KINGMAN – The City of Kingman proudly celebrated a major milestone yesterday as the Kingman Visitor Center welcomed its 3 millionth visitor since opening its doors in October 1997. Steve and Diane Jarvis, frequent visitors from Bullhead City, were honored as the 3 millionth guests during a surprise celebration. The Jarvis family frequently visits Kingman to spend time with their children and grandchildren and have expressed their appreciation for the Visitor Center’s offerings over the years. To commemorate the occasion, Kingman Mayor Ken Watkins, Vice Mayor Cherish Sammeli, and Council Member Smiley Ward joined in the festivities. The celebration highlighted the importance of the Visitor Center in welcoming travelers and connecting the community.
The Kingman Visitor Center staff have diligently tracked visitor numbers over the years to measure daily, monthly and annual visitor volumes. The 2 millionth visitor was honored in March 2018, followed by the 2.5 millionth in December 2022. The celebration marked another exciting chapter, with the 3 millionth visitor arriving around 10:45 a.m. “It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the Center’s success and the incredible people who visit us,” Josh Noble, Kingman’s Tourism Services Manager, stated.
Named the Coolest Visitor Center in the Arizona by Only In Your State in 2023, the Kingman Visitor Center has a gift shop with mostly American-made products, carries brochures on attractions all over Arizona, and provides free state highway maps for all surrounding states.
The visitor center is located in Kingman’s historic Powerhouse, which also houses the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona Gift Shop, the Arizona Route 66 & Electric Vehicle Museums, the Guardian Angel of Route 66 StoryFile Experience, and 16 Tesla Superchargers.
