Arco and Atomic City, Idaho

Our trip from Arco to Atomic City in the Jeep 

Actually this shows the gravel road into Atomic City. We took the highway there and the gravel road back to where it meets the pavement.
On our way to Atomic City we were heading for these two buttes. They were instrumental in some of the emigrants heading west. Because it was getting so dangerous from Indian attacks along the Snake River some wagon trains preferred to avoid that area. The cut off and came north to skirt the lava fields. The buttes were landmarks. This trail was called the Goodall's Cutoff.  Click here for information about Goodall's Cutoff. Extremely interesting. I would never have made it as pioneer.

The turn off to Atomic City. Population of 29. In the early 50's it was called Midway. They changed its name to Atomic City in hopes the workers from the atomic plant would move and live there. It didn't work. 

Entering town. This look deserted. 

Not sure if this is still open or not. 

Butterflies painted all over the garage of this home. 

Kind of sets the tone of the town. An early 50's Dodge- maybe. It is in pretty good shape.

A race track - here in the middle of no where? Sure enough. 
Click here to read about it. I was sure surprised when I read the article.  AMR Atomic Motor Raceway hopes to help grow the community. Drivers come from several states to race here during the months of June, July, August and September. Saturday nights on the dirt! $10 admission. We find the most unexpected things when we go looking. 

I think these guys are done racing. 

Heading back to Arco. Took the short cut to the main highway. 

Back in Arco this is self explanatory.

Small mural. The advertiser 

One of the older buildings. 

No idea, just saw him standing there. 

City park.

Flags of the world.

The highway through town. The fork at the right side - the upper road goes to Idaho Falls the lower past Atomic City on through Blackfoot and to Pocatello. 

Colorful coffee drive through. There is a Big Lost River and a Little Lost River - real rivers. 

Since 1920 the graduating classes have climbed the hill and put the last two numbers of the year they graduated on this hill. 2000 is a complete number. 

This is the actual sail - conning tower- of the USS Hawksbill. 666 was its hull number. Jokingly it is called the "Devil Submarine" or the "Submarine of the desert." Arco, with a population of 1,023, was the site where nuclear propulsion for submarines began. During the Cold War, all of southeast Idaho was a hotbed of nuclear testing and advancements - but because their studies were classified, no one knew about it. For a really interesting story about the submarine, the area and why the sail is here Click Here. Not kidding very interesting. 

A couple of tee pees in the KOA. 

We were in for quite the storm. Lots of wind, thunder, lightening and rain so hard I though it was hail. Lots of rock and rolling. Took about a half hour to pass. 

Left here Friday morning and ended up at a campground near Wilson, WY. 
P.S. I hope you take the time to read the linked articles. We are learning so much history about these little towns we are going through. 
Yesterday we were in a campground that had NO Internet, cell service and couldn't get satellite TV because of all the very tall trees. Didn't realize how tied into that stuff I am. Missed checking things on Internet and missed a good race on TV
We are now in Gardiner, MT - good internet and TV and cell so will try to catch up.