![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The ever-increasing flow of traffic along Route 66 in the post-war era and into the 1950s provided unprecedented opportunity for entrepreneurs, showmen and families in rural eastern Arizona. Finally, in 1949, James Taylor leased the property and opened the Jack Rabbit Trading Post - a souvenir shop that would become known for its giant jack rabbit statue. After a few years of abandonment, the Rockwell family used the space as a restaurant and dance hall. In the late 1930s, the complex was home to the Arizona Herpetarium, a glorified snake farm and gift shop. Purportedly, it began life as a building built by the Santa Fe Railroad. For those who traveled the old road during the halcyon days, it’s a fond memory of when the double-six was THE Main Street of America and for younger folks, the Jack Rabbit is a rare, recognizable Route 66 landmark, thanks to its appearance in the Disney animated movie Cars.Īs with many roadside businesses that opened along Route 66 in Arizona and New Mexico during the post-war years, the early history of the building is a tangled mix of faded memories. The trading post, which dates back to 1949, has managed to cement its place as an important piece of Americana for generations now. The vivid yellow paint, bold red lettering and dark silhouette of the jack rabbit sign against the sepia landscape of rural Arizona are images that kindle nostalgia in many Americans who remember the ‘glory days’ of the road and of road travel itself. The Jack Rabbit Trading Post may be a quick stop along the Will Rogers Highway for some, but to whole generations it remains so much more than a faded gift shop. ![]()
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