Abandoned Twin Arrows in Arizona
If you’ve ever driven across northern Arizona on Interstate 40, you may have noticed a strange roadside landmark: two massive arrows rising above the desert. This is Twin Arrows, one of the most recognizable abandoned attractions along historic Route 66.
Once a bustling stop for road-trippers, the Twin Arrows Trading Post is now a crumbling reminder of the golden age of American highway travel. Today, the site stands abandoned—its iconic arrows weathered by time and desert winds, quietly telling the story of Route 66’s rise and fall.
Origins of Twin Arrows
The site that became Twin Arrows began life in the late 1940s as the Canyon Padre Trading Post, a roadside business along U.S. Route 66 between Flagstaff and Winslow, Arizona.
In the 1950s, new owners rebranded the stop as Twin Arrows Trading Post and installed two enormous wooden arrows in the parking lot to attract passing motorists.
The marketing stunt worked.
The towering arrows—each around 20–25 feet tall—became an unforgettable roadside spectacle, drawing travelers looking for gas, food, and souvenirs.
At its peak, Twin Arrows featured:
- A gas station
- A gift shop and trading post
- A Valentine diner
- Route 66 souvenirs and roadside curiosities
For decades, the stop thrived as families and travelers followed Route 66 across the American Southwest.
Why Twin Arrows Became Abandoned
Like many Route 66 landmarks, Twin Arrows began to decline when Interstate 40 was built nearby.
The new interstate diverted most traffic away from the original highway, dramatically reducing the number of travelers stopping at roadside attractions.
Over the following decades, the trading post changed ownership several times while struggling to survive. Eventually, the business closed for good in the mid-1990s and the property was abandoned.
Without regular maintenance, the buildings deteriorated quickly in the harsh desert climate. Graffiti spread across the structures, and the once-busy trading post became a ghostly shell.
Despite the decay of the buildings, the towering arrows remained the most famous feature of the site. Constructed from telephone poles with wooden arrowheads and feathers, the giant markers were designed to point motorists directly to the trading post entrance.
For decades, they stood as a symbol of classic roadside Americana. However, time has taken its toll. In 2022, strong winds knocked one of the two arrows down, leaving only a single arrow still standing today. Even so, the remaining arrow continues to be one of the most photographed relics along Route 66.
Visiting Twin Arrows in Arizona
The remains of Twin Arrows sit just off Interstate 40, about 20 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona.
While the site is technically abandoned and not open as an official attraction, the iconic arrow landmark is still visible from the highway. Photographers, Route 66 enthusiasts, and urban explorers frequently stop to capture the eerie beauty of the decaying structures and graffiti-covered walls.
It’s one of the most haunting reminders that even famous roadside icons can fade into the desert.