Attraction of the Week: Standin’ on the Corner Park in Winslow, Arizona
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Since moving to Flagstaff, Mike and I have been checking out a lot of oddball attractions. We love exploring quirky roadside type attractions. We drive around a lot (sometimes hours on the weekends), so these stops always keep the drives a bit more interesting. Standin’ on the Corner Park is a popular stop amongst fans of the classic 1970’s Eagles song “Take it Easy” (co-written by Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne).
Winslow, a small town 60 miles east of Flagstaff just off of Rt 66, famously was mentioned in this classic rock tune. Living in the region and being fans of the song, we figured why not check it out while living so close? Also, there was a restaurant we had been looking to try out anyway, thus making the drive more worthwhile.
The Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “500 songs that shaped rock and roll” included this catchy tune. Almost everyone remembers the catchy lyrics as soon as they hear the name Winslow. It’s hard not to sing along to the catchy tune as it comes on the radio.
“Well, I’m a standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona and such a fine sight to see. Its a girl, my lord, in a flatbed Ford Slowin down to take a look at me.”
The inspiration behind the lyrics
I like to research the story behind these odd sites. Interesting enough, there is confusion as to whether Flagstaff actually inspired the famous lyrics. The corner referenced to in the song might have actually been inspired by a woman Browne saw at the Wienerschnitzel on Route 66 in Flagstaff (now home to Dog Haus).
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Browne stated “It was always Winslow. But that image of a girl driving a truck was an image that came from the East. To be precise, from East Flagstaff.” No matter the inspiration for the actual lyrics, it’s a cool place to visit that comes with a free Route 66 souvenir photo to commemorate your Southwestern road trip. Read more about this theory via this Arizona Daily Sun article.
On a side, the town hosts an Eagle’s tribute festival every year. Every September, you will find a special tribute band. So if you happen to be visiting the region this time of year, you may want to look into it.
A fun & popular roadside stop
The park’s dedication ceremony took place on September 10th & 11th in 1999 in historic downtown Winslow. Today, it draws a lot of traffic. For those tired and aching from driving long hours through the boring desert, it’s a fun stop to break up the monotony. Fortunately, we lived a quick drive away, but I would recommend a special trip if you are an Eagles fan or just bored on the road.
After taking a few souvenir photos standing on the exact spot mentioned in the song, you can explore the downtown area which includes local restaurants and Route 66 souvenir shops. This is what I love most about all these small towns in this part of the state – they are so quirky and retro with lots of unusual shops and restaurants. It’s been a fun time checking them all out.
The town of Winslow estimates that more than 100,000 tourists visit each year just to take their picture at this famous site. This is great news for the city as this tourist attraction is helping to draw more people to the area. It’s crazy to believe that this was once the largest town in Northern Arizona.
Like many other places, it began to lose the business of both locals and tourists after the construction of I-40. While the new highway destroyed the town long ago, I love seeking out these retro places today that hold on to the charm from yesteryear. It’s always fun to see something old-school in our day of modern chains.
Lunch at “the Last Great Railroad Hotel”
While you are in town, do plan for lunch at The Turquoise Room, a fantastic Southwestern restaurant with a really creative menu. I tried the best appetizer ever here: blue corn piki bread with hummus. We also loved their signature black bean and cream corn soup which we ordered as part of a lunch special. We had been wanting to try this one out for a while and we were not disappointed. I need to get back here for dinner one night as they offer this amazing looking vegetable platter.
Or better yet, book a room at the beautiful La Posada Hotel, built in 1929 and featured in The National Register of Historic Places.
The hotel, known as the “Last Great Railroad Hotel,” has been the recipient of numerous awards. Most notably, Conde Nast voted it one of the “World’s Best Places to Stay” in 2009. It’s a gorgeous place. We took a strong around after our meal (there are some nice gardens and some historical info) but we would love to stay here one of these days.
Address
The park is located at: N Kinsley Avenue in Winslow. You will see a billboard advertising the attraction a few miles before entering town. There is no fee to visit or take pics. Free side street parking downtown is available. This is an easy daytrip destination from a number of cities, so get out there and explore if you can. If you are at all a history or music buff, love Rt. 66 or just the Eagles, this one’s for you!
And also, be sure to check out my guide to exploring all the wonderful historic and recreation sites in Northern Arizona. It’s truly one of the most amazing areas of the country and I have been so lucky to live here. I recommend planning some extra time to do some hiking and exploring if you are able to do so!
