Visiting the Bypassed Town of Salome, Arizona

The history of Arizona is filled with colorful characters, and on Highway 60, about 100 miles west of Phoenix, is the town of Salome (or Salome Where She Danced), which was founded by one of those colorful characters. Dick Wick Hall founded Salome in 1904, naming it after the wife of a business partner, who reportedly danced in the hot sand to avoid burning her feet. Through Hall’s writing, Salome would receive national attention, with millions of people across the country reading tall tales about the town, such as the seven year old frog that couldn’t swim. After Hall passed away, the town would get a second life, as the main road through town would become U.S. Route 60/70, and thousands of motorists traveling between Los Angeles and Phoenix would pass through every day. With California requiring a waiting period to get married, Salome would become a popular wedding destination for Californians (also thanks in part to its illegal gambling). But in 1972, Interstate 10 bypassed the area, and the traffic disappeared almost over night. Now the town that in the 1920s was the most famous small town in the United States, is all but forgotten, seeing very few people stop by. But for those who do stop, there is quite a bit of history to explore. ○ Gear we use: ►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: ►Join us on Patreon: ►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: ►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a free trial: