18 Sep Oatman, Arizona Hotel Sign
Little did I know when I took this picture of The Oatman Hotel sign, in the tiny mining town of Oatman, Arizona – that it has such a checkered history. It appears to be one of the largest tourist draws to this tiny town (other than the adorable wild burros that pester you for hand-outs everywhere you go!) Originally built in 1902 as the Drulin Hotel, it had eight rooms and was constantly busy with miners and new settlers. Especially after the 10 million dollar gold discovery in 1915, Oatman boomed to over 3,500 residents. But then a series of three fires nearly destroyed the town. The hotel was rebuilt in 1920 and became a mecca for the rich and famous. It’s just a museum now and rather infamous, as it appears numerous ghosts have taken up residency, including the famous Clark Gable and Carole Lombard who supposedly spent their wedding night there. The building is currently listed on the National Historical Building Registry and a fun place to visit.
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