Nature Is Reclaiming This One Abandoned Arizona Spot And It's Actually Amazing

The desert reclaims its space differently when compared to other environments. The process is slower and oftentimes less telling than, say, forests and jungles. Instead of discovering buildings hidden behind layers of ferns, moss, and other overgrowth, the desert lays everything bare to the elements. The sun dries, the wind softens edges, and water slowly washes away evidence of human activity.

Arizona has many examples of abandoned areas that are experiencing this reclamation right now but today we’re going to take a look at an abandoned trading post that once was a popular stop along Route 66: Two Guns.

Nathan Wood/Flickr

Located halfway between Flagstaff and Winslow along the old Route 66, Two Guns started its life as a trading post called Canyon Lodge near Canyon Diablo and was pretty isolated at the time. That didn't last long though; Route 66 grew popular during the 1920s and 1930s, which drove travelers straight into this stretch of highway.

Thomas Hawk/Flickr

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Thomas Hawk/Flickr

Recognizing an opportunity to exploit weary travelers, a man named Harry Miller took over the site. He moved the building site a few hundred feet east and renamed the area Two Guns turning it into a must-stop for Route 66 tourists. A gas station was installed, a small zoo and campsite were erected, and Miller even hosted tours into local ruins. However, a fire, a change in ownership, and road re-routing eventually led to the abandonment.

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Today, the once thriving attraction sits neglected and exposed. While not exactly a ghost town—it never was a thriving town with residents—the area has a similar vibe. The buildings are gutted and covered in graffiti, some of the old utilities and structures are barely standing upright, and the place feels just a little creepy.

If you do choose to visit, enter at your own risk as the buildings are heavily deteriorated. Two Guns is located approximately 34 miles east of Flagstaff, at exit 230 on Interstate 40.

Thomas Hawk/Flickr

Thomas Hawk/Flickr

Do you have any memories of visiting Two Guns or other similar trading posts? What are some other abandoned areas that you think are perfect examples of nature reclaiming its space?