We walked all around town and visited Walter, The Donkey-Mayor of Oatman. Walter was a baby when Kelly and Brad Blake took him into their home in Oatman, Arizona. Just before two oclock on Wednesday October 30th, I got a text from friend and fellow photographer Jim Buckley saying: I ran out and indeed found a small creature Standin on the Corneralthough not a horse. Be Truthful. Laughlin Scenic Tours, LLC If you look closely, Oliver has a heart on his right haunch. Kingman, Arizona 86409. We are absolutely proud of him and his nomination everyone in town has had nothing but positive things to say about Walter. In the northwest corner of Arizona, Oatman is a town full of character. Above is the cover of "Walter Finds a Home," the first in a series of children's books . I fel in love with donkeys about two yrs ago when a neighbor got a mini donkey and the love started for me.. Walter is the newly elected mayor of Oatman, a genuine Arizona ghost town situated along the famous Route 66. Winds light and variable.. A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Do Not Sell My Info - CA Resident Only. Kingman Smart Buyer 928 Media Lab. Now, they are talking about an animated film. Subscribe for more off-the-beaten path destinations! Walter captured hearts after he was abandoned by his herd last year in the Oatman area. Walter acts as though he is a dog, Blake said. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Walter having his morning coffee . Within minutes, nearly every person in the surrounding area flocked to pet and take their photo with Walter, and just as Kelly said, they all wore huge smiles. Before we get into how Brad and Kelly Blake came to be the guardians of this social media darling, lets first talk about where the three of them live. Oatman Hotel: Bearsun Coming Thru Oatman! He works in several beneficial organizations, and he also volunteers as an emotional support donkey. Posted by Walter the orphan from Oatman's happy new life on Sunday, January 5, 2020. You can watch Walter and his parents' adorable reunion here: Walter is constantly giving back to the local community by working with a number of charities, as well as volunteering as an emotional support donkey. The BBBQ Bacon cheeseburger was also very good. Walter captured hearts after he was abandoned by his herd last year in the Oatman area. or anything. 85007 Material copyrighted by Winslow.Town - 2023 . His owners, Kelly and Brad Blake, took him into their home after they found him abandoned in the barn. Pickles has not return to Oatman but has been spotted near the Narrows near Bullhead & in the Laughlin Ranch area. Don't Threaten. 1994 new york rangers line combinations; sheldon banks obituaries flint, mi; flutter web detect refresh page; how often did ancient africans wash their hair? Oatman's "Wild" Burros. All Right Reserved. She takes the time to answer everyone calling out where we are from! When she gave birth to Hank in October of 2020, the glimmer in her eyes returned.]. Marshall Above is the cover of Walter Finds a Home, the first in a series of childrens books about the burro. Smith currently works as an executive assistant for a large radio group in the river community. Destiny is one of Dustys babies and took after her momma in the good mom category. WALTER THE WONDER DONKEY is an Arizona Trade Name filed on September 24, 2019. From Our first named Burro Hoover to Baby Hank, the burros have been the highlight of many visitors trips to Oatman. A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. "Walter's mama rejected him . Walter's mother lacked enough maternal instincts to care for him. Be Proactive. A couple of prospectors settled there in the 1860s, but it wasnt until 1915when a couple of miners struck a 10 million dollar gold strikethat the town really grew. Others are wanderers who visit the village now and again. Be Nice. Hank is Tinkerbells baby brother. Walter acts as though he is a dog, Blake said. We even have pony and wagon rides for children! Oatman burros paying tribute to their deceased alpha male, Duke. Wherever Walter goes, he brings joy, part of why Brad and Kelly want to share Walter with the world. (Photos from a 2011 visit). Share with Us. Oatman is famous for, or should I say infamous for, the wild burros that inhabit the tiny Route 66 town. Let us know what's going on! . It was January 2020. Utilize our advanced search form to filter the search results by Company Name, City, State, Postal Code, It looks like there are TWO books now! Walter the Orphan Donkey. Prev: Shoplifting leads to arrest and drug possession charges, Next: BLM seeks public comment on proposed wild burro management plan in and near the Black Mountain Herd Management Area, Laughlin Chambers most prestigious event of the year a black tie affair honors those in our Colorado River Region who have gone above and beyond in their endeavors; making our community a better place with each action they take. Or just the opposite, and that's why he thinks and act like a dog. He keeps his momma, the shop owners and visitors on their toes with his mischievous ways! The whole family exploring caves, even Walter! It is raining and . Every night we all go on our walk into the desert for exercise and Walter runs around with our shepherds as though he is one of the pack, he added. Filing Jurisdiction, Entity Type, Registered Agent, File Number, Filing Status, and Business Category. Here are some of the burros you may see when you visit Oatman: AprilDusty (Bell) 10/18/2008 Dusty is our smiling and singing Burro! Walter is a yearling jack who was born 07/05/2019. The Blakes were filled with joy and took Walter home to their house, where his new life began. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about us. His personality stands out and shines. Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=desert%20wonder%20tours. Growing up with three German shepherd siblings, the little donkey has picked up quite a few unusual habits. I just love him! Facebook/Walter the orphan from Oatman's happy new life. Louie Is the only place to buy the book is Oatman, Arizona? (866) 275-5816 | (602) 364-3700, Copyright 2023 VisitArizona.com | Privacy Policy, Six Days Touring the Mother Road: Route 66, Distinctly Arizonan July 4th Celebrations, Arizonas Wildly Different Desert Regions. Donkey And Old Tractor T-Shirt. We are already halfway through book two.. A book signing will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 in downtown Oatman. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. She is both sugar and spice. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Ive enjoyed reading about Walter and, especially the follow up photos and story about Walter that Ive really enjoyed, by way of my computer. The Bureau of Land Management and residents of Oatman, Ariz., tried for almost half a day to get her to attach to him, but everything they tried didn't work. As soon as Walter sees his dad, he comes running, hopping up and down in excitement. Kingman, Arizona 86401. Oatman Chamber of Commerce P.O. Low 46F. person will not be tolerated. Yucca, Arizona 86438, Results Jump in the car and hit the Mother Road to discover a treasure in the Arizona desert. Hazel is very protective of Destiny and Darrell. The Blake's are high school sweethearts. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Family. The burro has become such an integral part of Oatman's identity that the town now plays host to an annual Burro Biscuit Toss, where residents and visitors alike compete to see who can throw a dried-out, gold-painted burro dropping the farthest. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. The friendly performers ask the crowd to gather around in the street while they act out a heist, complete with loud gunshot blanks. I just love walter.. With the Bizapedia Pro Search service you will get unlimited searches via our various search forms, I wii be buying these books for my 3 year old great granddaughter! He works in several beneficial organizations, and he also volunteers as an emotional support donkey. Walters mama rejected him because she was too young. It is inhabited by a bunch of wild donkeys (or as they call them - burros). The more popular he becomes on social media, the more hes wanted at events. His donkey mama wasn't quite sure what to think about him. 1. Posted by Walter the orphan from Oatmans happy new life on Saturday, January 18, 2020. racist or sexually-oriented language. The BLM asked the couplewho had known Walter since he was 10 hours oldif they would adopt him and the animal-loving couple, of course, said yes. Kingman, Arizona 86401. Books cost $12.95 each and ship in two to four weeks. By now, you would have to be living in a cave here not to know who Walter is! The moment they showed him affection, Walter connected to his new parents on a deeper level especially his dad. They married in 2009 and own several family businesses . My niece, Barbara, from Bullhead City, AZ sent me the clippings from their local paper re Walter. reserved. He is definitely perfect for the position.. Share with Us. I love this show! We are so honored to have won the Communications Award. Oatman started life over 100 years ago as a mining tent camp, and quickly became a flourishing gold-mining center. Walter is the cutest little donkey ever! But really, its not surprising considering how cute he is and how popular animals are on social mediaespecially with a touching origin story like his. The Mohave Museum of History and Arts is dedicated to the purposes of preserving the heritage of northwestern Arizona and of presenting Our rides vary in length starting at 30 minutes, for beginner to advanced-level riders. He was in a bad place until he got a new home. 127. Walter was just a baby when Kelly and Brad Blake adopted him into their sweet home in Oatman, Arizona. Free shipping for many products! A premiere book signing will also be announced to launch the book. AZ Use the 'Report' link on The donkeys are wild, mostly friendly, and hungry . He hops and brushes his body against me to love on him. I was told there is a book published about the little orphaned donkey. with up to 5 times the number of maximum matches per search vs. non-subscribers. Walter has also gained a lot of fans, . His gravesite after dark & a handmade Cross. Oatman, Arizona is an old west mining town on the old Route 66 highway. Garry Gay. We'd love to hear eyewitness Follow. You will have to put up a good fight to get it back. At first glance, the wild burros of Oatman seem to steal the show but dig a bit deeper and you'll discover the town's raucous mining history and a vibrant main street that plays host to various events throughout the year. "Nothing like 'Opal' being so Dang cute & taking a nap right on Route 66 in Oatman , AZ ," they wrote. Walter is a sweet donkey who lives with his parents and three German shepherd siblings in their home in Oatman, Arizona. Let it be a tribute to Walters fame that Mississippi illustrator Jasmine Smith (no relation to the writer) knew about him before she was asked to draw him. Walter the donkey was heartbreakingly rejected by his mom because she was too young to bond with him and nurse. I cant wait looking forward to buying the series for my great-grandchildren. Peach Springs, Arizona 86434. They married in 2009 and own several family businesses in Oatman. Alien Vacation - Oatman Arizona T-Shirt . This past July, one of the resident donkeys, Nadine, gave birth to a young 'un but the new mother had no interest in her baby. 2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc. and Author Solutions, LLC - A book about the orphaned donkey and the amazing town he calls home! She has an amazingly loving personality and is the best mother! Whether heading west to east or east to west on the Mother Road, be sure to check out the quirky landmarks and destinations of Arizonas Route Motor into Kingman, Arizona's heart of historic Route 66. In addition, all pages on Bizapedia will be "Walter's mama rejected him because she was too young. Walter was a baby when Kelly and Brad Blake took him into their home in Oatman, Arizona. 1 - This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Thank you so much. The book is due to be released through a select publisher and is scheduled for release by June 1, 2020, said Andrea Z. Smith, a contributor and liaison for the authors. Scarlett We never imagined how much Walter would change our lives for the better, Blake said. Events and Games in Oatman Arizona on Historical Route 66. Laughlin Chambers most prestigious event of the year a black tie affair honors those in our Colorado River Region who have gone above and beyond in their endeavors; making our community a better place with each action they take. As soon as he sees his dad, he comes running towards him, wags his cute little tail, and nuzzles his shoulder. Walter's parents help him become a valuable member of the local community. Shows. Oatman is best known for its beloved burrossmall donkeys descended from miners' beasts of burden. Kelly and Brad agreed that there were lessons that can be taken away from reading this book. In fact, his fan base and popularity has grown so large that the town folk just bestowed upon him the title and honor of being Mayor of Oatman! Enter Brad and Kelly Blake. Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch is located in northwest Arizona in the Mohave Desert, one hour away from the nearest town.We welcome 19985 S Doc Holliday Rd Keep it Clean. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. But his parents love him just the way he is. In 1915, two miners struck a $10 million gold find, and within a year, the town's population grew to more than 3,500. Picked from a list of illustrators by Cat, Jasmine had already encountered Walter online. Family-owned vineyard, winery and tasting room. He hops and brushes his body against me to love on him. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Oatman. More. A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. When his mother refused to nurse or aid Walter, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management rescued him. Low 46F. Small donkeys, or burros, played a major role as pack animals in opening up the western . 15.4K followers. The Blake's reside in Oatman, Arizona, an old western mining town that dates back to 1903 and has burros roaming freely in town. Walters mama rejected him because she was too young. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Retired NBC Los Angeles News Photographer now calling Winslow Arizonas Historic Entertainment District home. Subscribe, Admin Offices accounts, the history behind an article. Officials with the Bureau of Land Management contacted the Blake Family and asked if they would care for Walter and become his new family. Even though Oatman is abandoned by people, it is not empty at all. Fireworks, parades and barbecues: The following July 4th events may share some similarities with more traditional celebrations, but do so in At Arizona boat rentals we work hard to offer the best quality boat and jet ski rentals on the market at any lake in the state. Nestled in Arizona's rugged and remote wilderness, this tiny town's rich Wild West history comes to life with staged shootouts, wooden sidewalks and a bounty of burros that roam freely. Required fields are marked *. They shared their journey with Walter by creating a local Facebook page after the towns social media page garnered overwhelming attention of him. You have permission to edit this article. Walter Finds a Home (A Walter the Orphaned Donkey) . Great Food. Text and videos by Jim Bremner. Send a gift card to friends and family or buy it now for your future use. Awarded to any formally recognized Kingman business that has made a deliberate and focused effort, by its nature or through a specific project, to improve our local quality of life while maintaining a rigorous standard of work excellence. There are restaurants, souvenir shops . Be Truthful. Before it was bypassed in 1953, Rt. Explore. Public figure. The two met when they were eight-years-old when their families became friends. The Oatman Gold Road Chamber of Commerce will host a special event this weekend, Feb. 14-17, in which visitors will be able to meet the towns new mayor. 212 posts. The first book of a Walter The Orphaned Donkey Series titled Walter Finds A Home was already published on Nov. 10 and the response has been overwhelming, the author said. We hope you enjoy our site and take a moment to drop us a line. I am looking forward to when the books about Walter come out! Rejected by his mother, he found a new home at Brad and Kelly Blakes house in Oatman. The authors will also be working with the publisher for an animated film and will be making book signings and personal appearances with Walter, that will be scheduled in the near future. In Oregon, there are donkeys on the Warm Springs HMA only. Please share this post with all your loved ones and help make their day better! New Digg'ns, a gift shop in the town, recently posted a video of Opal, an absolutely adorable baby donkey who found the middle of the road to be a prime napping spot. Walter is the orphaned burro of Oatman and Was born on July 5, 2019. Walter, the orphaned donkey from Oatman, became a mayor the same way Cat Smith became a writer thanks to a misfortune that turned into a career. I will email this to you as well: https://walterthewonderdonkey.com/shop/ols/all?sortOption=descend_by_created_at, What a wonderful story about Walter! The ten-volume series will be annually. We barely do social media for ourselves!. Fun day in Oatman, Arizona. Shows. She loves hay cubes and butt scratches but is also ok with just sitting back, watching the happenings in town and searching for hay cubes that someone dropped. About. Not for the first time in American politics, a jackass has been elected to office. 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Like many others, she saw Walters story online, decided it was the cutest thing ever and reached out. Walter was born July 5th, 2019. The book Walter, The Orphan Donkey, being published by Armagon Press of Los Angeles, tells the story of how Walter was found alone, lying on the ground cold and scared in the desert of Oatman. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. She was a successful Crime and Courts Reporter, appeared as a correspondent for the television network Investigation Discovery (ID) in 2015. Of course, we said yes!. Walter has also gained a lot of fans, so his parents often share his daily adventures on Facebook to make sure his fans will update his latest adventures. History buffs can learn all about Oatman's mining boom days at the Oatman Hotel (formerly the Durlin). that is degrading to another person. Book your tickets online for Oatman Ghost Town, Oatman: See 666 reviews, articles, and 1,169 photos of Oatman Ghost Town, ranked No.4 on Tripadvisor among 12 attractions in Oatman. Social media users from throughout the United States have followed Walters adventures on Facebook, and the town of Oatman has gained almost unprecedented exposure through videos and images posted on social media. Sales were brisk, and another 3,000 copies have been shipped. A book about the orphaned donkey and the amazing town he calls home! Nothing was working, so we were called and asked if we would like to adopt him. In result, Oatman got a new life. that is degrading to another person. Start your day with heartwarming and hilarious animal stories that will make you fall in love. The couple brought him home and let him bond with their three German Shepherd dogs. Be Nice. We arrived in the morning, after driving the highway into town carefully, watching out for donkeys on the road. I am SO EXCITED!! Walters mother lacked enough maternal instincts to care for him. You can feed and pet the free-roaming and friendly burros . Most of these burros keep to themselves in one of the several herds throughout the mountains and surrounding desert, but a few of them come into town every day. Between a fire in the 1920s and the largest mining company closing operations, the town virtually died off. Pickles is one of our wandering burros. We are avid readers to our grandkids and g. grandkids and want to add this book to thier library. Walter's Desert Adventure: A Walter the Orphaned Donkey Series Hardcover - December 21, 2021 by Cat Smith (Author), Brad Blake Kelly Blake & 0 more 4.7 out of 5 stars 10 ratings In the 1960s, Oatman was almost completely abandoned and turned into a ghost . Walter, the orphaned donkey and mayor of Oatman, is shown with his family, Brad and Kelly Blake, left. He even has fans in Europe and Asia. She has a heart of gold and is an amazing mommy to Hank. To order books The town is known for its quaint stores and restaurants as well as being home to the Oatman Hotel, where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent time during their honeymoon. We have wild burros that roam the town, Brad Blake told The Dodo. Walters followings on Facebook have climbed very fast with people from all over the world falling in love with this adorable orphan. Theoretically wild - watch out, they will try to steal anything that looks like food! He wags his tail and gets excited when we come home. Step back in time to Oatman, once a booming mining area that's now a ghost town and popular tourist attraction. With all the love and attention of his parents, the sickly little donkey has grown to be a 150-pounds. Live. Photo credit: Walter the orphan from Oatman's happy new life. The miners, however left something behind. Oatman Donkey Town CoolCrab (Atlas Obscura User) The American west is full of abandoned ghost towns. Follow Walters New Lifeon his Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/walterthewonderdonk/, and his website to find unique Walter merch: https://walterthewonderdonkey.com/, Walter making an appearance at a local school. its citizens. Threats of harming another Vicente Villamon/Flickr. His donkey mama wasnt quite sure what to think about him. Walter, the orphaned donkey and mayor of Oatman, is shown with his family, Brad and Kelly Blake, left. The Blakes knew that Walter was special and that he had a story he could share with children. Walter and his family attend many events in the Tri-State area. Looking for a place to bring the kids? Due to the rough terrain in the region, the preferred beasts of burden were burros who were able to subsist on the dry desert grasses, were hardy and sure-footed. There are restaurants, souvenir shops . Cat Smith With Brad Blake, Illustrated by Jasmine Smith, With Kelly Blake. Travel America's famous Mother Road, historic Route 66, through classic towns still filled with Americana and more. BLM officials asked Blake, an experienced caretaker of Arizonas wild burros, to care for Walter last year. . If you want to see more of Walter, be sure to follow his Facebook pagea sure way to put a smile on your face if youre feeling down. Our high-quality oatman arizona shirts are available in multiple sizes and body styles.