The Mohave County Planning and Zoning Commission advanced by an 8-1 vote a rezoning request to build an Old Route 66 Ranch complex outside of Oatman, Arizona, despite some opposition from business owners in the town.
The proposal now will be heard by county supervisors during their meeting today.
Tim McCarthy of Aztec, New Mexico, told the zoning commission during its meeting last month that Old Route 66 Ranch about less than a mile west of Oatman would be a western-themed site that offers horseback riding, zip line, petting zoo, reptile exhibit, mining museum, gold panning, Texas Longhorn cattle, ice cream making for children and possibly a restaurant, according to The Standard Newspaper and a video of the meeting where McCarthy made his presentation.
McCarthy also said Old Route 66 Ranch would conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Few businesses in Oatman are ADA accessible, he said, because of the historical nature of the buildings. It also would contain plenty of parking and may offer a shuttle bus to the town.
He said the complex would set up a donations box at the petting zoo, and local charities would get that money quarterly.
But a few businesses stated their opposition to the development:
Topock resident Michael Buck said McCarthy will merely duplicate existing activity to the detriment of established merchants.
“He’s talking about old-time photos. We’ve got an old-time photo shop,” Buck said. “Gold panning. We’ve got gold panning. He’s doing rock shops and selling jewelry and this and that. It’s all in Oatman already.”
Robert Lowery told Commissioners that Oatman does not need a makeover.
“Oatman is a great little town the way that it is,” he said. “It hurts to think that somebody’s going to come in with a bunch of money and try and recreate Oatman.”
Additional correspondence on the county’s website includes a petition signed by 30 Oatman residents or business owners opposing Old Route 66 Ranch.
However, that same correspondence includes an email from Joe Goularte that supports the development. It states:
There are people who feel they can NOT identify themselves in an open meeting for fear of retaliation. They either work for or rent from people who do NOT want the project to be approved for their own personal reasons.
We know that business in Oatman isn’t what it use to be. Sales have been decreasing slowly for years, because there is little to do here, except watch a 10 minute gun fight and/or feed the donkeys a bag of food. This project would bring many more people to the area and hopefully increase our sales. Let’s face it, without sales Oatman would become a ghost town like it was many years ago.
We hope you will consider this when making your decision.
At least a couple of commissioners expressed concern tourists would go to Old Route 66 Ranch and bypass historic Oatman.
Another commissioner, citing testimony from the region’s fire chief, wondered whether the site would have enough infrastructure to support it.
Commission member Patricia Alexander, a former Oatman resident and business owner, supported the Old Route 66 Ranch idea, remarking it would push existing Oatman businesses to improve because of the competition.
Old Route 66 Ranch would be on the west side of Oatman Highway, on the Bullhead City side of Oatman.
(Image of Oatman, Arizona, by Ken Lund via Flickr)
I’ve never been to this part of Route 66. Speaking just for myself, I would be very likely to want to see the old town and it’s businesses. The ranch might make the list too, but would be a 2nd stop after being in town.
What do you think Ron?
Since most Route 66 travelers are westbound, they would encounter Oatman first before the ranch.
I can see it from both viewpoints. I might worry that “Old Route 66 Ranch” would become to Oatman what Cars Land at Disney World is to the real Route 66; i.e., a presentation torn from its social & historical moorings to become a cheap imitation or parody of the real thing; prepackaged, polished, and sanitized to suit the squeamish sensibilities of tourists who want a theme-park experience (or who don’t know the difference), and lacking authenticity. That sort of thing rarely piques my interest. On the other hand, if business is down in Oatman, then something should be done. I just think it should be done IN OATMAN; not a mile away. I suspect that what Oatman needs, the one thing that might induce travelers to stay instead of just drive though, is a decent motel.
I have a vision for a rustic elegance hotel. Who do I need to contact?