Seligman

Founded: 1886 (current name)
County: Yavapai
Population: 446
Elevation: 5,256 feet
High School Mascot: Antelopes

Seligman and the surrounding area are the traditional homeland of the Havasupai people, many of whom now live in the village of Supai, at the western edge of the Grand Canyon. The original townsite was along the Beale Wagon Road and was also a stop on the Mojave Road. Most famously, though, Seligman was a major focus of Route 66, beginning in 1926.

But Angel Delgadillo remembers precisely when Seligman died: September 22, 1978, at 2:30 p.m. That’s when the segment of Interstate 40 from Kingman to Ash Fork opened, bypassing the town.

“You know, when they finished building the freeway in this area, the town died for 10 long years,” Delgadillo recalls. “It was very, very sad. It was like reliving the hard days of when I was a little boy in the Depression.”

So, in 1987, Delgadillo, the proprietor of Angel and Vilma’s Original Route 66 Gift Shop, headed the effort that led to the state designating a portion of the decommissioned Route 66 as Historic Route 66. It saved the town and spurred similar efforts in other states. Today, Seligman is the first stop heading west on Arizona’s longest uninterrupted stretch of Historic Route 66, which runs for around 160 miles to Topock, on the east side of the Colorado River.

The town is a major draw for travelers who love the nostalgia that the Mother Road inspires. Almost every business in town is a mom-and-pop shop, and quirky roadside signs pay tribute to Burma-Shave — with rhyming couplets similar to those the company used to advertise its brushless shaving cream from 1927 to 1966.

What’s more, Seligman is believed to have been the inspiration for Pixar’s Cars, in which the fictional Radiator Springs also had to fight for its survival after being bypassed by the interstate.

“Route 66 will be 100 years old this year,” Delgadillo says. “And we are getting ready to celebrate its 100th birthday. My wife and I, we’ve been married 66 years, and we have lived here since we got married. We raised a son, Angel, and three daughters, Martha, Mirna and Clarissa. … I grew up here, and this is the only town that I knew I would want to live in. Other than going to barber college and serving my apprenticeship in Williams, I have lived here all my life. This is my home. This is my heaven. This is paradise.”
 

WHERE TO STAY
The Aztec Motel and Creative Space
Since it opened as a guest house in 1915, this Route 66 stopping point has seen countless visitors, especially after an expansion in the 1950s. The property briefly became a restaurant in the ’70s, then served as shops and a private home. Most recently, in 2021, it underwent a total renovation and reopened as a motel. In addition to comfortable accommodations, guests can enjoy the “creative space,” a living room of sorts with books, games and dining space.
22200 W. Historic Route 66, Seligman, 928-455-1015, theaztecmotel.com

The Postcard Motel
This updated boutique motor lodge brings a Palm Springs aesthetic — a peachy-pink exterior with white and turquoise accents inside — to the Mother Road. The property features 26 rooms and modern accommodations, including mini-fridges, microwaves and Wi-Fi. There’s even a small boutique stocked with brightly colored robes, T-shirts and more.
22430 W. Historic Route 66, Seligman, 623-428-1252, thepostcardmotel.com
 

WHERE TO EAT

Westside Lilo’s Café
A favorite among Seligman locals and visitors alike, Westside Lilo’s is known for its rustic Route 66 decor, as well as its beefy menu of Black Angus burgers, nachos, Philly cheesesteaks and German staples such as bratwurst and schnitzel. Wiesbaden-born Lilo Russell opened the café with her husband, Pat, in 1996. Today, their daughter Brenda continues the family tradition and still serves the decadent pastries her mother once shared with travelers along the Mother Road. Stop in for a slice of peanut butter chocolate or heavenly chocolate coconut.
22855 W. Historic Route 66, Seligman, 928-422-5456, westsideliloscafe.com

Delgadillo’s Snow Cap
If you haven’t stopped at the Snow Cap for a burger and fries after hiking out of Supai, you’re doing it wrong. This Route 66 icon has been run by the Delgadillo family since Juan Delgadillo (Angel’s brother) built it in 1953. With a menu of burgers, fries, hot dogs, tacos, shakes and cones, along with plenty of outdoor seating amid a sea of Route 66 memorabilia, the Snow Cap is a must-stop.
22235 W. Historic Route 66, Seligman, 928-422-3291
 

ATTRACTIONS

Route 66 Motoporium and Copper Cart
If you’re visiting Route 66 in search of kitschy gifts and souvenirs, put the Route 66 Motoporium and Copper Cart on your list. It’s part museum, part gift shop, and it offers visitors an opportunity to explore dozens of classic cars, motorcycles and signs, and also purchase key chains, T-shirts and more.
22385 W. Historic Route 66, Seligman, 928-864-8492, route66motoporium.com

Grand Canyon Caverns
These dry caverns, 25 miles west of Seligman, were created more than 65 million years ago within the limestone that once was the bottom of an ancient sea. Owned and operated by the Havasupai Tribe, they’re the largest dry caverns in the U.S. and are open to tours that take visitors 200 feet underground. An inn and restaurant are also on-site.
Milepost 115, Historic Route 66, near Peach Springs, 928-422-3223, gccaverns.com