TravelGrahams : Exploring Holbrook, AZ

During our stay in the Holbrook area we paid a visit to a well known Route 66 icon, the Wigwam Motel. The Wigwam Motel, with it's distinctive teepee rooms, served as a model for Pixar's artists when they crafted Sally the Porche's "Cozy Cone Motel" in the movie Cars.

The Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ.

Teepee rooms at the Wigwam Motel.

Disney's Cozy Cone Motel in the movie Cars.

Sheila with the real Tow Mater at the Wigwam Motel.

While in the Holbrook area we also paid a visit to the Petrified Forest National park. Though we had lived in Arizona for many years, we had never visited the Petrified Forest thinking it would be just a few pieces of petrified wood in a dusty showcase. Boy, were we ever wrong!!!!!! Though the park does have a large visitor's center complex, the majority of what there is to see is an outdoor experience covering 147 square miles.

Petrified Forest National Park.

Our anticipated short visit to the park tuned into a day long event with our journey beginning at the park's northern entrance and our first views of Arizona's Painted Desert.

Painted Desert, AZ selfie.

Arizona Painted Desert.

The Painted Desert Inn was first built in the early 1920's of petrified wood and native stone. In the early 1930's the National Park Service acquired the Inn, remodeling the property several times. Today, the Inn no longer serves as active accommodations, but has been restored to it's former glory and remains as a glimpse into how traveling the park was in earlier days.

Lunch counter Painted Desert Inn.

An example of native murals Painted Desert Inn.

Leaded glass skylights Painted Desert Inn.

View from the back patio Painted Desert Inn.

Many examples of pueblo dwellings and petroglyphs exist throughout the park.

Pueblo dwelling Petrified Forest National Park.

Petroglyphs Petrified Forest National Park.

At one time Route 66, the "Main Street of America" crossed the park, bringing countless thousands of travelers to the area. Today, a row of telephone poles and a lone 1928 Packard Six remain as landmarks for the now abandoned road.

1928 Packard Six along old Route 66 Petrified Forest National Park.

A row of lone telephone poles mark the course of old Route 66 thru the Petrified Forest National Park.

During our day long journey thru the park we were constantly treated to desert vistas, each one unique and beautiful.

Desert vista Petrified Forest National Park.

Petrified wood is in abundance and strewn about within the park in quantities that boggle the mind. We were able to get up close and personal with many fine examples.