In 1984, Williams became the last town in the United States to see Route 66 bypassed by an interstate highway. The National Park Service says that today Williams “still looks much as it did in the 1940s with its numerous shops, motels, and cafes. In both function and appearance, Williams embodies the spirit of historic Route 66.”
We took AZ 64 south from the Grand Canyon to Williams. Just northeast of town, AZ 64 becomes Route 66 through Williams. In downtown Williams, Route 66 splits into two one-way streets. The northern one runs west and the southern one runs east. What’s confusing is their names. I’ve seen both streets called Route 66 and Bill Williams Street, and I’ve also seen the north one called Railroad Avenue. In this post I’m going to refer to the northern, westbound street as Railroad Avenue and the southern, eastbound street as Route 66.
There’s a lot to see in the Williams Historic Business District, including classic motels, restaurants, gift shops and gas stations. Williams serves not only Route 66 travelers but also Grand Canyon visitors looking for an alternative to staying at the South Rim. There’s so much to see that we parked near Lewis Street, at the eastern end of the historic district, and took a walking tour.
On Route 66 between Lewis and Slagel Streets is Wild West Junction, which offers dinner and wild west shows. When we visited on a Sunday morning, of course it was closed.
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| Wild West Junction in Williams |
Next door to Wild West Junction, on the northeast corner of Route 66 and Slagel Street, is Rod’s Steak House with a great neon sign. Unfortunately, it’s now closed.
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| Rod's Steak House in Williams |
On the southwest corner of Route 66 and Slagel Street is the Grand Motel. Its glass block corner suggests that it was built early to mid-20th century in either art deco or midcentury modern style.
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| Grand Motel in Williams |
Next door to the Grand Motel is The Lodge on Route 66. This was once the Del Sue Motor Inn, built in 1936—maybe one of the oldest motels in Williams.
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| Former Del Sue Motor Inn in Williams |
Across Route 66 from The Lodge on Route 66 is a great neon sign for the former Gateway Plaza Motel.
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| Gateway Plaza sign in Williams |
Halfway between Taber Street and 1st Street on Route 66 is an interesting-looking gift shop.
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| Gift shop in Williams |
Next to the gift shop, on the northeast corner of Route 66 and 1st Street, is Pete’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum.
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| Pete's Route 66 Gas Station Museum |
Half a block past Pete’s on Route 66 is a wonderful old building with a great neon sign for Turquoise Tepee. Just past the building is a big neon sign for the Canyon Club.
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| Canyon Club sign near a great old building in Williams |
Two doors past the Canyon Club sign, on the southeast corner of Route 66 and 2nd Street, is the Grand Canyon Hotel, built in 1891.
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| Grand Canyon Hotel in Williams |
The hotel was built right around the time that the Grand Canyon first became a tourist attraction. Visitors would have had to take a 12-hour stagecoach ride from Williams to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim until the Grand Canyon Railway opened in 1901.
On the northwest corner of Route 66 and 2nd Street is a beautiful old building. I wonder if it was once a bank.
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| Another great old building in Williams |
On the southwest corner of Route 66 and 2nd Street is the Sultana Bar, with a cool neon sign and interesting pressed-concrete blocks.
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| Sultana Bar in Williams |
A block further, on the southeast corner of Route 66 and 3rd Street, is Cruisers Route 66 Café.
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| Cruisers Route 66 Cafe in Williams |
Part of Cruisers was once a 1930s gas station.
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| Former 1930s gas station in Williams |
On the northwest corner of Route 66 and 3rd Street is the Babbitt-Polson Building, the only art deco building in Williams’ historic district. It has beautiful “zigzag” art deco trim.
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| Babbitt Polson Building in Williams |
We turned north on 3rd Street to Railroad Avenue, where we turned right (east). On the northwest corner of Railroad Avenue and 2nd Street is the Williams Visitor Center. It’s in Williams’ first railroad depot, built by the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in 1885.
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| Williams Visitor Center, in the former Atlantic & Pacific Railroad depot |
If you go a block north on 2nd Street, crossing the railroad tracks, on the left is the former Fray Marcos de Niza Hotel and Depot, one of the Harvey Houses serving the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. (My post on Winslow, Arizona, has more on the Harvey Houses.)
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| Former Fray Marcos de Niza Hotel & Depot in Williams (from Wikipedia) |
The Fray Marcos de Niza was built in 1908 to serve AT&SF passengers including those traveling on the Grand Canyon Railway that opened in 1901. Today passengers can once again take the train to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim from this station.
Back at the southwest corner of Railroad Avenue and 2nd Street is the Pine Country Restaurant.
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| Pine Country Restaurant in Williams |
We read good things about the Pine Country Restaurant and wanted to get breakfast there, but we visited on a Sunday morning and the wait was too long for us, so we ate elsewhere.
Between 2nd and 1st Streets on Railroad Avenue is the Red Garter Bed and Breakfast. It was built in 1897 and, yes, it was once a bordello. I love that round entryway!
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| Red Garter Bed & Breakfast in Williams |
To the left of the Red Garter on Railroad Avenue is the Canyon Club with a great sign and round window. We saw its huge neon sign earlier on Route 66.
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| Canyon Club in Williams |
You can see that there’s lots to explore in Williams! After a great morning walk, we headed west on Route 66 to rejoin I-40 for our next stops: Ash Fork and the iconic Seligman, Arizona.
Williams has become our getaway from the Valley (Phoenix) heat. We love it’s history and Rt 66 appeal. Also newer attractions like Bearizona and the new roll-a-coaster. Also proximity to other Rt 66 towns.
ReplyDeleteIt's clearly very popular and beloved along Route 66! A lot of fun stuff happening there.
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