Kingman Outdoor Decor Stores

Kingman is located in the Mohave or Mojave desert.  Lawns are very rare in Kingman.  Instead of grass people have gravel.  This creates less upkeep.  However the gravel is decorated with wide range of yard items from rocks to statues to wind mills and old farm implements.  

As such, I have been visiting some of this stores gathering ideas for when we actually do move.

Import Corner LLC is a very interesting store.  They tell you everything in the store is half price.  They might do better just pricing everything half less.  They have large animals, windmills, wall hangings, fountains and bird baths.  They have the largest lawn turtle I have seen.  They also have bears and horses.  Located by the airport.

Lomeli's Garden Art is on Route 66/ Andy Divine close to Rutherfords.  The specialize in statuary that they make.  They have been in business for over 40 years.  They make much of their own artwork using molds and concrete.  They have bird baths, statues, cactuses, and benches.

Willow Street Bargains and Metal Art (Closed) has some very interesting items.  They seem to have good prices as well.  They have many western decor items, dinosaurs, and turtles.  They also have outside flowers (not real) and a fashioned mine and western wagons.  Located on the corner of Willow and Gordon.

Rose Nursery has mostly artistic rocks including paving stones and large stones.  They also have fruit trees and decorative trees.  This is located on north Stockton Hill Road.

Tractor Supple Co. on Stockton Hill and I-40 offers a nursery with trees and gardening supplies.  They also have a very good selection of wind chimes.  They also offer chickens.  

Walmart as an adequate selection of outdoor furniture and a good price.

C-A-L Ranch is located on Andy Devine North of the I-40.  It is a new store in the old K-Mart.  I didn't see much in terms of outdoor decor other then they sell chicken coops which may be good for the back yard; they are cute.  The did have a table with metallic painted chickens and such which could be laced outside.  This store is geared to ranchers and pet owner.  They have a large selection of guns.  

Ace Hardware has an outdoor section

Status of the New City Park in East Kingman

On Airway, just past the middle school there are plans for a park.  I noticed this sign three or four years ago, and then is disappeared and the area became a staging area for the Flying fortress construction.  I had heard it is to be a soccer complex.  They have improved the drainage on Airway in preparation for developing the area.  AI says $7,000,000 have been set aside for the first step which will include sprinkler system and high quality turf that will withstand desert conditions.  There are plans for soccer, softball and baseball and the turf should withstand year round play.  There will be a need for $14,000,000 additional funds for later stages which likely will be raised through a bond.  The park is called the Sunbelt Sports Project.  This project will begin after the completion of Flying Fortress.  Flying Fortress ribbon cutting is scheduled for October 5.  

future park

This area is currently staging area for construction and sign is gone.

Hualapai Mountain Park Outside Kingman

 

 Hualapai Mountain Park is a Mohave County Park.  As such entrance is $12 per car as taxes do not support the park. County residents can also purchase an annual pass for $60, or for seniors $35. The most telling feature of this park, in addition to it being in the top of the mountains, is the many cabins.  Most of these were constructed by the CCC during the depression.  The price to rent a cabin goes from $55 per night (with no restroom) up to $215 depending on size and amenities.  Most are $90 with room for four.  The park has group picnic sites with small playgrounds.  It also has RV $45 and tent $20 camping.  It is also the trail head for many hikes.  Sheri and kids have taken hikes, but I avoid them for fear of triggering sciatic pain.  They have significant elevation changes.   It is about 15 minutes from Kingman on Hualapai Road.  Close by is Hualapai Mountain Resort which features hotel and restaurant.  The park also has a disc golf course.

Between the park and the resort next door you find staging areas for ATV four-wheeling excursions on the dirt roads beyond which travel through out the Hualapai range.  I understand the mountain air is 10 degrees cooler in the summer than the temperature in Kingman, which makes it an inviting destination as it is so close.

Kingman Hotel Reviews

Ramada Inn is distinctive with its multiple murals of the movie and Highway 66 scenes.

Clarion is on Route 66 just south of the I-40.  We have stayed there a couple times as a family family--both during COVID.  Because of COVID they were not doing their regular breakfast but were sticking stuff in a lunch back for everyone.  They never could figure out how to get what you wanted, and some of the food suck as the breakfast burrito tasted like card board.  I would like to check them out when they provide their regular breakfast.  The nice thing about Clarion is the indoor swimming pool.  It is very nice.  However the general atmosphere is a bit cheap.  Sheri says it is budget friendly and clean.

Motel 6 is also on route 66 just north of the I-40.  Their swimming pool is outside, and was closed during COVID.  They let me in early, but the door stuck and the mechanic had to let me into the room.  It worked after that.  Again budget friendly but also clean.  They did not do a breakfast.  Motel 6 is a National Chain and some of the hotels around the world leave something to be desired.  Sheri says we are not going to use them after our last experience in Laramie, WY.

La Quinta Inn and Suites is quite impressive.  I only entered a convention room and the lower floor by the lobby.  I also spent some time in the lobby as we awaiting our turn.  I have bad memories as we purchased what they called nutraceutical drinks, $5000.  In the end they were not suitable for drinking.  They are very nasty and just take up space.  

Home to Suites by Hilton is a nce lookin hotel you can see from the freeway.

Wingate by Wyndham is also just off the freeway.  We watched this one being built.

Ramblin Rose is an economic Hotel on Route 66.

Arcadia Lodge is a traditional Route 66 hotel.  It is currently closed by the city and is being remodeled by new honors.

Hotel Beale is an old traditional hotel but is not currently open.  There is talk of restoration.

Hotel Brunswick is next to Hotel Beale.  It has been reopened but not as a hotel.  It houses and art studio, restaurant and bar.

Hilltop Hotel advertises the best view in Kingman.  I checked it out and the view is nice in the front of the Hualapai Mountains and in the back of Radar Hill.  However in the back is partially obstructed due to a shed behind the hotel.  The hotel is at the corner of Stockton Hill and Andy Devine.

Hotel Trovatore boasts the biggest Route 66 map.  It is acfross the street from Hilltop Hotel.  It has many murals.  There is an East Indian restaurant.

Economy Hotel is on route 93 headed out of town.

On Route 66 on the east of town are several hotels in addition to Clarion and Hotel 6.  There is Econo Lodge, Days Inn by Wyndham, Super 8, Baymont by Wyndham and Silver Queen which caters to truckers with a large parking area behind.

On the south side of the freeway, again on Route 66 are many more hotels, including Clarion, Ramada, Springhill Suites by Marion, Holiday Inn, Days Inn by Wyndham, Best Western Plus King's Inn and Best Western Plus a Wayfarer's Inn.  The old Route 66 Hotel is changed into homeless housing called Joshua Tree.

Kingman Arizona Museums

  Kingman has many museums and exhibits.  In addition to the museums are many stores with interesting items.  

Kingman Army Air Field Museum has been closed for over a year.

Mohave Museum of History and Art has many fine displays.  This includes Native American History, Beale road history, Kingman Army Air Field, Highway 66 history, mining history, Andy Devine and much more.  In the library is a display of art by Roy Purcell.

Bonelli House was built in 1915 and occupied by the Bonelli family until the sold the home to the city of Kingman.  It was make from tuff stone blocks to resist fire as the family had a previous home burn down.  It is now used for tours presenting a period view.  The home had electricity and thus many appliances.

Highway 66 Museum. In the old powerhouse with the Visitors Center

Electric Car Museum. Downstairs of the Route 66 Museum

Train Museum

BLM display   Display of snakes, lizards and rocks

Old car display

Area 66 Museum:  I am not sure if this is open anymore

Visitors Center

Southwest Alpaca Tours, Kingman AZ

These pictures document two trips to the alpaca farm, with two different groups of grandchildren.  First group we haave Jeremy and kids and Mark and kids.

 When a different group of grandchildren visited it prompted another visit to the Alpaca farm.  Kids love feeding the alpaca and watching their antics.  Hayley was a bit fearful at first but she warmed up to the alpaca and fed them lots of leaves outside.  We had four families, Annie and Caleb, Sheri and I with Tony, Charity with kids and Natalia and Ayden.

Kingman Restaurants

 Overtime I have been adding to this blog as I visit more restaurants in Kingman.  There are very many of them.  

Most restaurants in Kingman are chain restaurants; and many I have already visited in other locations.  For example Denny's is Denny's.  We use to love Denny's when our kids were young because they had the $1.99 grand slam breakfast.  They still have the same breakfast but now it is $10 or more.  I visited Denny's in Kingman (there are two across Andy Divine from each other.  I visited the one on the west side.  I went for breakfast, and wasn't too impressed.  However the hot chocolate was great and they offered refills.  3/2023 I have now visited the Denny's at the truck stop.  I think it was more disappointing than the Denny's across the street.  Service was mediocre and the restroom was in the gas station and hard to get to.  

Another chain we have in Kingman, which I had not seen anyplace else is Cracker Barrel.  This is a nice restaurant, with a store.  There food is very good, and reasonably price.  It seems to always be busy.  The only unpleasant thing is you have to pay at the store which sometimes has a line.  But they want you to maybe buy something in addition to the food.   It has a southern style food theme.

Of course we have been to several of the regular restaurants.  Arby's makes a good beef sandwich but their wraps have too much mustard.  I like the Beef and Cheddar.  I have grown a new fondness for Burger King.  Their Whooper is great.  I love the white sauce they put on them.  (More lately I find the Whooper to be rather dry and haven't been to Burger King for a while.) 

Five Guys was a bit of a disappointment.  Their hamburgers are the same, and I love it with mushrooms.  I always order the baby because two patties of the regular overwhelm the flavor of the mushrooms.  In Kingman the store does not have ice cream.  I was looking forward to a caramel shake.  Instead they told me to go to Baskin Robins next door.  Five Guts in Kingman does not have ice cream.

Chili's Kingman seems to take the bill over Chili's Manteca.  The food was fresher and we were able to go in and sit down.  I had the mushroom burger which was excellent dipped in ketchup.  Sheri had fajitas and they seem to always be underdone in Manteca but were better in Kingman.  Tony appreciated the freshness of his Cajun chicken pasta.  

A restaurant we visited which is not a franchise is Dambar Steak House.  This is at the corner of Andy Divine (Route 66) and Stockton Hill Road which turns in Hualapai.  The food was good, but the price for steak always causes sticker shock.  Tony and Sheri both had ribs while I had a steak.  I ordered medium rare but it was underdone even for me.  The western theme of the restaurant was well presented.

Airport Cafe is a very nice family restaurant at the Kingman Airport.  It is open until 2 p.m. and they serve breakfast and lunch.

Mr. Dz Route 66 Diner is an iconic restaurant with great food, great ice cream and vintage cars.

Hualapai Mountain Resort Restaurant is sure to please with their location and specialty items. 

Dairy Queen is a franchise I have enjoyed over the yers.  I like their butterscotch dipped cone.  However they have become noted lately for their "Blizzard" shakes.  The Dairy Queen in Kingman has butterscotch dipped cones; Manteca did not while San Jose did.  I was happy.  Tony was happy with chicken strips and a Blizzard.  I don't know why they add toast to their chicken basket.  It just gets thrown away.  This restaurant has a similar problem to the Manteca Dairy Queen--they are terribly slow.  We waited in the line at the window waiting for our order for an excessively long time.  

In and Out is consistent throughout their stores with an efficient way of getting people through their line, and then your food is ready when you get there.  However their shakes do not stack up to those from Dairy Queen.  They are so small for the price.  It seems many restaurants lowered the size of shakes responding to worries about obesity, but did not lower the price.

KFC is KFC wherever you go.  I think their original recipe is the best chicken ever, especially the thighs.  Tony loves their macaroni and cheese but I not so much.   

Wendy's is Wendy's.  Tony really enjoyed his classic chicken sandwich and I went with the single.  Nothing quite compares to a Frosty.  I usually get the 4 for $4 bag but splurged this time.  

We have discovered Federico's Mexican Food on Northern.  They make a very nice carne asada taco and burritos.  I ordered tamales which is not their specialty.  At any rate Federico's has quickly become our place for tacos.  There is another Federico's on Beale in downtown Kingman.  

Another franchise with which I wasn't familiar is Culver's.  This is a restaurant out of Wisconsin with fried curd, frozen custard and butterburgers.  Their frozen custard seemed to be over priced but it is very good and worth it.  The curd was breaded and fried.  I would have preferred just curd or squeaky cheese like that have at the Ag center at Utah State.  Their burger was good.

Floyd and Company Real Pit BBQ is a special place with great food.  

Vito's Italian is on Northern.  They have traditional Italian and pizza.  It is very good.  They specialize in desserts.

Ramada Inn Lounge:  We went here and turned around as it has the atmosphere of a bar.

Oysters Mexican and Sea Food was satisfactory food and a very good decor.

Black Bear Diner is another franchise that actually comes out of California.  It was very similar; although the service was a bit slow which maybe COVID related.  Black Bear has huge portions, and you have to take most of it home.  I had biscuits and gravy and was eating them for about a week.

Rutherfords 66 Family Diner is on route 66 just north of Stockton Hill Road in Kingman

La Catrina is on Route 66 and has a Day of the Dead theme.

Calicos is very nice.  Great clam chowder.  Nice decor.

Mi Jalisco is a Mexican Restaurant with the decor of Mexican cinema.  

Mattina's Ristorante is a high end Italian restaurant.  

Kingman Chophouse is a good steak restaurant

Stromboli's is a good pizza restaurant.  The Stromboli is excellent.

Kingman Radar Hill

 

Radar Hill sunset

Radar Hill can be seen from all sides of Kingman.  I fully think that from over 90 percent of Kingman you can catch a glimpse of Radar Hill.  Today the hill has a couple buildings and cell phone towers.  During the cold war it housed a An Air Force radar station as part of a defensive program.  The hill is positioned such that cell tower signal is provided to all sides of Kingman.  Today the hill can be seen but it is no accessible to the public.  There is a Christmas tree on the hill during the holidays.

From closeup the hill blocks view of the buildings

From downtown Kingman, west of the hill

from Eastern, east of the train tracks

From Cecil Davis Park

This is radar hill at Christmas.  The tree goes up for Thanksgiving and stays up for the season.  To me this tree brings hope.  Hope of a better tomorrow.  It is a shining light on the hill.  You can see it from almost every place in Kingman, (unless blocked by a hill or building) or if you can't see it where you are you just have to go a short distance to be able to see it.  

Kingman Hikes

Beale's Spring Hike. Known for the spring which was along the Beale Trail

White Cliffs Hike Known for wagon ruts

White Cliffs Trail System: South entrance.  A new trailhead a couple blocks from the courthouse in Kingman.  Great views of Kingman downtown area.

Mohave Wash Path:  Follows Mohave Wash.

Beale's Loop

Southside Park: from the parking lot farthest to the east, along the north side of Southside Park there is a trail which is a bit above the ball diamonds.  It goes behind the ball diamonds past where they have a football goal post.  At the end there is another rough parking area.  Behind this there is a trail going up the hill and another coming down.  There is a very good view from the top of this hill and it makes a more aerobic walk up.  

Thistle along the trail

Downtown Walk several publications talk about down town walks.

Slaughterhouse Canyon Hike  

Monolith Trails: Metwell Trailhead

                                           

Abandoned Homes east of Kingman. Not a regular hike but a good place to walk around and see the abandoned community

Canyon Shadows Neighborhood Park provides a good hike, easy within the park and then rougher if you follow the wash after the park.

Chloride Murals is a hike, rough drive near Kingman

Cerbat Foothills is part of the Monolith Gardens trail system.