The Route 66 Town Where Donkeys Outnumber the People 🫏

The Town the Burros Never Left

Oatman began as a gold rush settlement full of miners, saloons, and the steady movement of people who hoped the next strike would be theirs. When the mines shut down, most residents drifted away. The burros, who had hauled supplies into the hills, stayed behind. They adapted to the desert, raised families, and eventually kept returning to town like they still had unfinished business there.

Today their descendants roam Main Street as if it belongs to them. They pause in doorways, nap beside storefronts, inspect parked cars, and accept pellets from travelers who clearly enjoy the arrangement. Oatman’s human population is modest. Its burro population feels constant.

In most towns, traffic stops for pedestrians. In Oatman, it stops for whoever has the longest ears.

Where Route 66 Takes a Detour Into Surreal

Driving into Oatman feels like finding a Western set that was never packed up. Wooden storefronts lean into the sunlight. Vintage signage holds on against the dry air. Everything looks slightly weathered, which somehow makes it more inviting.

Then a burro steps into the street and calmly takes over the situation.

This stretch of Route 66 once carried miners, travelers, and even a few celebrities. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon at the Oatman Hotel, a detail locals love but never exaggerate. When the highway realigned in the 1950s, many similar towns emptied out. Oatman didn’t, helped along by the burros who became the most reliable reason to stop.

A Town That Stayed Alive in Its Own Odd Way

What keeps Oatman interesting is the way its history and daily life blend together. You see the mining-era remnants in the old hotel and scattered relics. You see the Route 66 influence in the shops and slow afternoon pace. And through all of it, the burros wander in and out like they’re checking on everyone’s progress.

There is no sense of performance here. The town feels casual, slightly unpredictable, and genuinely lived in. You might arrive during a mock gunfight in the street or stumble into a group gathered for the annual Burro Biscuit Toss. You might also just find a row of donkeys enjoying the shade while tourists whisper about who is brave enough to offer the next pellet.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go

• Do not bring a dog. Burros instinctively view dogs as predators.

• Only feed the approved hay pellets sold in town. Other foods can make them sick

• Give the burros space and approach respectfully

• Keep your snacks and bags zipped. Burros are surprisingly good at helping themselves

These small habits keep the town running smoothly and help protect the animals that make Oatman what it is.

Oatman is the kind of stop that gives Route 66 its personality. It is quirky, stubborn, and charming in a way you cannot manufacture, and it might just be the highlight you didn’t see coming.

FAQ: Everything You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know About Oatman

How did Oatman end up with so many burros?

They descended from pack animals used in the mining era. When mining operations shut down, the burros were released into the desert and formed free-roaming herds. Many of them still return to town because they know it offers shade, water, and curious visitors.

Did Oatman actually produce much gold?

Yes. The mines in the surrounding hills produced millions of dollars’ worth of gold and silver in the early 1900s, making Oatman an important stop in the region’s mining history.

Why do people still visit?

The burros draw people in, but travelers also come for the scenery, the old Route 66 atmosphere, and the feeling that they’ve stepped into a place that hasn’t tried to modernize itself out of personality.

What is the story with the Oatman Hotel?

The hotel is one of the oldest buildings still standing. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon there, and the room is preserved upstairs. The ground floor restaurant and bar are known for their walls covered in signed one-dollar bills.

What is the Burro Biscuit Toss?

It is exactly what it sounds like. Participants throw dried, gold-painted burro droppings for distance. It is lighthearted, quick, and very Oatman.

Do the burros really stop traffic?

Constantly. They move at their own pace and expect everyone else to adjust. Drivers happily wait, often with cameras out.

Is Oatman a ghost town?

Not exactly. It has elements of a ghost town but remains active thanks to shops, travelers, and of course the burros who never gave up the place.