Travel Guide Hackberry

Founded in 1874, Hackberry is the oldest town established along Route 66. Its name comes from a tree (the hackberry) that is quite common in the area. Hackberry was once prosperous because of its silver mines and the railroad that made it the third largest cattle shipping town in the state. Between the cowboys, miners and railroaders who frequented it regularly, Hackberry had its share of fights and gunfights amidst the card games and gambling. The mines closed in 1919, but Route 66 kept the town's economy vibrant until 1978, when it was bypassed by Interstate 40, 15 miles to the south. In 1992, Bob Waldmire (1945-2009), a well-known Route 66 artist, moved into a former general store and completely renovated it. He sold it in 1998, in disagreement with the quarrying of the nearby Crozier Canyon, where the town is nestled. The Hackberry General Store is still open and is a favorite stop for Route 66 lovers. Although there's no gasoline here anymore, old fuel pumps still adorn the front, along with a plethora of vintage signs and giant bric-a-brac that are a photographer's delight. Inside, the store offers all kinds of souvenirs for purchase. At the west exit, Route 66 skirts the Peacock Mountains before heading straight to Kingman. Six miles away, Antares is the junction of Route 66 and Indian Road 149, which leads to West Grand Canyon.