Kingman, Arizona on Route 66

Kingman, Arizona, with a population of over 32,000 is one of the larger cities on Route 66 that I visited this trip, only Flagstaff was larger.  Kingman also has other stuff going on besides Route 66, it has long been linked to travel, Beale's Wagon Road, which became part of Rt-66 ran through Kingman, and Kingman as a city got it's start as a railroad siding near Beale Springs. 

Kingman Visitor Center

 Kingman Visitor Center (and museum) is the obvious place to start. I went there twice and it was closed both times (it closes at either 4pm or 5pm depending on the day). It is also right on Route 66 and near several blocks of Route 66 attractions.  In addition, there is a Tesla Supercharger in the parking lot and a small dog park.

 The visitor center building was once a power generating station and is itself a historic landmark. 

Locomotive Park
Directly across the street from the visitor, the big thing (and I mean big both as in large and as in most important) is the AT and SF steam engine #3759 locomotive built in 1927. You can walk around it as well as climb on it. There is also a caboose in the park.
 

In downtown Kingman, Andy Devine Avenue carries Route 66 from west to east and Beal Street carries it from east to west. Locomotive Park is between these two roads.


Andy Devine (1905-1977) was an actor who grew up in Kingman, he appeared in more than 400 films and television shows.

 

Mr. D'z Route 66 diner
Also visible from the parking lot is Mr. D'z Route 66 diner. I didn't eat there but it looks interesting and seems to be popular. There is also a gift shop associated with it in the building next door that was once part of a car dealership.

The Heart of Historic Route 66
Every town wants to be special, and Kingman claims to be the heart of Route 66 and made this heart-shaped sign to prove it.  Isn't that sweet? 

Old Trails Garage and the Brunswick Hotel

This is a historic block, First we have Old Trails Garage, next to it Garibaldi's Italian Cuisine which was built in 1915 and was originally a saloon, then the Brunswick Hotel.

 The Brunswick Hotel was built in 1909 by John Mulligan, and John Thompson, who's names adorn the top of the building. In 1912 the partnership was dissolved and a dividing wall was built through the center of the building that remained until 1966. (more info)

 

Hotel Beale
Next to the Brunswick is the H. Lovin Building, which you can see part of in this picture, then, completing the block, is Hotel Beale, which is in pretty rough shape right now.

 I couldn't find out when it closed for good, but the not-always-reliable Google Gemini suggested it was in the late 90s.  Interestingly, Trip Advisor had a review from 2012, which I'm guessing is fake.

  When I was there, the neon sign above the building was in good shape but wasn't lit up.  However, today, May 2, 2026 is the official sign relighting ceremony, so I didn't miss it by much. 

Kingman mural and Desert Drugs sign

There's a nice Kingman mural on a wall down the street from the Beale Hotel and a sign for "Desert Drugs", a former Walgreen's drugstore.

 

Hill Top Motel 

Once you are away from the downtown historic district, most of the historic structures remaining are hotels, the Hill Top Motel is one of them, but it is now apartments, not a motel.

 

Abandoned Texaco

Not every abandoned building is super old, This Texaco station operated until 10 or 15 years ago. 

Next stop: Hackberry, Arizona; Prior stop:  Sitgreaves Pass and Cool Springs Station, Arizona.  You can see all my Route 66 posts here. 

 

 

 

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