Left forgotten and alone, this abandoned Taco Bell in Arizona is both beautiful and yet sad. The intriguing thing about abandoned places is the grit and grime built up all speaks of a story of loss and yet in it can be found beauty. That is what I find so fascinating about these places where you can picture the time and place where this fast food joint had laughing families stopping for lunch on vacation, or see the life that this place once held. When I think of Taco Bell I often imagine the fizzy sugar rush of a Baha Blast Mountain Dew and the flavorful snap of a Dorito Taco. However, here at this branch of the popular restaurant, you no longer will hear the sound of cash registers clinging, wrappers being crinkled, or the familiar “mmm” coming from hungry patrons, instead it is left in total silence. 

If you love creepy content, Only In Your State’s Vacant series – which partners with talented photographer Johnny Joo – explores a dozen other fascinating abandoned places just waiting to be discovered. 

Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations. 

This Taco Bell can be found in the ruins of a place known as Fort Courage. This is located right off of I40 close to the border of New Mexico in a town called Houck. The origin of this spot is very indicative of the story of the American West. As a man named James D. Houck carried mail from Prescott Arizona to Fort Wingate New Mexico the spot that would later become known as Houck, was a strategic stopping point on the route. In those early days of the vast and dangerous wilderness, a trading post ended up becoming a necessary spot that connected the otherwise desolate locations.

Over time the trail was rerouted and this trading post was left alone and abandoned, but not without leaving an impact on building up a place of business and attraction to those passing through. Once the Mother Road of America was made Route 66 gave life back to this little town. A trading post was once again created right along the road called Fort Courage based on the popular Television program at the time known as F-Troop. In the 1960’s Route 66 brought a lot of new traffic and this attraction saw many guests, but over time interest eventually waned. 

It can be easy to dismiss the old Western trading posts as something that has long been lost in lieu of our bigger cities and new ways of living, but there is something striking about seeing something as familiar and modern as a Taco Bell sitting vacant. In a place that had large picture windows that allowed that beautiful Arizona sun to stream in, the blinds are now closed and no light could be found. The dust built up on the booths does not distract from the bright blue in contrast to the dark interior.

Evidence of a cheery atmosphere is all but lost among the shattered glass and utter silence found inside. Where people once stood choosing hot sauce packets now stands a broken and rotting counter.

Graffiti has been painted on the walls and broken materials are strewn across the floor giving the place a sad sense of neglect over these many years of complete abandonment. In May 2020, a large fire left Fort Courage only a shell of what it used to be in the glory days of Route 66.

Route 66 is filled with history like this that has been left to be reclaimed by nature. Remnants of restaurants, gas stations, and motels, all speak of a time left behind. These echoes of the past are good reminders that should not be forgotten.

For more exploration of long-forgotten pieces of the history of Route 66, like this abandoned Taco Bell in Arizona, visit Petrified Forest National Park. I found this park to be a fantastic surprise on our visit to Arizona. While you are on your trip don’t forget to pack some of the best road trip snacks. 

Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. To discover more creepy and abandoned places, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife.