Home > AZ > Petrified Forest National Park >

Painted Desert Park Trading Post Ruins

Petrified Forest National Park, AZ
Phone:

East < GO > West

The Painted Desert Trading Post, Also known as the Lion Farm, is long gone but the view is still there, although it's a bit of a hike to see it, no cars allowed. The site is about 6/10 of a mile east of where the original Route 66 and the paved road through the park intersect just north of the visitor center.

GPS: (Approximate) 35.076849, -109.770234

Harry "Indian" Miller, of Two Guns fame, built this trading post 1926, before this spot was part of the National Park. In 1928 His sister Julia Miller became the owner and operated the Indian Trading Post, Curio Shop and (Pickwick/Greyhound) Bus Stop until 1940 when she retired. At some point they built a small observation tower folks could climb to get a bit of a better view (see the postcard below). The business remained in the family until it closed when I-40 opened in 1958.

We had the chance to see this site in 2015 and there is really not much left to see except for the view. It's kind of a wide spot on a grave road. We were on a tour the Park conducted at the time.

----------
Vintage Advertising Highlights

TRADING POST
ON THE RIM OF PAINTED DESERT PARK,
ARIZONA
A spectacular view o f the Painted Desert, only a few feet from Highway 66, where where thousands of people view this strange, colorful formation of nature.

NOTE: This is more of general information / view postcard rather than pure advertising.

Photo(s): 2015