recommend giving Kingman a chance. If you’re driving through, stop and grab a coffee at Beale Street Brews or eat at one of the downtown restaurants. (Another note for through-drivers: Don’t get gasoline at the first stations off the highway. We drove less than a mile up the road and gas was 40 cents per gallon cheaper.)
Or if you’re looking for a quick, affordable weekend getaway and you’re a fan of the eccentric, I’d definitely recommend it.
Contact reporter Annalise Little at alittle@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0391. Find her on Twitter: @annalisemlittle.
IF YOU GO
Location: Kingman, Ariz., about 100 miles or a 90-minute drive southeast of Las Vegas. U.S. Highway 93 and Interstate 40 meet up in Kingman, as well as a section of Route 66.
Directions: Take U.S. Highway 93/95 south out of Las Vegas toward Boulder City. Stay on U.S. 93, go over the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge and head south until your headlights hit Kingman. Start with the Powerhouse Visitor Center at 120 W. Andy Devine Ave. where helpful volunteers and a plethora of pamphlets are available.
Lodging: Most of the usual chain hotels are available, many for less than $100 per night, even on short notice. There are also more eccentric options, such as the El Trovatore and Hill Top motels, and a closed but soon-to-be-reopened Brunswick Hotel downtown. Camping and a mountain resort are also available about 20 minutes southwest of town on Hualapai Mountain.
Dining: One of the many pamphlets offered at the Powerhouse Visitor Center will highlight 69 food establishments, ranging from Wendy’s and Taco Bell to more upscale restaurants such as Mattina’s Ristorante Italiano.
Museums: Take your pick from the Route 66 museum at the Powerhouse Visitor Center, the Bonelli House, Army Airfield Museum, Kingman Railroad Museum and Mohave Museum of History and Arts. None costs more than $4 per person, and some are suggested donations only.
Horseback riding: 30 miles west of Kingman on Route 66, horseback and stagecoach tours are available starting at $35 per hour.
When you’re thirsty: Tour Cella Winery, about 35 miles northeast of Kingman. Taste five wines for $5. Stetson winery is right next door and also has a $5 tasting offer. Desert Diamond Distillery is in between the town and the wineries and offers $5 tours. The distillery makes a variety of rums and vodkas.
Camp Beale Springs: Grab a free permit from city of Kingman Parks Department (3333 Harrison St.) or at the Kingman Powerhouse Visitor Center and explore where Lt. Edward Beale traveled through the area with camels in the 1850s to create a wagon road.
