Two Guns Arizona Part Two of Three

"When my time comes, just skin me and put me up there on Trigger, just as though nothing had ever changed." - Roy Rogers 

Henry "Two Gun" Miller, who claimed to be full-blooded Apache, became interested in the possibility of establishing a business in the area and leased some land from the Cundiff's. A reported eccentric hermit who lived in the area, he was said to be wild and violent, and hostile to visitors. He advertised himself as “Chief Crazy Thunder,” and wore his long hair braided. He and his wife, with the help of area Hopi Indians, began to build pens for a zoo to house mountain lions and other desert animals. They also built a long stone structure that served as an entrance into the zoo, which also contained a small store and living quarters. Miller sold the skeletal remains of the Apache who had been killed years earlier to tourists.

The National Old Trails Road became part of U.S. Route 66 in 1926 and the flourishing town was officially renamed "Two Guns".

On March 3, 1926, Miller got into a dispute with Earle Cundiff over his lease and then shot and killed Cundiff. Miller did not go to prison because he was acquitted of murder during his trial. When Miller returned to Two Guns he was mauled by two mountain lions and was bitten by a poisonous gila dragon and became ill. He left Two Guns with a considerable amount of silver, turquoise jewelry, and merchandise and never returned.

Louise Cundiff and together with her new husband, Phillip Hersch, had to rebuild Two Guns because Route 66 was rerouted. After I-40 bypassed Two Guns, the town's fate, like many other popular Route 66 stops, was that of abandonment by traveling motorists. In 1938, the Canyon Diablo Bridge was closed and replaced by the Interstate 40 bridge.

In the 1950s, many attempts were made to bring the town back to life, but they all failed. A last attempt to revitalize the town was made in 1960. A restaurant, gift shop, gas station, motel and shower/restroom house were built. The final attempt failed and the town was abandoned for good in 1971.