Travels with Twinkles: Williams, Arizona, Route 66 and the Grand Canyon

April 6 - 8, 2018:

It was a very windy travel day from Sedona to Williams, Arizona on route 40 west. We arrive at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park in early afternoon and quickly set up. It’s one of the nicest RV Parks we have ever stayed in and at the Passport America rate it is a bargain. It is a very popular campground from which to visit the Grand Canyon, especially by the Grand Canyon Railway located in Williams, Arizona. We decided to do it only a week ago and I’m sort of surprised we were able to get into the campground and get tickets for the train ride on such short notice.

The town of Williams has been a gateway to the Grand Canyon for a century or more and also was a principal Route 66 route, in fact it was the last Route 66 town to be bypassed in the country. As a result the downtown area is heavily route 66 oriented with many route 66 nostalgia shops and restaurants. It’s a bit excessive, but for the most part is done well and is authentic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams,_Arizona

Vintage gas station in Williams

New mural depicting area scenic wonders and attractions

A downtown Williams view

Many route 66 shops

To get your route 66 souvenirs

Marlon Brando theme BBQ joint, an Elvis statue was nearby also

It was a real bar, not like the becoming all
too common, Brew Pubs or Breweries

I liked the "Open Road Cowboy" sign, some
days I feel like one

The Grand Canyon Railway is a very efficient operation and a big success story. They run a daily train or multiple daily trains according to the demand with restored vintage rail cars. It all started in 1901 as the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad as a tourist line, (prior to cars and roads), to get people to the Grand Canyon, imagine that ? The Santa Fe Railroad terminated passenger service in 1969, not enough demand for train travel, and except for limited freight service the line sat abandoned for many years. Max and Thelma Biegert, with the vision and resources to resurrect it, purchased the railway and reopened it in1989. Grand Canyon Railway is now owned and operated by Xanterra who manage many National Park service facilities.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_Railway

We lucked out this weekend in getting a ticket for the steam train and seats in the vintage 1923 Pullman car. They operate a steam locomotive on the train only once each month and on special holidays, otherwise it is a diesel powered locomotive. The sight and sound of the steam engine adds so much more to the attraction for me. In addition to the campground, (for the non campers), there is the restored Fray Marcos Hotel, opened in 1908 with a restaurant and many amenities. Adjacent to the Hotel is the Williams Train Depot, ticket office, snack bar and a large gift shop. They also have several tour packages available such as bus tours and overnight hotel accommodations at the Grand Canyon.

It was a 2 1/2 hour train ride with an excellent docent in our car to explain the sights along the route and what to do at the Grand Canyon. Once there you have approximately 3 1/2 hours at the Grand Canyon to explore. It’s not even close to being enough time to see everything, but it can be a pretty good introduction. We took a quick tour of the Verkamp's Visitors Center, the Hopi House, the El Tovar Hotel, the Bright Angel Lodge, the Lookout Studio and the Kolb Studio. Somehow we even found time for a great lunch at the El Tovar Hotel.

The Williams Depot includes a ticket office and gift shop

Locomotive 4960 ready for departure

A look at the locomotive cab

1923 Pullman car that we rode in

Inside the car

Getting off the train at the Grand Canyon

That's what we came to see !

Another view

And another view

View looking down at tourists who are on the Lookout Studio

The historic landmark the "Hopi House" designed by Mary Colter

Back in Williams as the train backs up from the Depot

I wandered around downtown Williams on Saturday night, taking in several souvenir shops, many of the great neon signs and sampled the "Grand Canyon Brewing Company" and the world famous "Sultana Bar". We have been to several notable route 66 towns in our travels, but I have to say that Williams gives one the most total immersion of Route 66 nostalgia.