Two Guns Arizona Part One of Three

"I'm not afraid to die like a man fighting, but I would not like to be killed like a dog unarmed." - Billy the Kid

According to Gladwell Richardson, the author of the book "Story of Two Guns and Canyon Diablo, Arizona", during the winter of 1879-80, Billy the Kid and his outlaw gang hid in the ruins of a stone house and corral on the west rim of Canyon Diablo, across from Two Guns.

Various homesteaders and pioneers staked claims to the area. In 1912, the National Old Trails Road, also known as the "Ocean-to-Ocean Highway", was established. It became part of the National Auto Trail system in the United States and stretched from Baltimore, Maryland to California. The road ran through Canyon Lodge (Two Guns).

In 1914, Arizona State engineer Lamar Cobb selected and surveyed the Two Guns location for the construction of a bridge across Canyon Diablo. Thomas Haddock of Williams, Arizona was granted the contract to build the bridge. He used concrete and reinforcing steel supplied by the state to erect the bridge. On March 17, 1915, Canyon Diablo Bridge opened to traffic. The bridge was part of the National Old Trails Road.

In 1914, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Oldfield, settled by the side of the new road and built a square stone house that they operated as a trading post for travelers, prospectors, cowboys, sheepherders, and Indians. This site later grew into a gas station and eatery, which became known as the Canyon Lodge.

In the 1920s, Earle and Louise Cundiff purchased at least up to 320 acres of the land. The Cundiff's established a gas station and eatery at Canyon Lodge which became a busy stop for those who traveled to the west coast.