Williams Arizona: Channel 3 News article, Secrets Of The Desert

In a recent report “Secrets of The Desert” by Gerard Ramahlo, the history of our beautiful town and segment of Route 66 is explored.

Here is what he had to say:

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Williams, AZ (KSNV News3LV) — We are back on the road all this week in search of more Secrets of The Desert. This time, we headed south of Las Vegas to a pretty famous stretch of highway; Route 66.Our first stop, Williams, Arizona, a town that is like taking a step back in time. Main Street in Williams is the most well-preserved stretch of Route 66 in the entire country. There is a lot of history in Williams, but as Gerard learned, there are also some secrets hidden there.Travel about 216 miles toward Flagstaff and eventually you’ll reach Williams. It was the last town to have its section of Route 66 bypassed in the mid-1980s. Interstate 40 was eventually built around it, marking the end of an era.Today, old, dated gas pumps, diners, jukeboxes, and 50s era memorabilia can be seen on just about every corner. That’s today. Long before that, it was a different kind of place.”It was basically ranching and logging and a forestry town. A little bit later the railways came, and when the railroad came then the town flourished,” said John Moore, Mayor of the City of Williams.

The highway was built in 1926 and Route 66 passed right through the town. One of the best-preserved buildings in the town is known as The Red Garter. Today it is a bed and breakfast, but in the past, it was a saloon, boarding house, a Chinese restaurant, and most notably, a brothel and bootlegging operation.

“This building was built when there were great hopes for a big silver mine that was between here and the Grand Canyon,” said Owner, John Holst.

Holst owns the building today, but a former proprietor was a man by the name of Longino Mora. He ran the bootlegging operation downstairs while a madame ran the brothel upstairs. The ladies would reportedly hang outside of the upper windows, marketing their services. Today, they say the building is haunted by the ghost of one of those women.

“With the guys it’s usually, boy I woke up in the middle of the night and there was this beautiful young gal floating around the room you know in a negligée,” said Holst.

Across town is the Sultana Saloon. It is the oldest bar, with the oldest liquor license in the entire state of Arizona. There is an old theater where silent movies once played, and in the back of the hall, a basement that opened to a series of underground tunnels. The tunnels led to more brothels, speakeasies, and opium dens. Legend has it that the Sultana Saloon is also haunted. Through the years, many of the bar patrons reported seeing spirits walk through the saloon.

There’s a lot to see in Williams. The stories of its rich history make up an important part of Americana. The town’s residents are proud to share those stories and say their ultimate goal is to keep the town intact.

“And I think that’s kind of important to Williams to keep things the way they are. I think that’s very unique. No other town in the United States has what we have,” said Mayor Moore.

Original article found here.

***Platinum Realty is proud to list this Iconic Route 66 diner/soda fountain for sale. See more pictures and information here.