Campground Spotlight
Meteor Crater RV Park
Winslow, Arizona
Daniel Moreau Barringer was born in North Carolina in 1860 and was a well-educated man. Geology especially intrigued him. He deduced that a huge deposit of iron had to be lurking beneath the ground of Meteor Crater in Arizona. Iron had been found in meteorite fragments lying around the site. He figured the object that caused that huge dent likely was buried below the desert soil.
Meteor Crater, near Winslow, Arizona, was formed thousands of years ago. RV travelers can see it while staying at nearby Meteor Crater RV Park.
So, Barringer filed mining claims, formed Standard Iron Company, and headed west. Years and dollars spent digging produced only fragments. Alas, the meteorite that caused the huge hole had vaporized and broken up upon impact. The largest fragment, although not quite 3 feet across, weighs 1,406 pounds and is on display at the Visitor Center at Meteor Crater.
Today, Barringer’s descendants own the crater site and lease the land to Meteor Crater Enterprises Inc., which owns and operates the Visitor Center at Meteor Crater and Meteor Crater RV Park.
The RV park is right off Interstate 40, 18 miles west of Winslow and 35 miles east of Flagstaff. It’s a big hit with visitors and gets consistently high ratings. They mention its traveler-friendly bathrooms, each of which has a shower stall, sink, and lavatory. They revel in the dark, star-filled night sky, and note the overall friendliness of staff and cleanliness of the grounds. They also enjoy the fact that the famous Meteor Crater and a town called Winslow, Arizona (where you can be standing on a corner), are both only minutes away.
The campground has 71 pull-through sites. Amenities include full and partial hookups, a laundry, a dog park, a store, fuel, a dump station, and a recreation room. The RV park gives discounts to active military.
All campers receive a discounted admission to the Visitor Center at Meteor Crater, which has a Discovery Center, guided rim trail access (weather pending), a widescreen theater, a new 4D film experience, a gift and mineral store, and a restaurant called The Blasted Bistro.
Details
Meteor Crater RV Park, C7360
Interstate 40, Exit 233
Winslow, AZ 86047
(800) 478-4002
(928) 289-4002
www.meteorcrater.com
App File
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