Ash Fork

  It’s hard not to feel bad for Ash Fork. The railroad and Interstate 40 left the town behind and its economy was crippled 40 years ago by the loss of its Route 66 tourism business.

But the town is still standing with a rock-solid local enterprise that makes it the Flagstone Capital of the World. 

Route 66 roadtrippers are drawn to other popular towns on Arizona’s Mother Road, including nearby Williams, Seligman and Kingman. But don’t leave Ash Fork behind. It’s worth a spin through town even if it's mostly a residential community these days. Check out the town's pair of one-way streets — Lewis Avenue westbound and Park Avenue eastbound — that once catered to a steady flow of Route 66 travelers. There are a few Route 66 relics. 

Stop in at the west end of town at the Ash Fork Route 66 Museum. It’s in a former Arizona Highway Department warehouse. Visitors can get a quick look at what Ash Fork offered in its more prosperous days.

​ The railroad arrived in 1883 and was an anchor of the town. In 1907, the Escalante Harvey House opened for rail passengers. But rail travel declined after World War II as more travelers took to the highways, including Route 66.

Santa Fe Railroad moved its mainline 10 miles north of Ash Fork in 1960. The Harvey House was torn down in the 1980s and a 1987 fire destroyed buildings in the heart of Ash Fork. 

A few shops have unsuccessfully tried to capture some of the Route 66 roadtrippers. The closed Hi-Line Motel is one reminder of the old highway. Other motels have been turned into apartments. Buy some gas. Spend some money in town if you can. They need it. Man do they need it.

We recommend taking the Crookton Road off I-40 just west of town to travel a 20-mile section of old Route 66. It crosses over 

Oasis Lounge & Cafe on Park Avenue has a towering neon sign.

​the BNSF railroad and goes over Crookton Pass with some great views from up there. ​​The road, complete with Burma Shave signs, ends in Seligman.

Founded: 1882 
Elevation: 5,160
Population: 457

Ash Fork's fortunes were tied to the railroad and later Route 66 tourism. Both no longer support the town's struggling economy.

Crookton Road, an old Route 66 alignment, links Ash Fork to Seligman.

Ash Fork bills itself as the Flagstone Capital of the World.

Volunteer firefighters protect the town, which suffered a ruinous 1987 fire.

Ash Fork's post office is nicely finished with flagstone.

Hi Line Motel is a classic highway motor court that needs a renovation. It's on westbound Route 66 or Lewis Avenue.

Oasis Lounge & Cafe has some good reviews for its Mexican food.

This looks like it could have been a firehouse or other type of garage.

Santa Fe tracks were moved 10 miles north of town in 1960. This view is from Crookton Road looking east.