Worth the stop on your way to anywhere!
This was an unexpected joy! The owner of our hotel recommended that we swing through Oatman to see the wild donkeys. Amused at the thought of it, I had to make the trip -- and so glad that I did. the drive over the pass from Kigman, AZ was awesome. The winding roads through with steep drop-offs made the drive an adventure in itself. The town of Oatman has a historic feel with many shops and a few places to grab a bite. The donkeys are the highlight of the stop. Alfalfa feed pellets are sold in the stores to feed the donkeys -- and they know it! Feeding them is fun and by no means are the donkeys aggressive. You can even pet them with no problems. Highly recommend it for both adults and kiddos. Be sure to bring your hand sanitizer =)
This place is great! I was looking for an inexpensive option and this place exceeded my expectations. The owner and his wife take great pride in their work at renovating this historic hotel. Every room is named after a famous actor/singer. The owner, Sam, takes quite a bit of time when checking in to tell you about the history of the town. Just be prepared for this orientation when arriving -- it will be an enjoyable experience when prepared!
Very nice park. The trail to view the dwellings is very well kept. It is just under a half mile trek to the viewing area from the Visitor Center on a paved path. The viewing area is across a canyon from the actual ruins. You can see the dwellings with the naked eye, but there are high powered binoculars available to see them up close. Fortunately, my camera has a decent zoom and I was able to get a good picture of the dwellings. Photo by smart phone is probably not your best bet.
There are no fees to enter this park -- this was a pleasant surprise!
I think this place was pretty nice -- especially considering the price. I booked online and it was $39/night during the week. You even get $10 of free play when you check in. Because it was my first time there, I got another $10 of free play for sighing up for their slot machine card.
I was skeptical at first, but other folks on Trip Advisor rated it high. It is a dry casino/hotel -- no alcohol, so if you're looking for a drink, you'll have to get it somewhere else. The rooms were clean. Our air conditioner was not working properly, but you can call the front desk to have someone come and fix it. If you're passing through, I highly recommend it!
BTW: the description of the Large Suites is not the normal room. It was a standard hotel room with a balcony that overlooked either the parking lot or the highway. Highway side is better... There was no refrigerator or microwave in our room,