In 1901, the Santa Fe Railroad extended its line from Williams to the Grand Canyon. It was also in this year that a devastating fire swept through town, taking with it, some 36 businesses, including two hotels, plus ten homes in less than an hour. Within days, Williams began to rebuild and formed a new fire district.
There are gift shops galore with most anything you want emblazoned with Route 66. Want leather? They have it. And many galleries, jewelry stores, are much more; all with the neon lights of the 60’s brightening the doorways.
And you may even run into Elvis!
In 1968, Williams entire downtown business district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each building boasts a plaque telling you what the building used to be. It is very interesting reading while walking through town.
Look closely as you walk through town and you will see signs that were once stopping points for travelers on old route 66.
Signs that evoke the quaint 60’s era and its fabulous neon past! Williams is a great place to base your visit to the Grand Canyon.
We were so glad to be able to share this fabulous place with our family!
Next week, my mother and sister are coming to visit and we are going to check out the Grand Canyon Railway. Yep, we still have a few more things to see before we leave. Stay tuned!
Thanks Suzy for sharing your families surprise visit.! Congratulations on being grandparents!! There is nothing better than to have sweet babies to hold and LOVE!!! Williams sounds like a wild place at one time. We live in NW Ga. and know all the campgrounds around. The KOA for our area is exit 296 I-75. It’s about 40 miles NW of ATL. Lake Allatoona a Corp of Engineers lake goes from Exit285? to 290. The lake runs from Ne to Sw. Canton Ga-Cartersville, about 20 miles. There is a state park Red Top Mtn.
Hi Pamela!
We are actively looking in your area for a campground this summer! Maybe we will run into each other!
Thanks so much for following along!
suzy
Congratulations on the pending grandparenthood! We have 7, one all grown up, and all but one of the rest are teenagers. Enjoy them all you can! Time passes in a flash.
We were in Williams several years ago. Thanks for the memories.
Travel safe!
Thanks so much!
Congratulations Grandparents, and to the young couple too 🙂
Thanks for sharing this. I just love this journey you are both on.
Take care and safe travels 🙂
Thank you, Heather!
That is so cool about the saloon/brothel ghost stories. We were there once and I remember the local townspeople telling us about it but we didn’t get a chance to go in. That old photograph is kinda creepy, lol, they look like ma and pa kettle and that kid is totally not happy.
I cried when i read this(It’s the Hormones) . Love you Mom see you in May 🙂
What exciting news – a baby on the way! Congratulations all round.
Loved your latest blog post – they are always so interesting. Life and scenery in USA is so different to New Zealand! Except for the travelling – we like to explore the country in our caravan, think you call them trailers.
Hi Suzy,
I just found your sites and am bumming because you are leaving and we are actually just about four hours from you! We are fulltimers as well and are in the Fort Mohave/Bullhead City area. We love Williams and sure wish we had been there during this past summer when is was 128 degrees here.
Good luck on your winter. I am excited to have found your sites and can’t wait to start on some crafts. Maybe we’ll get down to the Tucson area sometime this winter!
Take care and thanks for all the cool stuff you’ve posted!
Hi Teri!
We left Williams yesterday and are taking a few weeks off before heading down to Tucson. The website is a bit behind, but will be catching it up in the next few days. We are currently in Laughlin and then heading down to Lake Havasu City for the next few weeks. Maybe I’ll see you on the strip! LOL!
suzy