After twin Arrows, I realized I was running out of daylight and there was thing I wanted to see. I spend alot of time in flagstaff and have ridden it a dozen times, so I stayed in 1-40. Doing so, I bypassed winona as well. No biggie. I’ll come this way again. I seem to always find a way to get down this way.
So I ran through Parks. Parks is an interesting place, as its chock full of route 66 alignments going all over the place. At least 3 different ones. My family and I come down to parks fairly often with the RV because it’s close to flagstaff, and the weather in always nice and cool and in the forest. I love parks. It’s just got a good feeling, and although I know that “I wasn’t born to follow” video from easy rider was filmed 30 miles south of here, that song always goes through my head because the scenery looks the same. Parks is just cool and I never bypass it.
The store in parks is especially interesting. I’ve seen it go from abandoned, to used to now being abandoned and for sale again, but it’s always survived. In 1931 route 66 went from one side of the store to the other, and so they just changed the frontage and front door. Not far from here theres other alignments from the 20’s with some pretty cool culverts I’ve taken pictures of from 20 years ago that I’ll scan and post sometime. In the meantime, I love this section of route 66. It just feels like home somehow.
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Hi. I just wanted to comment on the great pics. My Dad used to own and run the old Parks Store for about 10 years. I lived in Parks for a few years while in Jr. High and a little into High School so my little p/t job was errands for the old store. Stocking, sweeping, playing Mr. Post office Queen! I haven't been back since 1983 and have been told it has changed a lot ( like everything.) It used to have the old cooler for storing that had the big old iron door. The post office was a classic vintage from the 1800's and the post man would bring our mail in via Potato Sacks. Dad always kept it as close to original as possible and the only source of heat was a old wood burning stove. Let me tell you that cutting 25 cords of wood every summer is no picnic! All the locals would come in, sit down at an old rickety table and chairs and drink their coffee and talk about nothing and everything.It's as if time never touches that place. It always warms my heart to think about Parks. Again, thanks for the photos.
Jerry and April, my name is Neil Weintraub and I've been an archaeologist on the Kaibab NF for the past 22 years. I have recently become fascinated with a photo taken on March 17, 1928. http://www.natra.org/parks_store.pdf I'm pretty sure this is the original store, but I believe it must have moved. I found the remnants of the volcanic pillars piled on the west side of Spring Valley Road, adjacent to the 1921 road bed. Notice it was named Cameron and Longfellows! .I haven't found much more. As a runner, the story of the 1928 Footrace Across America is fascinating (there are several publications and a documentary)! The photo we have captured the eventual winner – Andy Payne! We have recently thinned around the abandoned "Deadmans Curve" section just west of the store and it looks far less overgrown. Amazing how those trees took it over in 84 years! If you have any ideas please share! natraneil@gmail.com
Hi April! I married a friend of yours, Lissa. We purchased the old store in December and she is running it full speed by herself (for now). I appreciate the article on the store so much, I had to comment on it. We have been trying to accurately date the store. I've spent hours at the Courthouse to find anything of importance, without much merit. Guess old records are hard to find. Most say the store was built at least in 1921, but some say it was built in 1906, and moved in 1921. Who knows? Thanks for the writeup, and come by to visit the new changes to the store! Jerry