The Twin Arrows Trading Post:
For almost five decades, billboards have lined Route 66 advertising the Twin Arrows Trading Post. Today, however, this once vibrant icon sits abandoned in the Arizona desert adjacent to its rival, Interstate 40, at exit 219. Like many roadside attractions that once lined Route 66, Twin Arrows has unquestionably seen better days! The giant yellow twin arrows remain as a beacon to Interstate traffic—but the store and diner have fallen into disrepair.
Built-in the late 1940s as Canyon Padre Trading Post, the store soon changed its name to Twin Arrows, apparently motivated by the curiosity of another nearby Winslow roadside attraction, Two Guns. With this change in name, the two iconic wooden arrows were built, planted in the parking lot to guide motorists to the trading post's gas station, gift shop, and diner. The opening of the Windslow section of Interstate 40 in 1979 led to an overnight decrease in traffic; combined with the ever-changing cultural tastes that were moving away from cheezy roadside attractions—the trading post fell into decline. Twin Arrows continued to operate under different owners, but eventually, it succumbed to the lack of business and closed its doors in 1995. The Twin Arrows Navajo Casino owns the land, located off exit 219 across the interstate. In 2009, the casino cleaned up the wooden arrows but had not made any other efforts toward restoration of the trading post or diner. Barriers have since been erected around the abandoned buildings, although this hasn't prevented many people from checking out this highway ruin. The deserted buildings have become a canvas for graffiti artists, adding to the site's eerie charm.
Built-in the late 1940s as Canyon Padre Trading Post, the store soon changed its name to Twin Arrows, apparently motivated by the curiosity of another nearby Winslow roadside attraction, Two Guns. With this change in name, the two iconic wooden arrows were built, planted in the parking lot to guide motorists to the trading post's gas station, gift shop, and diner. The opening of the Windslow section of Interstate 40 in 1979 led to an overnight decrease in traffic; combined with the ever-changing cultural tastes that were moving away from cheezy roadside attractions—the trading post fell into decline. Twin Arrows continued to operate under different owners, but eventually, it succumbed to the lack of business and closed its doors in 1995. The Twin Arrows Navajo Casino owns the land, located off exit 219 across the interstate. In 2009, the casino cleaned up the wooden arrows but had not made any other efforts toward restoration of the trading post or diner. Barriers have since been erected around the abandoned buildings, although this hasn't prevented many people from checking out this highway ruin. The deserted buildings have become a canvas for graffiti artists, adding to the site's eerie charm.
