Tag Archives: Route 66

Williams prepares for Mountain Village Holiday

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640-141029-18WILLIAMS – The trees are starting to look bare as the beautiful fall colors are starting to give way to the coming winter. The long range forecast shows a possibility of snow on Sunday. The city is stringing lights. The Pumpkin Patch train ended and the Grand Canyon Railway Haunted Train has given way to Christmas lights in preparation for Mountain Village Holiday. The annual Mountain Village Holiday begins Thanksgiving weekend and runs through the new year.

The Grand Canyon Railway is also preparing the Polar Express which starts November 7 and runs through the new year.

The City of Williams has sent applications for the annual lighting contest and they may also be picked up at the City Hall on First Street.

300-MVH-1Mountain Village Holiday kicks off with the annual lighting of the Christmas tree on Second Street and a Parade of Lights. During this period the Young Life camp hosts a Thanksgiving dinner and the Kiwanis Club hosts a community dinner.

There is still plenty of Halloween, of course. The scarecrows still adorn Route 66. Bearizona ends their Howly Growly Owly Festival tomorrow. Their new cave display of small creatures of the west—such as mice, scorpions and Ringtail Cats—will remain.

The First Baptist and Family Harvest Churches, across from Safeway on Grant, will hold safe activities for the kids.

Of course trick-or-treating of the houses and businesses on Route 66 will still be available.

Just after Halloween, the weather forecast shows a chance of rain on Saturday with a low of 37. Sunday there is a 30% chance of snow with accumulations of less than a half-inch. A high of 47 is possible during the day dropping to 23-degrees overnight. Fair weather returns Monday with highs around 50-degrees during the day dropping to the mid-20s at night.

Paving to occur at Route 66 and Switzer Canyon intersection in Flagstaff

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adot-logo3FLAGSTAFF – Travelers heading east- and westbound through Flagstaff on Route 66 (Milton Ave.) can expect delays Monday and Tuesday Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, between 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., including work Tuesday night from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. while maintenance crews mill and pave the intersection following repairs to the water main. Traffic northbound on Switzer Canyon Road will also experience restrictions during the repair and paving activity. Travel lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction at the intersection while construction is underway. Please exercise caution while driving in and around the construction zone.

Williams Vikings come home

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home141016-01WILLIAMS – The Williams Vikings once again took to Route 66 to celebrate their homecoming. The parade theme this year was superheros. The parade included Batman and Officer Anderson of the Williams Police Department. They even had John D. Bandit behind bars.

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Williams dresses up for Halloween

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tarantulaWILLIAMS – It must be October in Williams. The trees are turning and the turantulas are out and running about. Williams residents and businesses are dressing up for the Halloween. You also have the chance to win a fall basket through the Williams Chamber of Commerce.

On the weekends you have the chance to ride Pumpkin Patch Train. The train runs Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 1 & 3pm. The cost is only $20 per adult and $15 for children.

Bearizona Photo

Bearizona Photo

The other big event is the Bearizona Howly Growly Owly fall festival. The event is included in the price of admission. Do not get so wrapped up in the event, however, that you forget to drive through the park to see the animals.

Of course if you want to do something a little less scary, the weather is still great for a Marvelous Marv Grand Canyon Tour.

A really scary decoration.

A really scary decoration.

On Halloween the First Baptist Church and Family Harvest Church are hosting family friendly, safe events. Both churches are located across the street from Safeway along Grant street.

The Tainted Angel LLC will host a Zombie Prom at the Sultana Theater to benefit SAVE Meant to Rescue. The $10 per person event will include a brain eating contest, Cash Bar, photo booth, 80’s theme dance, contest and prizes and more.

The Williams Chamber of Commerce is currently running a scarecrow contest as part of their Alpine Harvest Festival. Several of the businesses have put up scarecrows and you could win a fall gift basket simply by judging the entries.

You can obtain a form from the Williams Visitor Center or any of the participating businesses. Judge a minimum of nine of the scarecrows and rate them each from 1 to 5. Make sure you obtain a sticker from the participating business. Drop off your entry at the Williams Visitor Center by October 29 in order to win the gift basket. You need not be present to win.

Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe "El Muerto." Don't forget to try the pumpkin pancakes and latte during October.

Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe “El Muerto.” Don’t forget to try the pumpkin pancakes and latte during October.

Participating businesses are Bearizona Wildlife Park, Camp Civitan Thrift Store, Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe, National Bank of Arizona, Pizza Factory, Old Glory Gifts, the Williams Depot, Pine Country Restaurant, Williams Veterinary Clinic, The Station 66 Italian Bistro, Elephant Rocks Golf Course, Williams Wear, The Gallery in Williams, Sultana Theater and Boutique 66.

"Night Rider" at Camp Civitan Thrift Store. The thrift store benefits Camp Civitan for special needs people.

“Night Rider” at Camp Civitan Thrift Store. The thrift store benefits Camp Civitan for special needs people.

"The Scared Crow" sits beside the GMO Corn crow at Williams Wear in the mall.

“The Scared Crow” sits beside the GMO Corn crow at Williams Wear in the mall.

Old Glory Gifts has "The Mother Road & the Kicks." Old Glory Gifts sells only American made products.

Old Glory Gifts has “The Mother Road & the Kicks.” Old Glory Gifts sells only American made products.

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Brown’s Amusements returns for Fall

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Brown's Amusement set up for Fall Carnival

Brown’s Amusement set up for Fall Carnival

WILLIAMS – Brown’s Amusements has returned to Williams and will open tomorrow and Friday from 5 pm to 11 pm. They will be open Saturday from 1 pm to 11 pm.

The annual Fall Carnival will feature the Zero Gravity, the Sizzler, Carousel, Tilt-a-Whirl, the Himalaya, a Kiddie land for the tots, and more!

The Carnival is located at Glassburn Park across from Wild West Junction. You can call the Williams Recreation Center 928-635-1496 or the Williams and Forest Service Visitors Center 800-863-0546 for more information.

Visit www.ExperienceWilliams.com for information on other events.

Who needs a car show?

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1956 Chevrolet Bel Air visits Williams.

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air visits Williams.

800px-140827-10WILLIAMS – One thing about having the “Mother road” as your main street is that sooner or later you see one classic or another passing through. This evening we had a visit by an Idaho resident with the popular 1956 Bel Air model by Chevrolet. Last week we had a road show of Corvettes.

With or without a car show, you are bound to see some cool cars along Route 66 in Williams.

Williams Cool Country Cruise-In on Route 66

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kz640-140808-07ccci-140809-34WILLIAMS – Only a few drops of rain threatened, but did not dampen, the Cool Country Cruise-In this year. The sound of the roaring machines could be heard cruising both stretches of historic route 66 throughout the weekend. The event was a treat for locals and visitors from around the globe.

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Local radio KBZX 92.1 FM provided appropriate music for the route 66 event as well as an entry.

While not an "official" entry, this Marine celebrated his historic military organization and those who have yet to come home.

While not an “official” entry, this Marine celebrated his historic military organization and those who have yet to come home.

The weather was sunny Friday. Saturday produced a few drops near the end of the day. That did not stop the classics from cruising the historic strip.

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Not all of the classics were limited to the area between First Street to the east end of Route 66. On the west end Conoco had their classic truck on display.

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Williams to follow lead of ADOT on wrong way signage

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300px-wrong-dipstickWILLIAMS – ADOT is posting larger wrong way signs and posting them lower to the ground. The hope is that they will be more eye-catching for drivers. In recent weeks there have been several accidents caused by wrong way drivers.

The Northern Arizona Gazette has learned that the City of Williams is considering the process for signs along their one-way routes of Railroad and Bill Williams Avenue. Bill Williams Avenue is one-way going east in the direction of Flagstaff while Railroad Avenue is one-way going west toward Ash Fork. Both streets are part of the defunct Route 66 highway system.

The City of Williams will have larger signs created. They will also be posted lower to the ground. They will also have a more western-style eye-catching message to drivers going in the wrong direction.

When contacted, City Hall stated, “This is a completely satire piece. It is meant for humor only. You’ve been had.”

KZBX brings radio back to Williams

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kzbz-92-radioWILLIAMS – KZBX FM 92.1 radio is on the air. Actually, it has been on the air for sometime, but Station Manager/Owner Leslie Stevens may have finally found a permanent home for the station.

KZBX radio is a non-profit 501(c)3 radio station with an authorized 100-watt output. Currently the station runs only 30-watts and has a ten-mile radius. Les expects the station to be broadcasting full power within a few weeks.

Recently Les has been working on getting all of the FCC requirements in order such as the emergency broadcasting system and Amber Alert. The station moved into the First Baptist Church building until they could convert the storage room in back of the church into a radio shack.

The station has been broadcasting syndicated oldies music radio show. Now it is producing local radio broadcasts. Leslie Sevens has his show from 4 to 6pm on Friday and Saturday. PJ the DJ hosts her radio show from 6 to 8 pm on Friday and Saturday.

As a non-profit, the station depends on volunteers to assist in running the station. He does not run commercial advertising so financial donations are helpful. Other non-profits can make use of the station to broadcast their existence and activities.

Leslie said that he would gladly show anyone who desires to run a show how to run the board and equipment.

Mom’s store opens, appropriately, in time for Mother’s Day

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Treats and Treasures - 309 West Route 66

Treats and Treasures – 309 West Route 66


WILLIAMS—Glenn and Linda have been working for several months to open Treats n Treasures at 309 W Route 66 next to the Sultana Theater. They are the friendly managers for the store owned by their mother. Although they have not received all of their stock, they managed to open, appropriately, just before Mother’s Day.

Treats N Treasures carries a varied assortment of candies from the new to the kind that your grandfather used to buy. An interesting item is a cup with a mix of candies from the 60s, 70s or 80s. Something that you usually do not find in a candy store is a variety of fresh fruit for the health crowd. Also in stock is a variety of gourmet popcorn with flavors such as peanut butter cup, white truffle Parmesan and cookies and cream. Beef and pork jerky is also available.

130512-04-TreasuresIn addition they have gourmet ice cream with your choice of waffle, sugar or old fashioned cone. For the morning crowd, they have coffee and gourmet pastries.

The store carries a wide variety of sodas with cane sugar instead of the more dangerous high fructose corn syrup. The selection includes a variety of flavors and brands. It would probably not be too hard to guess where Capone comes from. They also have a brand called Moxie which was sold in the early 1800’s originally as an elixir to cure all ills.

They carry souvenirs, like many of the stores. Their selection is a little bit different from the normal Route 66 fare available at other souvenir shops. The shop carries a limited selection of collectible coins and paper money such as a colorized Grand Canyon park two dollar bill and silver Arizona coin.

Their differing variety of stock should make this store a welcome addition to the Route 66 business community.