« See-Saw Cypress Gardens: Down Again | Main | Gettysburg Electric Map: No Address »

Twin Arrows Restored, Route 66 Fans Rejoice

September 28, 2009

We’ve watched with resignation the gradual decay of the Twin Arrows east of Flagstaff, Arizona. The two big shafts — telephone poles, actually — were left to rot when the trading post that owned them closed in 1998. It wouldn’t be long, we thought, before they collapsed in a puff of desert dust, and then were moved to our Gone But Not Forgotten section.

But not so fast! The arrows are reborn, looking as colorful and strange as the day that they were first shoved into the ground.

The arrows were restored in a two-week cooperative blitz between the Hopi tribe and Route 66 buffs. Each group had its own motives. To the Hopi, according to an article in the Arizona Daily Sun, the arrows “symbolize warrior pride.” To the 66ers, they embody “an entrepreneurial spirit.” Let’s just say that the arrows are a Spirit Guide for Route 66 travelers, and a big “Pay attention!” from Arizona’s Indians.

According to the Sun, the Hopi plan to restore the trading post as well as the arrows, in anticipation of a big Navajo casino planned for the opposite side of I-40. We hope that the tribes put some of their future wealth to further totem rehab  — like restoring Two Guns/Canyon Diablo a dozen miles east of Twin Arrows.

Sections: Attraction News, Coming Soon 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Twin Arrows Restored, Route 66 Fans Rejoice”

1. Craig Says:
   September 28th, 2009 at 8:19 pm

   I love that the exits along that stretch of I-40 are named after tourist attractions.

2. Steve B Says:
   September 30th, 2009 at 8:02 am

   This is that kind of thing I want to find on Route 66. I moved from NY to MO and it has always been a goal to follow Route 66 from start to finish.

3. ADalton Says:
   October 2nd, 2009 at 2:09 pm

   Once again someone is working to reverse the trend of decay along our old highways. Nice job Hopi Tribe!

4. Julian Boals Says:
   October 19th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

   Passed by Twin Arrows about ten days ago. Wonderful to see the arrows looking so refreshed. Big thanks to the Hopi Tribe and all Route 66 fans!

5. Bob Mateski Says:
   October 22nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm

   Nice to see this happen, I was there on a Grand Canyon motorcycle trip in May of 2009 and it looked really bad at that time.
   I remember at the age of 10 when our entire family of 8 plus my mom (pregnant) piled into dad’s 1958 Ford Country Squire station wagon, we were moving from Chicago to Long Beach Ca. during the summer of 1965.
   We also stopped at 2 Guns, the Great Meteor Crator and the Grand Canyon on our way out to California, it took us 10 days but what great memories we had of a wonderful historic highway.

6. Jodi Says:
   October 23rd, 2009 at 8:22 am

   We were on Rt 66 yesterday and had planned on stopping to see the Arrows even in the run down state they were in during our trip last year and really surprised to find them restored!! What a great thing to do and would be wonderful if the tribes could restore the buildings as well as a kind of Rt 66 stop over!!

7. Dee Skinner Says:
   January 8th, 2010 at 10:56 am

   Way to go Hopi people! It is so good to see the beginning of the restoration! Let’s pray it reaches fruition and you will once again have a place for the people and a possible site for year-round sales of your crafts by the wonderful artisans you have! Too many are never seen. Thank you all for the efforts!

Trunkation Nation