365betÌåÓýÔÚÏßÊÀ½ç±­

Skip to main content
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit

Forgotten but not gone: Abandoned buildings on Highway 89 haunt a way of life

It occurred to me while driving north on Highway 89 that the long stretch of road is haunted. Not by wayward specters or ghastly apparitions, but by the long-abandoned buildings that line the road like silent memorials to a time long since forgotten and to a way of life that may be seeing its final days.

Of course this realization didn’t come to me suddenly or even recently, it had been brewing in my mind since I was a child when I would travel with my family from Dinétah (the Navajo Nation) to Flagstaff. During the long drive from our home in Halgaidi (White Valley) to Flagstaff, we would go through Tuba City and down Highway 89 through Cameron and Gray Mountain before reaching the city. I would watch the scenery pass as we drove down the highway where, inevitably, the old motel in Gray Mountain would always catch my eye.

Lonely Sign.JPG

A lonely sign is tagged with a declaration that says, “Radioactive pollution kills, it's time to clean up the mines.�
Wauneta.JPG

The Wauneta Trading Post is one of the many abandoned establishments that has fallen victim to economic decay.
Painted Desert Project 1

This old Whiting Brothers motel has been reclaimed as the site of the Painted Desert Project and is at the center of a mission to beautify these abandoned buildings.
Sign at Twilight.JPG

Navajo families used to work at and sell blankets, rugs and other handcrafted items at these abandoned trading posts.


Tags



Explore More

Sound Connections supports brain health through music sessions: A grant from Creative Flagstaff funds local program for the memory loss community

Sound Connections supports brain health through music sessions: A grant from Creative Flagstaff funds local program for the memory loss community

  • MORIAH HEBERER

A program in Flagstaff, Sound Connections, offers music therapy to support individuals with memory loss and caregivers, promoting brain health and community connection. Read moreSound Connections supports brain health through music sessions: A grant from Creative Flagstaff funds local program for the memory loss community

Flagstaff Student Guide 2024

Flagstaff Student Guide 2024

  • THE FLAG LIVE STAFF & BRISA KAROW, Editor in Chief at the Lumberjack

Welcome back, Students! Flag Live teams up with the Lumberjack Editor in Chief, Brisa Karow, to kickstart your dive into Flagstaff life. With cultural insights, dining hotspots, outdoor adventures and campus hacks—you're sure to find something to enjoy! Read moreFlagstaff Student Guide 2024

The Hive is where the heart is: For a decade, this small, local music venue has been home to a number of creative projects
Top Story Editor's Pick Spotlight

The Hive is where the heart is: For a decade, this small, local music venue has been home to a number of creative projects

  • ASH LOHMANN

Over the past 10 years, downtown Flagstaff has been home to a music venue that stands out from the rest � an all-ages, community-centric, passion-driven hole-in-the-wall called The Hive. Read moreThe Hive is where the heart is: For a decade, this small, local music venue has been home to a number of creative projects

×

Stay Updated in Minutes

Sign up for our flagship newsletter covering all the local news to keep you informed.

Please enter a valid email.
Thank you for subscribing!

I'm not interested

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Topics

News Alerts

Breaking News

Breaking News (FlagLive!)

Sign Up

Sign up with

Have an account? Log In

You're all set!

Thank you .

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

OK

Log In

Admin login Subscribe
Need an account? Sign Up

Reset Password

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

Forgot Password

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.

Email me a log in link

Promotional Offers

No promotional rates found.

Purchase Gift Purchase Access

Secure & Encrypted

Sign in with
Who is this gift for?
Who is this gift from?
Delivery date
What's your billing location?
Subtotal:
Total:
How would you like to pay?

Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.

You're all set!

Thank you.

Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

OK

An error occurred