$20 per ounce. The district had produced in gold by 1941, when the remainder of the town's gold mining operations were ordered shut down by the government as part of the country's war effort, because other metals were needed. Oatman was fortunate it was located on busy U.S. Route 66 and was able to cater to travelers driving between Kingman, Arizona, and Needles, California. Yet even that advantage was short-lived, because the town was completely bypassed in 1953 when a new route was built between Kingman and Needles. By the 1960s, Oatman was all but abandoned. As of 2022, the town survives as a nostalgic Route 66 stop that prides itself on maintaining a Wild West feel down to the wooden sidewalks, staged shootouts, and kitschy shops. See also Bullhead City, Arizona Fort Mohave, Arizona Mohave Valley, Arizona Oatman Flat Oatman Flat Station Santa Claus, Arizona Yucca, Arizona References Further reading External links Oatman and Gold Road Chamber of Commerce – Information and events Oatman at Ghost Town Gallery Oatman at Western Mining History Oatman – ghosttowns.com Oatman – Ghost Town of the Month at azghosttowns.com Census-designated places in Mohave County, Arizona Mining communities in Arizona U.S. Route 66 in Arizona History of Mohave County, Arizona Ghost towns in Arizona