Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona
Nestled along the historic Route 66, just west of Seligman, Arizona, lies a captivating destination that defies initial impressions: the Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona. What might first appear as a weathered roadside attraction is, in reality, a multifaceted experience steeped in history, natural wonder, and a touch of Americana. The initial glimpse of the dusty parking lot, adorned with vintage automotive relics basking under the Arizona sun, hints at a bygone era, perhaps a grand resort faded by time. However, delving deeper into the caverns themselves, savoring homemade pie at the restaurant, engaging in a round of miniature golf alongside towering dinosaur figures, or simply relaxing in front of the motel reveals a carefully constructed illusion intertwined with the passionate efforts of its owners to revitalize this iconic landmark.
The Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, as referred to by locals, mirror the evolution of Route 66 itself, from its conceptual origins to its modern-day renaissance. The very foundation of Route 66 can be traced back to the Good Roads Movement, which spawned the National Old Trails Highway. Remarkably, segments of this pioneering highway, complete with original stone infrastructure, are situated a short distance east of the caverns’ natural entrance. This historical connection underscores the significance of the Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, as a living testament to the early days of automotive travel.
In the early days of road trips, the National Old Trails Highway was popular. It became a passion for automobiles and the national quest for adventure. In 1914, it was the route of the Desert Classic races, which journalists called the "Cactus Derby." The race went from Los Angeles, California, to Ash Fork, Arizona, and then south to Phoenix. Famous racers Louis Chevrolet and Barney Oldfield raced there.
The road was also used by Edsel Ford in the summer of 1915. He traveled west from Detroit to the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. He went through the Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon.
A diary entry from the trip provides a vivid snapshot of the era: "Williams, Arizona, Thursday, July 15, 1915 – Found Cadillac and Stutz crews at Harvey Hotel at Williams waiting for us. All got supplies at the garage. Talked to a Ford Agent. Got going about eleven. Had lunch at Ash Fork. Loafed along; found it very hot. Bought some gas and oranges at Seligman. Stutz broke another spring about 15 miles out and returned to Seligman. Cadillac and Ford went on to Kingman, arriving at midnight Brunswick Hotel. Very rough and dusty roads. Wired Los Angeles Branch for axle parts. Day’s run 146 miles." This excerpt offers a glimpse into the challenges and adventures of early automotive travel, highlighting the importance of roadside stops like the Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, which would soon emerge.
The Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, as a formal attraction, date back to late 1926, the year Route 66 was officially established. Legend recounts the tale of Walter Peck, an itinerant cowboy, who, while taking a shortcut to a local poker game, stumbled upon the cavern entrance. Recognizing the potential of his discovery, Peck began offering tours. For a modest fee of ten cents, later raised to a quarter, he would provide tourists with a lantern and lower them into the cavern using a rope and hand-crank winch. Affectionately, he dubbed this precarious method "dope on a rope." Today, a replica of Peck’s original contraption stands proudly in front of the caverns’ visitor center and restaurant, a nostalgic reminder of the attraction’s humble beginnings.
Although Route 66 initially bypassed the "Yampai Cavern" by a mile or so, astute marketing and promotion ensured a steady stream of visitors. In 1936, improvements were made to facilitate access. Lumber salvaged from the Hoover Dam project, located northwest of Kingman, was used to construct a staircase and a swinging bridge. Following this enhancement, a trail system was developed, and the name was changed to Coconino Caverns, further solidifying its identity as a premier destination.
World War II and the subsequent gas rationing significantly curtailed tourism. However, the presence of bored GIs stationed at the Kingman Army Airfield, approximately 60 miles west, helped sustain the caverns as a source of income for its owners. This period, although challenging, demonstrated the resilience of the Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, and its ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
The post-war boom in tourism and the golden age of Route 66 in the 1950s ushered in a period of dramatic transformation for the cavern complex. A testament to its growing prominence was the construction of a four-lane segment of the highway at the entrance to the property. Apart from urban corridors in communities such as Williams and Winslow, this was the only multi-lane section of Route 66 between Albuquerque and Los Angeles.
The name was changed to Dinosaur Caverns, and a motel, service station, and lounge were added to reflect the caverns’ growing popularity. An elevator salvaged from a demolition project in Phoenix, and an emergency exit metal staircase salvaged from a New York City demolition project, relegated the old wooden stairs and bridge to an attraction on the cavern tour. By 1962, when the name changed to Grand Canyon Caverns, the complex consisted of two restaurants, a 48-room motel, a service station that never closed, a gift shop, and a storage depot for Civil Defense supplies. The caverns were designated as an official fallout shelter. There were also rodeo grounds and an airstrip.
At its peak, the Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, were second only to the Grand Canyon itself as the most visited attraction in Arizona. However, the completion of I-40 in 1978, which bypassed Route 66 between Seligman and Kingman, dealt a severe blow to the business. Components began to close one by one; first one restaurant, then the lounge, and finally the service station and garage. The motel also began to show signs of neglect as upkeep and maintenance became sporadic.
Decades later, the resurgence of interest in Route 66 sparked an international renaissance. Traffic began to flow again. The Caverns resort complex, however, remained stagnant. There were questions about whether the renewed interest in Route 66 and its roadside treasures came too late.
John McEnulty, a Los Angeles printer with a passion for hiking in Supai and the Grand Canyon, stepped in. He used the ideally located Grand Canyon Caverns Inn as his base camp. With each visit, he witnessed the growing impact of indifferent owners and years of neglect.
His attachment to the resort and childhood memories of vacations that included stops at similar places sparked a desire to own the complex. The growing popularity of Route 66 and the complex’s history fueled thoughts that a new lease on life for the resort might be possible.
With an infectious smile, investors, a zealous passion, and the help of his son Sean, McEnulty began turning back the hands of time while commuting to Los Angeles to fulfill his job obligations. As renovations commenced, John set his sights on 1964, the year he selected to freeze the resort in time.
Every week, John commutes to the caverns. Every week, a renovation turns back the hands of time. Each week, a metal sculpture, a well-worn old car, an addition to the eclectic museum, or a change in the menu reflects his unleashed imagination and unbridled enthusiasm for the old resort. It breathes new life into the cavern complex. All of this, however, is only the beginning of a new chapter at Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona.
The recent discovery of new cavern levels and plans to open them for tours is one of many exciting new developments. Trail rides, wagon rides, a disc golf course, ghost walk tours in search of Walter Peck, and a quirky miniature golf course among the towering dinosaurs and the golf cart graveyard are other features. Likewise, the fully updated and renovated RV park that recently garnered accolades from Good Sam or the Caverns Suite, the world’s deepest hotel room, are popular attractions.
The increasing popularity of Route 66 and McEnulty’s visionary stewardship ensure that the Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, will become a destination for a new generation of enthusiasts. That includes the bicyclists taking advantage of Adventure Cyclist’s designation of Route 66 as a bicycle-friendly highway, or the electric vehicle owners who stop to charge their batteries while touring the caverns as they venture toward Kingman, home of the world’s first electric vehicle museum.
Today, the Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, are a time capsule where Route 66’s past, present, and future flow together seamlessly. It is a little oasis at the heart of a vacation paradise and an excellent place to begin an adventure along the 160 miles of smiles of Route 66 in western Arizona, the longest uninterrupted segment of that storied highway flowing to the Colorado River.
So, next time you travel west, add a stop at the Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona, to your itinerary. And, if the schedule allows, check into the Caverns Inn, get your key, and step back to 1964 as you settle into a clean, comfortable, pleasant little time capsule for a restful night’s sleep.
Route 66 continues westward about 13 miles to Peach Springs, Arizona.