Winslow has been getting a lot of attention lately for its growth and development in multiple publications and various websites such as the most recent being recognition in Smithsonian Magazine, published by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. naming Winslow one of the 15 best small towns to visit in 2022.
Author Laura Kiniry, the magazine’s travel correspondent said, “Travelers from around the globe still visit Winslow’s Standin’ on the Corner Park to snap their pic with its flatbed Ford mural and life-size statue of a man and his guitar.”
However, as she went on to point out, there is much more to be seen in the area, noting, “Winslow makes the ideal base for exploring Arizona’s high plateau country.”
She mentioned the Petrified Forest National Park as well as Winslow’s proximity to Meteor Crater and Homolovi State Park.
“Winslow is a town shaped by Native Americans and Western pioneers. Head to the 4,000 plus-acre Homolovi State Park to see hundreds of Hopi archaeological sites, including petroglyphs and pueblos.”
Winslow leaders, of course, agree with Kiniry. Mayor Roberta Cano said, “More and more people are visiting our city all the time. They are feeling the energy and the vibe of what we are becoming. We are truly a destination in our state and articles like this one are making more people aware of that.”
Cano then spoke about various events and happenings in and around Winslow including the locations Kiniry mentioned. For example, she said, Homolovi will be hosting a star party beginning around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29. The star party is free with the $7 per vehicle park entry fee and is open to all. Homolovi features a 14-inch telescope and multiple smaller telescopes for all to use.
Cano continued, “And then, on June 30, I will be making an official proclamation of Asteroid Day at Meteor Crater,” one of the world’s best preserved meteorite impact sites that is only about 25 miles west of Winslow.
Vice Mayor Samantha Crisp added, “It’s not only our surrounding attractions, it’s the little things that our citizens and business owners are doing right here in town. It is creating a snowball effect that is leading to our evolution as a city, and as a destination.”
Kiniry and Smithsonian Magazine agreed, mentioning small businesses in town that have put a unique spin on souvenirs and regional dining.
However, the Smithsonian article is not the only recognition the town has received lately. Readers may recall that in May, HGTV in partnership with People magazine aired an episode of “Hometown Kickstart” that featured Winslow.
The national network aided in remodeling a room in the home of a local mentor, painting and upgrading infrastructure at the Root Beer Stand, located at 1001 N. Williamson Ave., and installing art in the form of cars on First Street.
At a recent event in the Route 66 Plaza, Mayor Cano was recognized from her appearance on Hometown Kickstart by a pair of visitors from Tennessee. Cano commented, “It is exciting and an honor to be able to show our visitors our downtown these days. Our citizens have really stepped up to make this a place people want to visit and stay a little longer.”
Economic Development Director Una Wirkebau added, “There is so much here to do. We have been getting a million visitors a year that only stay about 72 minutes because they don’t know what there is to do. Articles like this, and the HGTV spot and Business View Magazine are getting the word out there. Not only that, but we have focused on our SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which isn’t a sexy term, but it is important to note that we have been putting in the work to get noticed. Through our social media accounts, the Why Not Winslow website, the tons of advertising we do around the world through our Chamber of Commerce really gets our name out there.”
Both Wirkebau and Cano agreed, however, that just being noticed isn’t enough. Cano said, “The synergy between all of our residents is something you can really feel right now. We are all coming together in a way that we can be proud of. We are cleaning up our town and improving things that have needed improvement for some time.”
In an interview with Business View Magazine, Wirkebau described Winslow as a, “very romanticized, unique rural setting.”
Multiple developments are in process, according to Winslow City Manager John Barkley. “We are not without faults, and as a city, our situation really centers around bridging the gap between dilapidated housing and very expensive single-family housing. Our efforts have been to attract quality developers who offer a range of housing and who demonstrate a long-term commitment to our community. I am confident this will happen very soon.”
In fact, ground has been broken on the north end of town along Mike’s Pike Blvd. for a development of single-family housing and retail space.
Despite its faults, however, city leaders are optimistic about Winslow’s growth in the very near future.
Cano concluded, “The more people come and see what we are doing, and the more we show them a great time, the more we will continue to be noticed by these travel and lifestyle magazines. This will just lend itself to us getting better and better.”
