A lot of mining took place along the stretch of road between Oatman and Cool Springs back in the days of gold, and in fact, is still going on today. The community of Goldroad was once a substantial, mining-based settlement. And while there may not be many full-time residents there today, the mines still employ a good number of people. Old building ruins and mines dotted the landscape as I drove through the Black Mountains.

The Summit Gas Station and Ice Cream store was once located at the top of Sitgreaves Pass, on a wide spot on the Kingman side of the road. That must have looked like heaven when folks rounded that last bend and saw a gas station and ice cream store at the top of the mountain pass. All that’s left of the Summit today are some iron bolts and crumbling foundation remains as it burnt to the ground in 1967.