Billy Wardle Happenings

   Kingman has many museums and exhibits.  In addition to the museums are many stores with interesting items.   Kingman Army Air Field Museum  has been closed for over a year. Mohave Museum of History and Art   has many fine displays.  This includes Native American History, Beale road history, Kingman Army Air Field, Highway 66 history, mining history, Andy Devine and much more.  In the library is a display of art by Roy Purcell. Bonelli House  was built in 1915 and occupied by the Bonelli family until the sold the home to the city of Kingman.  It was make from tuff stone blocks to resist fire as the family had a previous home burn down.  It is now used for tours presenting a period view.  The home had electricity and thus many appliances. H ighway 66 Museum Electric Car Museum Train Museum BLM display    Display of snakes, lizards and rocks Old car display Area 66 Museum Visitors Center

 The Mohave Museum of History and Art if very thorough.  This includes Native American History, Beale Road history, Highway 66 history, mining history.  It has a very good section on Andy Devine and a small auditorium where they are showing a movie of him.  They have art work displayed in the auditorium.  This is mostly of western themes and characters.  They also have a very good display of the Kingman Army Air Field.  The museum is well worth the time and money.  In addition when you purchase the ticket you are also getting entry to the Route 66 Museum and the Bonelli House tour.  You can't do much better than that.  This mining history explains what minerals were mined at different sites.  There is also something unusual, portraits of all the presidents and first ladies.   Unfortunately the outdoor exhibits were closed due to the Covid situation.  I have a reason to go back. The museum has a very nice library attached.  I think I will be back many ties to take advantage of this.

  Ramada Inn is distinctive with its multiple murals of the movie and Highway 66 scenes. Clarion is on Route 66 just south of the I-40.  We have stayed there a couple times as a family family--both during COVID.  Because of COVID they were not doing their regular breakfast but were sticking stuff in a lunch back for everyone.  They never could figure out how to get what you wanted, and some of the food suck as the breakfast burrito tasted like card board.  I would like to check them out when they provide their regular breakfast.  The nice thing about Clarion is the indoor swimming pool.  It is very nice.  However the general atmosphere is a bit cheap.  Sheri says it is budget friendly and clean. Motel 6 is also on route 66 just north of the I-40.  Their swimming pool is outside, and was closed during COVID.  They let me in early, but the door stuck and the mechanic had to let me into the room.  It worked after that.  Again budget friendly but also clean.  They did not do a breakfast.

Ramada Inn is on Highway 66 just south of the I-40.  I did not stay here but we booked a room for kids when they were all here.  Annie and Baby Quincy stayed a couple nights; and Natalia and Ayden another night.  I picked Natalia up, and took a few pictures.  This hotel has an outdoor pool in an inside court.  It also has a doggie area.  Its most notable feature are the many murals all over the building.  It is on Route 66 and plays the part.  There are famous actors and personalities.  There are movie scenes--Wizard of Oz etc.  It really is a nice atmosphere.  What isn't very nice is the restaurant.  It is not a family diner but a lounge with the feel of a bar.  

 I ventured on a hike starting from our residence.  This is as far east as you can go in Kingman on the north of I-40.  I went east on Diamond Joe past were the residences end.  I then cut through int the wash, but got out of the wash onto the dirt road when I heard lots of cooing and wanted to investigate.  There was a flock of doves but they took off when they saw me.  I continued north on the dirt road until I hit Airway.  This is where a new Kingman City Park is being developed.  I have heard it is to be a soccer complex.  As of now it is a pile of bushes.  However they have been improving the drainage on Airway in preparation for developing the area.  I then walked back going past Desert Willow Middle School and then south on Prospector. flowers yucca type plant ants cholla future park Desert Willow Middle School rocks I picked up beetle This shows the road east of town, future park is north of Airway by the middle school The route I took went around this subdivision.

We ventured to the water park several times this summer.  We got the best pictures this last visit.  When I go I am hesitant to fully immerse myself but like to get close and feel the cooling of the water drops.  However s you can tell from kids and grandkids they are having a good time.  There is usually a time spent at the nearby park as well.  

 Silverado received approval from the county of Mohave to go ahead with their project to built a new community.  The community is on county jurisdiction property off of 93 about eight miles south of the 40.  Google says it is a half hour from Kingman.  It was to eventually include 12,000 new homes, a golf course and a park.  However in 2008, when the housing bubble burst the project came to a halt.  Six luxury homes had already been built and neared completion.  Another seven foundations had been laid.  However the homes were never completed.  Garage doors were not installed, and consequently the houses were exposed to the elements.  They are slowly deteriorating, with roof tiles having fallen off, and in some cases interior walls decaying away.  There is one home with graffiti.  I did not venture inside because the houses all had a sign in front indicating they are private property.   Property owners later decided to shift to a solar farm, but were too slow in submitting paper work so