Oatman

Visit historic Oatman, on Route 66, only 54 miles northwest of Lake Havasu. Its wooden sidewalks and 1880s-style buildings recall a time when Route 66 brought gold miners and gunslingers to town. A recreated western shootout is a popular sight and tourist attraction. The town's many shops sell unique items, including antiques, handmade jewelry, and leather goods. There's no shortage of restaurants and bars to choose from, so you need not leave town hungry.

Another of Oatman's claims to fame is the wild burros that roam the streets and come and go as they please. The burros are direct descendants of the pack animals that were brought to the area by gold miners during the 1800s. With the coming of WWII, the gold mines surrounding Oatman were shut down, and the burros were set free to roam the hills.

Ghost Rider Gun Fighters
The Oatman Ghost Rider Gun Fighters group is the oldest gunfighter group in Oatman. The team performs Wild West shootouts right in the middle of the street on Historic Route 66, squaring off daily at 1:30 and 3:30 pm, with some downright funny Old Wild West Comedy! Note: The 3:30 pm show may not be performed during summer months because of heat, and both show times may vary slightly depending on amount of tourists.

"Do Not Feed Me"
In recent years the burros have become aggressive as they've grown to expect a yummy snack from the visitors; there are now special burro biscuits available for purchase from local shops for just that purpose. Just like other wild animals, burros should never be fed people food. Any people food, including fruits and vegetables, can seriously threaten the health of the burros. You may notice the baby burros have a "STOP! Do Not Feed Me Anything" sticker on their foreheads. This is for the safety of the burros as these babies need the proper nutrients to grow up healthy.

Getting there
From Lake Havasu City, take Hwy. 95 north to I-40 west. Take Exit 1 toward Golden Shores/Oatman, then turn right onto Oatman/Topock Highway, which is County Highway 10. Proceed 25 miles on a two-lane road to Oatman.