Meet the Oatman Burros!
Desert Wonder Tours offers Historical Oatman Gold Mine Town tours including from Laughlin, NV to Oatman, from Las Vegas to Oatman, from Lake Havasu City to Oatman, & from Kingman to Oatman. So you can tour with Desert Wonder Tours in comfort and meet the Oatman Burros in person from several locations!
Deep into the Black Mountains of Arizona lies a small village nestled into the side of the mountain. Named for a young Illinois girl who was captured by Indians, Olive Oatman, the town was once a booming gold mining town. The main road to Oatman is the famous historical Route 66. Before it was bypassed in 1953, Rt. 66 was a mountain pass road catering to drivers between Kingman, AZ and Needles, CA.
In 1915, a $10M gold find created a boom that lasted until 1924 with the town growing to a population of more than 3,500 in the first year. For about a decade, the Oatman mines were among the largest in gold production in the West. Due to the rough terrain in the region, the preferred beasts of burden were burros who were able to subsist on the dry desert grasses, were hardy and sure-footed. As pack animals, they could handle heavy loads for provisions, ore, and equipment needed by the miners. The “wild” burros frequenting the streets of Oatman are direct descendants of the Gold Miners who set the animals free when the mines shut down. Most of these burros keep to themselves in one of the several herds throughout the mountains and surrounding desert, but a few of them come into town every day. Others are “wanderers” who visit the village now and again.
Long time Oatman resident and local business owner, Kathy Jenkins, puts it aptly:
“The Oatman Burros are Oatman. From Our first named Burro Hoover to Baby Hank, the burros have been the highlight of many visitors trips to Oatman. Walking the streets shopping, having lunch and loving on the burros makes your visit complete.”
Kathy runs the Oatman Burros Rehab and Recovery Sanctuary, a non-profit who’s Mission Statement is poignant:
We are their voice! It’s critical to be prepared to step up for the burros wherever and whenever they need us.
