The 25-foot-tall arrows are in great shape, having been restored in 2009 by a combined group of Hopi Indians and Route 66 enthusiasts. I can imagine a lot of kids asking their parents to stop so they could look at the arrows back during the heyday of the trading post. Unfortunately, the arrows are the only thing in great shape left on the site. While I do enjoy exploring old abandoned places, it’s always a bit sad to see such interesting places so far gone.

I wandered around the “Best Little Stop on I-40” for a bit, exploring inside some of the buildings as well. The diner located at the east end of the trading post is a prefabricated Valentine diner, which could be bought in the 1950s for $5,000 and paid off at the rate of $40 per month. It came complete with tables, stools, counter and all the kitchen fixtures needed. My guess is that the trading post was probably built during the early 1950s, but I haven’t been able to track down a firm date. It was originally named the “Canyon Padre Trading Post,” for the gorge located nearby. But with an attraction just down the road called “Two Guns,” I guess “Twin Arrows” made more sense and at some point the name was changed.