Twin Arrows, Arizona on Route 66

The single twin arrow of Twin Arrows, Arizona
There isn't much to Twin Arrows, it is mostly just this abandoned trading post/diner/gas station.  There is a casino and active gas station on the other side of the interstate, but since I am mostly interested in Route 66 this trip I didn't explore them.

Twin Arrows gets its name from these two giant arrows mounted on the ground. The shaft of the arrow is a utility pole.  You might notice that there is only a single arrow here.  The second one was mounted on the other red base you can see behind the arrowhead. According to Google Streetview, the other one disappeared sometime between April 2021 and June 2022. Wikipedia has an unsourced claim that it fell in February of 2022. 

Twin Arrows trading post

This is the view you get as you drive up to the graffiti-covered Twin Arrows Trading Post after getting off the interstate.  On the right is the interstate and what's left of Route 66.  Directly ahead, with the graffiti saying "Nopal" is the diner/cafe, it looks like it was, like many old diners, built elsewhere and shipped in.  Behind that is the largest building, the trading post.  to the right of the trading post is the where the gas pumps were, and between the trading post and the pumps, but behind them, you can see the single remaining arrow that gives Twin Arrows it's name.  We'll delve in to each of these further. (I like the word delve and I'm not going to let AI take it away from me, delve, delve, delve.)

Inside the diner
Here's the inside of the diner, all that remains is the metal counter and cabinets, and, like everything here, it is covered with graffiti. 

The front of the trading post

Here's the main trading post/gas station building.  Although the gas pumps are gone, you can see the red bollards that prevented people from driving in to them. there are no windows or doors remaining in any of the buildings there.

Inside the trading post
This is the inside of the trading post building.  There were once nice wood plank floors here.  Towards the back (which is actually the left if you were outside facing the building) the roof has collapsed, and all the wallboard on an inside wall to the right is missing, leaving bare studs. 

Around the back

I'm not sure if this was part of the store, or the storeroom, but there are five refrigerators (or maybe freezers) lying around.

Water tanks
These two water tanks have been painted. The one on the left looks like a can of spray paint and is labeled "Self/Community Defense" and the smaller one looks like a can of Campbell's soup.
 
Stolen Land

A pad next to the tanks has painted on it "Stolen Land." I'm sure you could easily see this from an airplane.

If you are interested in how it looked a decade ago, check out Places That Were for the 2015 view.  I like seeing how things change over time. 

 Next stop: Two Guns, Arizona; Prior stop: Flagstaff, Arizona  You can see all my Route 66 posts here.   


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