Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [325]
Just 3 blocks south of the KOA Campground, A-OK RV Park, 1576 Roadrunner Rd., Holbrook, AZ 86025 (☎ 928/ 524-3226), is another good spot to set up camp, although it does not have a swimming pool. There are 150 sites; RV sites, at $27, include electric, water, sewer, and cable TV. Tent sites are $22 for two people. The campground offers public phones, a coin-op laundry, a convenience store, and a dump station. It's open year-round and does not accept credit cards.
Where to Stay
There is no lodging inside the park.
NEAR THE PARK
The place to get a bed for the night is Holbrook (zip code 86025), 25 miles west of the park. In addition to the fascinating Wigwam Motel, discussed below, Holbrook offers the Best Western Adobe Inn, 615 W. Hopi Dr. (☎ 877/524-3948 direct, or 928/524-3948), with rates for two of $55 to $85 in summer and $40 to $75 the rest of the year; Comfort Inn, 2602 E. Navajo Blvd. (☎ 928/524-6131), $59 to $70 double; Days Inn, 2601 E. Navajo Blvd. (☎ 928/ 524-6949), $42 to $80 double; Econo Lodge, 2596 E. Navajo Blvd. (☎ 928/ 524-1448), $40 to $50 double; Holiday Inn Express, 1308 E. Navajo Blvd. (☎ 928/524-1466), $76 to $89 double; and Super 8, 1989 Navajo Blvd. (☎ 928/ 524-2871), $46 to $80 double. See the appendix (p. 661–662) for a list of the national chains' toll-free numbers.
Wigwam Motel
811 W. Hopi Dr. (P.O. Box 788), Holbrook, AZ 86025. ☎ 928/524-3048. www.wigwam gazette.info. 15 units. A/C TV. $42–$48 double. MC, V. Office opens at 3pm in summer, 4pm in winter. Pets accepted.
You say you're tired of the same boring chain motel rooms? Then it's time for a night at the Wigwam! And even if you don't stay here, the Wigwam Motel makes a wonderful photo op. Each of the motel's 15 rooms is inside its own 32-foot-high, wood-and-concrete wigwam, built during Route 66's glory days in the 1940s by the same family that's running it today. The wigwams are very clean and well maintained, and each is furnished with the motel's original hand-carved hickory furniture. The only drawbacks—which we consider a small price to pay for the experience of this unique motel—are that both the bathrooms and windows are somewhat small by today's standards. The motel's owners have done a good job of preserving this bit of Americana. A small museum on the property contains family items including giant petrified-wood slabs, Civil War artifacts, and American Indian items. Also on the property are close to a dozen classic cars. All rooms are nonsmoking.
Where to Dine
INSIDE THE PARK
Harvey's Diner
Next to the Painted Desert Visitor Center. ☎ 928/524-3756. Most items $1.95–$6.95. AE, DISC, MC, V. Summer daily 7am–3:30pm; shorter hours in winter. AMERICAN/REGIONAL.
This is a convenient but somewhat nondescript family-oriented cafeteria. It serves hot breakfasts, including eggs and pancakes. Specialties for lunch or an early dinner include home-style chili, burgers, Navajo tacos, and a variety of sandwiches. Daily specials, such as spaghetti and meatballs, are also available.
NEAR THE PARK
Butterfield Stage Co.
609 W. Hopi Dr., Holbrook. ☎ 928/524-3447. Main courses $8.95–$28. DISC, MC, V. Daily 4–10pm. AMERICAN.
Named for the famous overland stagecoach line that carried the mail from St. Louis to San Francisco in the mid–19th century, this restaurant specializes in steak. We especially recommend the slow-roasted prime rib, and we like the barbecued baby-back pork ribs. Seafood lovers enjoy the grilled halibut and the steak and crab legs combo, and everyone likes the soup and salad bar.
Joe and Aggie's
120 W. Hopi, Holbrook. ☎ 928/524-6540. Lunch and dinner items $2.95–$9.95. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mon–Sat 6am–8pm. AMERICAN/ MEXICAN.
More than 40 years ago, Joe and Aggie Montano opened this restaurant, and today the Montano family continues to operate