Cool Springs Station

Cool Springs Station in Golden Valley, Arizona, is the last place to pull over before tackling the winding, mountainous road through the Black Mountains and over Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman—and the first spot to stretch your legs, grab a Route 66 soda, and pick up a souvenir on the way back east.

Located about 20 miles west of Kingman on Route 66, Cool Springs first opened in the mid-1920s, offering travelers a place to refuel and recharge. It quickly gained fame for its chicken dinners, drawing in hungry motorists, and eventually added cabins where road-weary travelers could spend the night.

Cool Springs, like so many stops along the Mother Road, has a history full of twists and turns. It passed through several owners, including James Walker and his wife, his wife and Floyd Spidell (after James left for the midwest), and Spidell’s niece. The station became a true family affair, with various relatives helping out through the years. But in the 1950s, Route 66 was realigned to bypass this winding route, and Cool Springs began to decline. A fire in the 1960s left little more than charred remains, seeming to end its story for good.

For decades, Cool Springs lay in ruins until 1991, when it got a brief moment in the spotlight as a movie set. A frame was built around the remains for the film Universal Soldier, only to be blown up once more on screen.

In 1997, real estate broker Ned Leuchtner stumbled upon the ruins and was captivated by the beauty and history of Cool Springs. Determined to restore it, he spent years trying to acquire the property, finally succeeding in 2001. Working with builder Dennis DeChenne and using old photographs as guides, the team painstakingly rebuilt Cool Springs, and by 2004, this historic stop was open once again.

Today, Cool Springs operates as a Route 66 gift shop, stocked with memorabilia, souvenirs, Americana, and snacks to fuel your journey. It’s a place to admire the unique architecture, snap some photos, pick up a memento, or simply catch your breath after tackling the twists and turns of Arizona’s “Sidewinder” road to Oatman.