Out along old Route 66 in
Northern
Arizona is Canyon Diablo. Best known for its
large meteor crater, the
canyon and its surroundings contain another fantastic story. It begins in the mid 1870’s with a
Apache raid on the Navajo that ended in the
gruesome death
of some 50 Apaches trapped in what is now called
“The Apache Death
Cave”. The story picks up about 10 years later in 1880 when the
Atlantic and Pacific railroad ran out of money at the
canyon’s edge. Unable to progress any further a
make shift boom
town grew up over night. Said to be more dangerous than
Tombstone
and
Dodge City
combined, the first sheriff appointed at 3pm was dead by 8pm that same night.
The city of
Canyon Diablo
lasted 10 grizzly years, ending only when the US Army was dispatched to gain
control over the murder, theft and prostitution that ran rampant. The story
continues in 1920 at the inception of Route 66.
Harry E.
(Indian) Miller, opens up one of
the first and what would become one of the most elaborate
Route 66 trading posts/gas
station/curio shop/ tourist attractions. Named
Two Guns, it was
complete with
Hopi
made buildings, a gas station,
a well-lit “
Death Cave”
, a
“zoo” of filled with the local fauna. and lots of
colorful characters.
In a short time, the roadside stop began to take on what many by that time
calling the curse of Canyon Diablo.
Shady business deals, fires,
maimings, and murder abounded. After several attempts thru the 50’s and
60’s to rebuild ,all that is left is a
crumbling,
beautiful husk.
posted by BrodieShadeTree
on Feb 21, 2006 -
28 comments
