Canyon Diablo

With the exception of the wigwam motel in Holbrook, the thing that was most on my mind this entire trip was stopping to take pictures of Two Guns.   I’ve seen it before, but only from the freeway and the off ramp.   For years and years, there was a caretaker there with a buck knife and a shotgun that would speed up in his 4 wheeler if you got anywhere close to Two Guns ruins he’d show up and yell you off the property.   He was pretty well known for being efficient and serious about what he does.   Two guns has been bought and sold several times and my information tells me he was hired to protect the property from vandals.  As of 2008, I’d heard he was gone, so I’ve always wanted to come back here.

Two guns has an impressive history and to the casual, modern passer by, you’d never know it.     From the Indian wars between the Apache and the Navajo (it was then known as Canyon Diablo, or Devil’s Canyon, to the Early days of National Trails Highway (pre-Route 66) to Today.    Many people believe it is cursed, and for good reason.    Lots of battles here, and it held the distinction of being the roughest town in the west, let alone Arizona.    Murder, Prostitution, At least a punch in the face for looking at someone wrong.   Two Guns is the shit.  If you want the complete history of two guns, I’d highly suggest reading this link here.

I had a chance to FINALLY cross the bridge that I’d seen for years, and even as I type this I regret not driving it down the dirt road further, because as I passed it all down 1-40 I realized there was much more I missed.   I was able to see the more modern abandoned gas station, and the slightly older KOA campground, as well as the other ruins.    There is also a very deep cave that factored into its rich history of a cowboy town.   Pat, are you reading this???  We need to go back to two guns and spend a day.

I hope no jackasses out there vandalize Two Guns, because it really needs to be preserved.    It’s cool that we can visit two guns now, But please if you visit it leave it as it is.  There’s not many people I hate worse than a Vandal.     This town burned down TWICE and survived history like no other, and is now just a side glance to people heading to Flagstaff and Albuquerque.    I think we all need to help keep it alive as long as possible.   Theres enough route 66 out there thats rotting, we don’t need this one to rot anymore than what nature throws at it.

There is also a huge railroad trellis around two guns somewhere that crossed the canyon.   It’s clear I need to go back untill I know ALL the stories associated with this great historic spot in the road.    Two Guns.   read that link.   This may be one of my favorite Route 66 spots yet.    It’s full of history and full of questions to be answered.

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