The storm front had blown in, the temperature had plunged. Our campground had a pristine blanket of snow:
We had anticipated taking a long campground walk and showing you the eclectic, retro nature of Grand Canyon Caverns, but the snow added an extra dimension:
The complex is divided into two sections, separated by a 1 mile long road. The upper section, in the wooded hills, is the Caverns entrance, the Curio Shop and the Campground. Someone has decorated this part of the facility with a variety of motorcycle and bicycle parts:
In keeping with the theme of the place's original name -- "Dinosaur Caverns" -- large dinosaur statues can be found all over the grounds. Poor T-Rex looks like he's suffering from snow blindness:
Old vehicles also decorate the parking lots. These two classics sit in front of the campground's water storage tank:
A 1.25 mile trail stretches from the upper Caverns area, down to the Motel and cafeteria. We decided to hike it in the snow, and along the way, we found this replica "Route 66" teepee with a fire ring, just waiting to greet some campers. Kathy checked it out:
Further down the trail, we could see the motel area by the highway, nestled in a snowy landscape. Somehow, the decrepit sign reading, "AVERN INN" seems appropriate:
More dinosaur buddies greeted us as we entered the motel parking lot:
The motel reception and cafeteria building boasts a variety of old vehicles. It appears this community was once called, "Radi8or Springs" -- or at least that's what the sign suggests:
The interior is decorated retro. Lots of Betty Boop paraphernalia, and a whole display case of PEZ dispensers:
The operating gas station (we don't think the radiator shop is active) still boasts its 50's/60's design, along with a classic motorhome and a whimsical Mater from the film, "Cars":
The setting here near Peach Springs, Arizona is wild and beautiful. It is nestled between the Hualapai and Havasupai Indian Reservations, near what is now called, "Grand Canyon West." The area's ranching heritage is still evident:
Bronty looked back and wished us a good morning as we started back up the hill toward the campground:
A stallion sculpture marks the entrance to the complex's rodeo grounds, erected as a memorial to one of the local ranchers who was instrumental in settling the area:
The Radiator Springs Police Department was already on the job, looking out for speedsters on our campground road:
Ms. Triceratops greeted us as we returned to the Caverns Dinosaur Habitat:
The 1-mile campground road is decorated with the flags of the 50 states. After the snow and wind last night, most of the flags were stuck to their flagpoles with ice, but we freed this Oregon State flag from its icy trap so that it could snap freely in the breeze once again:
We had planned to take a 20 mile drive down to to the Colorado River in the west end of the Grand Canyon (the only place where you can drive to the bottom of the Canyon, and which requires a permit from the Hualapai Game & Fish Department), but we decided that the dirt road, which would be covered with snow, ice and underlying muck from recent rains, wouldn't be a very good bet, even in our Jeep. So it'll be a day trip into nearby Seligman, Arizona. We'll be sure to return -- perhaps next week -- to do the Grand Canyon drive once the road conditions improve.
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