About Ash Fork
Route 66 used to go through downtown Ash Fork as a two-way street, but sometime during the history of Ash Fork it changed to two one-way streets going through town. Park Ave. is the Eastbound portion of Route 66 and Lewis Ave is the Westbound portion. There are still some original buildings on both segments of the highway. Unfortunately, many of the original buildings along Route 66 in Ash Fork were destroyed in fires in 1977 and again in 1987.
There is also an original alignment of Route 66 that is now called Pine Ave. that dead ends at the Route 66 Museum in Ash Fork. Past the museum, the original alignment has been covered over by Interstate 40.
Ash Fork is at an elevation of 5,160 ft.
The population is 698 (2019)
Planning Your Visit
There is not a lot to see in Ash Fork, but if you do a little research before going like reviewing this page, you’ll need about an hour and a half to two house if you don’t stop for meals. We stopped to take a lot of pictures and video on our visit, so we spent a little more time than most people. We also did some research ahead of time so we knew what old Route 66 sites to look for.
You’ll want to start your visit at the Ash Fork Route 66 Museum and Visitor’s Center. If it’s open, plan on spending 20 minutes or so. Unfortunately it was closed when we were there, but from what I’ve seen and heard about it, I would really recommend going there first. You can study the model of the main Route 66 roadway and get a feel for the layout of Route 66 through town and the sites to see. There are a couple of classic original motels in town, the famous DeSoto’s Salon which was an old gas station and is now an Airbnb place to stay.
Make sure you travel on both sides of Route 66 from one end of town to the the other. Legion Ave is one way Westbound and Park Ave is one way Eastbound. There are sites to see on both streets, but most of them on Legion Ave. There is also a shorter section of an earlier alignment of Route 66 that goes right by the museum but dead ends where the old highway was covered over by Interstate 40.
History of Ash Fork
In the late 1850’s Edward Fitzgerald Beale was sent by the US Government to survey and build a wagon road later called Beale’s Wagon Road, which many settlers used to move the West, and which later became part of Route 66 and the route for the Transcontinental railroad. His route pass just North of Ash Fork. It was the first federally funded roadway and was surveyed and marked out along the 35th parallel and is the general route followed by U.S. Route 66, the Santa Fe Railway, and Interstate 40.
Unfortunately for Ash Fork, where U.S. Route 66 went through the center of town, Interstate 40 bypassed it entirely to the South and so did the traffic.
The Origins of Route 66 in Ash Fork
Ash Fork’s involvement with cross-country travel predates Route 66. Founded in 1882 as a siding for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (later the Santa Fe Railway), the town quickly developed into a bustling hub thanks to its location near key railroad lines and the construction of early wagon roads across northern Arizona.
When the U.S. government commissioned the creation of U.S. Route 66 in 1926, the road naturally aligned with existing trails and roads, including sections of the National Old Trails Road. This alignment brought Route 66 directly through Ash Fork, setting the stage for decades of tourism, commerce, and cross-country traffic.
First Alignment (1926–1931): The Dirt Road Era
The original Route 66 alignment through Ash Fork followed a rugged, unpaved track that ran parallel to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad line. This early alignment connected travelers from Seligman to Ash Fork via a direct but rough route, often dusty in summer and nearly impassable during wet weather.
In Ash Fork, the route came in along what is now known as Park Avenue and intersected with historic 5th Street. The town quickly adapted to the new highway with motor courts, gas stations, and restaurants springing up to serve the influx of motorists. During this period, the road was gravel at best, and many parts were maintained by county forces.
Second Alignment (1931–1950s): Pavement and Prosperity
By the early 1930s, Route 66 was realigned and paved to better accommodate the increasing number of automobiles. This new alignment was smoother, faster, and better engineered, reducing sharp curves and steep grades. In Ash Fork, Route 66 now ran more directly through town via what became 8th Street (later Business Loop I-40), forming a commercial spine for travelers.
This realignment coincided with Ash Fork’s economic boom, thanks to both the highway and its booming flagstone industry. Classic motels like the Ranch House Café and Falcon Inn became roadside staples. Ash Fork became a rest stop for weary travelers headed west to California or east toward Albuquerque and beyond.
During the post-WWII years, Ash Fork thrived. Route 66 brought steady streams of tourists, servicemen, and migrant families, contributing to a Golden Age of local commerce.
Third Alignment (1950s–1979): The Final Route 66 Path
In the 1950s and 1960s, the highway was realigned yet again, this time to bypass some of the curves and bottlenecks of earlier routes. This “final” Route 66 alignment through Ash Fork ran just south of the railroad tracks and north of modern I-40, cutting a cleaner swath that still hugged the town closely enough to support its economy.
This version of Route 66 included newer signage, safety improvements, and better road surfacing. Ash Fork adapted with modernized gas stations, motels, and diners that reflected the evolving roadside culture of the time — neon signs, drive-in dining, and sleek, mid-century architecture.
The Interstate Era and the Decline of Route 66 in Ash Fork
Everything changed in 1979 when Interstate 40 was completed and bypassed Ash Fork entirely. This new limited-access highway diverted traffic from the old Route 66 corridor, sending the town into economic decline nearly overnight. Businesses that once thrived on steady traffic from the Mother Road shuttered, and some portions of the original alignment fell into disrepair.
However, unlike many towns, Ash Fork didn’t disappear. Locals worked hard to preserve their town’s connection to Route 66, even as the old road became fragmented. Today, portions of historic Route 66 remain drivable through Ash Fork, and some of the buildings and signage from the road’s heyday are still visible.
Legacy and Preservation
Ash Fork’s role in the history of Route 66 is preserved in local efforts and tourism initiatives. The Ash Fork Route 66 Museum (housed in the local library) highlights the impact of the highway on the town’s development. Historic motels, gas stations, and cafes — though some are in ruins — remain as visual reminders of a time when Ash Fork was a vital dot on America’s Main Street.
Travelers can still follow remnants of the old road, particularly the stretch along Park Avenue and through the town’s grid. Roadside attractions, murals, and exhibits celebrate both the town’s flagstone legacy and its contribution to Route 66’s lore.
Weather in Ash Fork
Ash Fork enjoys a high desert climate, meaning it experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are warm but not excessively hot, with highs typically in the 80s and 90s°F. Winters can be surprisingly brisk, often dipping into the 20s at night, and occasional snowfall decorates the surrounding landscape. Spring and fall are especially pleasant, making them the ideal times for outdoor exploration along Route 66.
Route 66 Attractions in Ash Fork
Ash Fork Visitor’s Center
The Ash Fork Route 66 Museum is run by the Ash Fork Historical Society and a volunteer staff. In addition to information about Route 66 in Ash Fork, there is also a lot about the local history. It’s located in a building that dates back to 1922 when the National Old Trails Highway was built and served as the Ash Fork Maintenance Camp #1 before Route 66 was even commissioned. Later it was taken over by the Arizona Dept. of Transportation and provided maintenance to Route 66. It’s listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
It’s a good place to begin your tour of Ash Fork. They have a large-scale model of the historic Grand Harvey House, The Escalante Hotel, which no longer exists. It also features a model of some of the historical buildings that were located on Route 66 in town. Some are still standing, but many were lost to fires.
Ash Fork Route 66 Museum & Historical Society
Old Buildings in Ash Fork
Ash Fork is full of old abandoned buildings, old hotels, and more.
The Oasis Lounge
The Only Bar in Ash Fork?
This is the Oasis Lounge… what seems like the only bar in all of Ash Fork. Housed in this flagstone building on the Eastbound stretch of Route 66 through town, this bar goes back a number of years.
Classic Route 66 Motels
Copper State Motel
The Copper State Court Motel has been in business for a long time. It features a stone building where rooms at one time included a garage to park your car. If you look closely at this before and after shot you can see that in the vintage photo on the left that the office for the hotel used to be a Standard gas station right there on the motel property. That building now serves as the motel office.
See more about the Copper State Motel
zxcvzxcv
zxcvxzcv
The Hi-Line Modern Motor Court Motel
Classic Motel in Need of Repair
Right next door to the Copper State Motel is the Hi-Line Motel which appears to have fallen on hard times. It was closed with a For Sale sign out front on the day we visited. I’m sorry to see these old vintage Route 66 motels close, but it’s also fun to see what they were like in the early days of Route 66 as a “Modern Motor Court” and what they are like today.
In the before and after pictures below, you can see that what is now the office for the Hi-Line motel used to be a Shell Service station with the gas pumps right up front next to the highway. Notice the old gas pumps, the SHELL sign above and the oval Pennzoil sign to the side of the gas pumps. Also note the retro neon Hi-Line Modern Motor Court sign above. I’m a fan of old porcelain and neon signs so it’s unfortunate, that of those cool old signs seem to be long gone.
McCoy Motel
The McCoy Motel has seen better days.
This property was listed in the 1960 Ash Fork Yellow Pages as The McCoy Motel and is on the original alignment of Route 66 in Ash Fork which is now called Pine Ave. on the western end of town. The name was changed years later to the Stagecoach Motel.
DeSoto’s Salon
Address: 327 Lewis Ave, Ash Fork, AZ 86320
Former Texaco Service Station… Salon… AirBnB. This used to be a great photo op but unfortunately has fallen into disrepair.
This is the DeSoto’s Salon as it stands today (2021). It used to be a Texaco service station located on the main Route 66 highway through town. You can see what it looked like in the before and after image below. It had an office, two service bays, and a pump island in front. In an overhead view on Google maps, you can still see the outline in the pavement where the pump island used to be. It was recently paved over so I’m not sure how much longer that will be visible.
The Texaco station was converted to the DeSoto’s Salon and Barbershop but it is no longer open. The building is, however, operating as an Airbnb location and you can spend the night in this historic location on the original Route 66.
Here’s a before and after shot of the old Texaco Station and now DeSoto’s Salon
Old & Abandoned Buildings in Ash Fork
Old Country Store Building
This old building located on the eastbound part of Route 66 through town was originally the community general store and dates back to 1903. It’s obviously been vacant and just sitting for a long time.
Across the street is an abandoned gas station that dates back to 1954. It used to be a station right on Route 66 through town but when Interstate 40 bypassed the it, their wasn’t enough business to stay open. It’s been closed and vacant for a number of years.
Zettler’s Market
Address: 242 Lewis Ave, Ash Fork, AZ 86320
Zettler’s Market was originally opened by Homer and Marie Zettler and family in 1929 as the City Bakery. In 1940 they added a small grocery section and meat counter in the store. In 1946 when their son, Vern, returned from the war, he and his wife, Marge, bought the business and ran it until they retired in 1984. They sold the store to Mary Ann Breon. She kept the Zettler’s name on the store because of the history behind it and operated it until the business was closed in 2012.
The store was closed for four years , but in 2016 it was reopened as Zettler’s Route 66 Store by Kirk and Yvette Slack along with Tony and Marty Slack Mittone. They knew it was an original piece of Route 66 history and they kept the Zettler name. The store offered a wide variety of classic Route 66 memorabilia, apparel, colorful characters and often classic cars and motorcycles. The Slacks ran the store for a year before putting it up for sale when they moved to Hawaii.
After being closed for four years, Zettlers Market – also known as Zettler’s Route 66 Store has a new owner, and reopened in September, 2020.
The new owner was Terry Tapp who, with his son James, runs Top Shop in Phoenix, a high end automobile and antique upholstery business.
Zettler’s Route 66 Store is located at 242 Lewis Ave, Ash Fork, AZ 86320
Arizona Cafe
Once a bar, but now a church!
A far cry from the original Arizona Cafe which was a bar and grill. It now serves as a church on the old Route 66 in Ash Fork.
Escalante Hotel
The Grand Harvey House
There was a Harvey House Hotel near the railroad tracks in Ash Fork. The original wooden structure burned in 1905 and was replaced by a beautiful stone hotel in which opened in 1907. It was a busy place when there was a lot of railroad traffic in Ash Fork. The hotel covered a space over 420 feet long and 250 feet wide. That’s a building longer than a football field.
On the ground floor of the structure was a lunch room fitted with a circular counter, a large gift shop, newsstand and reading room, and a barber shop.
Ash Fork was an important railroad junction at that time. Passengers and freight bound for central and southern Arizona boarded the trains at the famed Hotel Escalante. The hotel closed in 1948 and was demolished in the early 1970’s. The lot where the hotel stood is now used for storage by a local flagstone company. There is nothing left of the hotel.
This historical marker near where the Escalante Hotel used to stand is all that remains.
Lodging on Route 66 in Ash Fork
Ash Fork Inn
A no-frills but comfortable option right off Route 66. It offers clean rooms, a vintage vibe, and easy access to nearby attractions.
Nearby Flagstaff or Williams
Travelers wanting additional lodging options can stay in larger towns just 30-45 minutes away. Williams in particular also lies along Route 66 and offers vintage motels and bed-and-breakfasts.
Tips for Visiting Ash Fork
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall offer mild temperatures and clear skies, ideal for driving and walking tours.
- Pack Layers: Even in summer, evenings can get chilly due to Ash Fork’s elevation (around 5,100 feet).
- Fill Your Tank: Gas stations can be sparse in rural Arizona, so top off before venturing out on Route 66.
- Bring a Camera: Vintage signs, long stretches of the Mother Road, and scenic high desert landscapes offer great photo ops.
- Combine With Nearby Stops: Ash Fork pairs well with day trips to Williams, the Grand Canyon, or Seligman—another Route 66 gem.
Favorite Pictures from Ash Fork
