ARIZONA- NEW MEXICO STATE LINE

Lupton is in Arizona just across the border from New Mexico. It is a remnant of the US 66 hayday. There are several Indian tourist souvenir shops here and the remains of an old movie location at Chief Yellowhorse. Some of the Kirk Douglas movie "The Big Carnival" was filmed here. The fort was built for the movie and I understand this location is actually in New Mexico. When we visited here it was early in the morning and the store was closed. The souvenir store really looked as if it might have been closed for a while but a kind gentleman working there, invited us inside the compound to see the bison and the cliff dwellings. The bison were smelly but the cliff dwellings were very interesting. It is hard to believe that people actually lived up that high off of the ground in those hut remains. Inside the fenced compound there was some interesting rocks and petrified wood displayed on tables and for sale by the pound. Outside in the parking lot, there were several small ponies, a mule, and a couple of burros walking around grazing. Further down the road, there were more souvenir shops, teepes, and displays. It looked as if all of this was built about the time of the movie. Interstate 40 has a interchange with the old road close by but it appeared that business wasn't what it used to be. This is an interesting area nestled against the cliffs and worth a look. This is definitely a Route 66 adventure. Why the confusion in which state Chief Yellowhorse is located? The state line is not marked on old US 66 and the freeway markings do not clearly denote the exact stateline. Here is a sign that is located inside the compound and a few feet east of the cliff dwellings. If you look at the picture above with the word "entrance" please note the Bison drawing on the fence, the stateline according to the sign is just above the brown hump and to the left of the internal white fence.The route 66 books I have put this location a half a mile inside New Mexico.

This is the Navajo nation please treat this area with respect.