b'Photography Tobias Neubert Hackberry General Storeused another building, the Red Schoolhouse, fromThe National Old Trails (N.O.T.) highway was also 1924 to 1969. built along the canyon, following the railroad in 1913. It was then that the new owners of the property, the After closing in 1937, two of the three main buildingsGrounds, built a tourist resort for the weary travelers. were demolished. Its bricks were recycled to buildC. J. Shank leased the property in 1923, built a the Mohave County Museum of History and Artsswimming pool and created a little resort, mostly for in Kingman. The fields cultivated by students wentthe well to do families from Kingman. Not long after fallow and the settlement withered. It is now ownedthe National Old Trails Road became US 66 Edward by the Hualapai Indian Nation. M. Carrow and his wife Edith opened a tourist camp at the ranch. Carrow built eight cabins with two When the school closed, the post office moved off- units each, on the western side of the resort. Thethat have been rescued, surrendered, or placed by reservation, two miles away, to the service stop oncomplex was named "7-V Ranch Resort" or "7-V Bar."animal welfare agencies. It provides a safe home for Route 66. The old post office building is one of theThere was even a bus stop there. Carrow was a cattleanimals that are rescued. The sanctuary welcomes few survivors from the school days. The boarded-uprancher, in partnership with his brother Murray andvisitors on guided safari and feeding tours with an classroom is also still there. A short distance away thethen with I. M. George of Kingman for a time.emphasis on education and advocacy. It is open to Truxton Canyon Agency of the US Bureau of Indianthe public 6 days a week.All admission fees and gift Affairs now maintains its offices.The normally dry wash from Crozier Spring wouldshop purchases directly support food, shelter, and sometimes flood, stopping traffic on the highway,medical expenses.Crozier Canyon despite a bridge. In 1936 the Arizona highway Heading north from the schoolhouse the old canyondepartment relocated Route 66 to higher groundThe scenic nature park is nestled on 175 acres in remains are 3.2 mi. away. and the Carrows business was ruined. They wereValentine on Historic Route 66. Whether you opt compensated by the taxpayers and the site reportedlyto walk the park or take a tour, all visitors will This was the trail followed by Beale during his 1857provided housing for railroad workers by the 1940s.experience an up-close look at animals in their expedition to California. The first settlement here wasOthers purchased the Crozier cattle ranch and triedspacious natural habitats. Keepers of the Wild is very the Crozier Canyon Ranch, established on the Bealeto keep it open for tourists until the 1990s. popular with residents, visitors and tourists and is Wagon Trail in 1872. The place was named after theideal for school field trips for children and family territorial legislator Sam Crozier. He had found theThe cabins can still be seen and areoutings. 13441 AZ-66, Valentine, AZ86437, Hackberry Mine to the west of Crozier.After findingnow used as storage sheds. The928-769-1800the Hackberry Mine with a partner, Sam Crozierother buildings lie on private actually acquired Crozier Ranch in 1880. The ranchproperty, as does the old RouteThe Valentine Stationitself was built in 1887. 66 bridge north of the cabins. TheThe station sits on a stretch of the original last segment of Route 66 to beRoute 66 between Peach Springs and paved in Arizona was the one byHackberry. Stop in and talk to Ruben who the mouth of the canyon, in 1937. renovated this place and opened gift shop with his own hand made Route 66 shields and Keepers of the Wild other unique stuff. 12626 AZ-66, Valentine, AZ Keepers of the Wild is a nonprofit that86437, 928-716-8038.provides life-long sanctuary to native and exotic animals including coyotes and wolves, bears, big cats, monkeys, reptiles, goats, wallabies, and birds ArizonaRealCountry.com February 2020 29'