Ghost Town Tuesday; Gray Mountain, AZ

Back in 2015 I passed through the abandoned community of Gray Mountain in Coconino County, Arizona. Gray Mountain is located about 40 miles north of Flagstaff near the boundary of the Navajo Nation on US Route 89.

The first reference Gray Mountain that I could find was on the 1951 Arizona State Highway Map. Gray Mountain first appears as nothing but a trade post which is likely due to it's close proximity to the Navajo Nation.

1951 Arizona State Highway Map

The community of Gray Mountain seems to never have been much more than just a roadside tourist trap designed to profit off travelers to the Grand Canyon. All the buildings are oriented towards selling trinkets from the Navajo Nation or offering low brow lodging for the Grand Canyon. I vaguely recall the Anasazi Inn being in operation sometime around circa 2011-2012. The average review score was somewhere in the low 2s on Trip Advisory. Apparently you could stay at the Anasazi Inn for $19.99 during the end of it's run as an operational motel. Today there doesn't appear to be any activity in Gray Mountain as all the buildings have overgrown parking lots.

There is actually a hell of a view of the San Francisco Peaks looking southbound on US 89 from the abandoned buildings.

Comments

Unknown said…

I stayed in that hotel back in October 1989...I also ate at the trading post in the pics. It was a beautiful day. I was able to buy a 6 of Bud at the trading post and went up on the 2nd floor of the hotel to sit down and dispatch them as evening set in. I was the only one staying at the hotel...in fact I had to drive down to the place across the street from the Trading Post to pay for the room.

A great memory...

5:37 PM

gypsy said…

just drove through today September 26, 2023 was amazed at the beautiful painted desert artwork. Found there now.

4:16 PM

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