Cool Springs Station

The original Cool Springs Station opened in 1927, providing fuel and basic services to the substantial travel demand that newly-commissioned Route 66 was producing. The Oatman Highway stretch was particularly demanding for early automobiles (the steep grades, the rough surfaces, the limited services), and stations like Cool Springs were essential infrastructure for travelers crossing the Black Mountains.

The station operated through the Route 66 commercial-peak decades. When the Route 66 alignment was eventually changed to bypass the difficult Oatman Highway stretch (Route 66 was rerouted around the Black Mountains in 1952), Cool Springs lost the substantial through-traffic that had supported the operation. The station eventually closed and fell into ruin across the subsequent decades.

The 2000s restoration rebuilt Cool Springs Station to its 1927-era appearance. The restoration drew on photographic documentation, surviving structural elements, and period-appropriate construction techniques to produce a genuinely accurate recreation rather than a generic vintage-themed reconstruction. The result is one of the better Route 66 restoration projects on the entire Mother Road.

The restored station operates as a gift shop and refreshment stop rather than a working gas station. Souvenirs (Route 66-themed merchandise, vintage-style memorabilia, photography prints), refreshments (drinks, snacks, ice cream), and the various other items that travelers want during Oatman Highway drives are available.

The combination of the historic atmosphere and the practical refreshment function works well. Travelers exploring the dramatic Oatman Highway can stop for genuine roadside-Americana photography while also acquiring drinks and snacks for the continued drive. The dual function makes Cool Springs more than a purely-photographic stop.

Outdoor seating areas allow travelers to enjoy refreshments while taking in the surrounding Black Mountains landscape. The combination of the restored station, the dramatic mountain setting, and the casual outdoor refreshment experience produces a particularly enjoyable Route 66 stop.

Cool Springs is located on the Oatman Highway between Kingman and Oatman — specifically, on the stretch that climbs into the Black Mountains from the Kingman side. Travelers driving the Oatman Highway in either direction encounter Cool Springs along the way.

Operating hours run through the day, generally 9am-5pm with seasonal variation. The hours align with the typical Oatman Highway driving times, accommodating travelers throughout the daylight hours.

For Route 66 travelers, Cool Springs combines naturally with the broader Oatman Highway / Sitgreaves Pass Drive experience (covered separately as an existing attraction). A typical Oatman Highway day plan might include the drive from Kingman with photography stops including Cool Springs, the Oatman town visit (burros, gunfights, Main Street, the Oatman Hotel), the continued drive to Topock or Needles, and return — with Cool Springs serving as one of the key roadside stops along the way.