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Ed's Camp

8331 Oatman Rd, Golden Valley, AZ
Phone:
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Lowell “Ed” Edgarton built Ed's Camp in 1919 as a sort of one stop shop for people traveling through the area. The main trading post building and the Kactus Cafe building are still standing. The Texaco pumps and station are gone. A small building on the west side of the site that apparently had a couple of cabins that travelers could rent for the night still stands. A camping area called Little Meadows offered tent and trailer camping spots for those who preferred being closer to nature, or simply couldn't afford the cabin rent.

Ed's Camp is a bit more than a mile west of Cool Springs on Oatman Rd.

GPS: 35.033673, -114.326270

x Hungry travelers could get a meal at the Kactus Cafe next to the trading post building. The sign posts still stand out front near the road. When these photo's were taken in 2013 the buildings and property were showing more than a little wear and tear.

Lowell Edgerton was an accomplished minerologist and even has an ore named after him "Edgertonite". He worked on his own mining business as well as being a a consultant for many mining companies in the area. His main focus was rare earth minerals.


About 2-1/2 miles west of Ed's Camp on the left side of the road there is a pull-out and stone stairs to reach the Shaffer's Fish Bowl. There may be a memorial plaque to Shaffer there. I haven't climbed up to the Fish Bowl, but this is the stairs by the parking pullout.

GPS: (Shafer's Fish Bowl) 35.038848, -114.356360

Photo(s): 2013 2019

 



 

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x About Us We started traveling Historic U.S. Route 66 as a destination in 2009. It's like a 2,400 mile long drive back in time from Chicago to Santa Monica! more
xDid You Know: Many parts of the old 4 lane Route 66 were reverted to a 2 lane road after 66 was realigned to the interstate. In many places the abandoned lanes are still there.
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