A ROUTE 66 TRAVEL GUIDE TO COOL SPRINGS STATION GOLDEN VALLEY ARIZONA

Hey there, Route 66 travelers! Big Mike here, your guide to all things cool on the Mother Road. Today, we’re makin’ a pit stop at Cool Springs Station in Golden Valley, Arizona – a true gem hidden in plain sight.

I had a blast exploring Cool Springs and capturing its unique charm on camera. Join me on my adventure by watching the video above! You’ll even see some fellow Route 66 enthusiasts cruisin’ the Arizona Sidewinder on their motorcycles and makin’ a pit stop at this historic haven.

Cruisin’ down Route 66 towards Oatman, you’ll stumble upon a little oasis in the desert – Cool Springs Station. But don’t get too comfy, because just past this historic haven, the road transforms into the legendary ‘Arizona Sidewinder,’ a twisting, turning adventure that’ll leave you breathless !!!

Imagine this: It’s the Roaring Twenties, and Route 66 is just a newborn babe. Cars are sputterin’ across the country, kickin’ up dust clouds and changin’ the face of America. And right here, at the foot of the Black Mountains, a fella named N.R. Dunton decides to build himself a haven for those weary travelers.

Cool Springs was born! It wasn’t fancy – just a humble service station with a few cabins and a cafe. But it was a lifeline in those days, a place to gas up your jalopy, grab a bite to eat, and maybe even swap stories with other adventurers bravin’ the Mother Road.

Cool Springs saw it all, folks. The Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, the heyday of Route 66… It witnessed history unfoldin’ right outside its doors. Folks from all walks of life passed through – families on vacation, truckers haulin’ goods, even the occasional Hollywood star lookin’ for a taste of the Wild West.

The Fall of Cool Springs

But like a desert flower in a dry spell, Cool Springs eventually withered. The new Route 66 alignment in 1953 bypassed the station, leavin’ it high and dry. Fewer travelers meant fewer customers, and by 1964, Cool Springs had to shut its doors.

But that wasn’t the end of its troubles. In the mid-60s, a fire swept through the abandoned building, leavin’ nothin’ but a skeleton of stone walls and charred memories. It seemed like Cool Springs was lost forever, swallowed by the desert and forgotten by time.

But hold your horses, folks! The story ain’t over yet. As if the fire wasn’t enough, Cool Springs faced one more challenge. In 1991, Hollywood came knockin’, and not in a good way. The action flick “Universal Soldier” chose those crumbling ruins as a backdrop for some explosive scenes, further damagin’ the already fragile structure.

It seemed like Cool Springs was destined to be just a whisper in the wind, a footnote in Route 66 history. But then, somethin’ remarkable happened…

For years, Cool Springs lay in ruins, a pile of stones whisperin’ tales of a bygone era. But then, somethin’ amazing happened. A fella named Ned Leuchtner stumbled upon those ruins and saw somethin’ worth savin’. He had a vision, a dream to bring Cool Springs back to life.

And by golly, he did it! With grit, determination, and a whole lotta love, Ned rebuilt Cool Springs, piece by piece. He poured over old photographs, tracked down original materials, and even salvaged what he could from the rubble.

Today, Cool Springs stands as a monument to the spirit of Route 66. It’s a gift shop, a mini-museum, and a time capsule that transports you back to the golden age of American travel.

Thank you for watching our Route 66 Travel Guide to Cool Springs Station with Big Mike

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