New neon in Kingman AZ

Traveling throughout the rich history of Route 66, also known as “America’s Highway,” many towns along the way feature a cornucopia of neon signs, historic buildings, and other points of interest. Have you ever wondered where they came from? How are those signs and buildings looking so good after so many years? Who is behind keeping these places in shape and continually restoring historical things for the folks who come from around the world to see them?

The Dunton family of Kingman, Arizona has been behind many of these gems that we see along Route 66 the downtown Kingman area.

In a recent story on Jim Hinckley's America Jim talked about the Route 66 Association of Kingman and Scott Dunton:

“In western Arizona the Dunton family has played a big part in the Route 66 story since that road was the National Old Trails Road. And for more than thirty years that family has been an integral part of my work to promote Route 66, and to assist ongoing efforts to revitalize the historic heart of Kingman…In 1994, Scott and I launched the Route 66 Association of Kingman Arizona. Fueled with a passion for the endeavor we hit the ground running.

But as so often happens, life got in the way and the association went into a holding pattern for a few years…The associations monthly meet and greet held at different businesses became a venue for networking, for building a sense of community, for developing a diverse array of cooperative partnerships, and for creating an awareness about Route 66 and how the interest in that road could be a transformative force in Kingman. Working with local clubs and the organizers of Chillin’ On Beale, the meet and greet was often transformed into a reception for visiting groups such as Route 66 Germany."

"Neon sign acquisition and restoration, graffiti clean up, public arts projects such as the murals on the water tanks along Route 66 and the Running Hare sculpture created by Don Gianella are all manifestations of Scott’s commitment to the city of Kingman. Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner, Dunton Motors Dream Machines, and the Route 66 Association of Kingman Arizona are also manifestations of his passion for Route 66, and his desire to ensure travelers had memorable stops in Kingman. Scott’s passing is truly the end of an era.”

Scott Dunton passed away suddenly in March of 2023. Before his death, Mr. Dunton was working on acquisition of another beautiful neon sign to light up historic Route 66 in downtown Kingman. Mr. Dunton purchased this sign with his own money from a wedding chapel that was being demolished on the Las Vegas Strip. It was restored by Legacy Signs and Iron in Kingman.

The Kingman Heart of Historic Route 66 sign was dedicated and lit up on February 9th 2024 on Route 66 in downtown Kingman across from Dunton Motors Dream Machines.

This ceremony was also dubbed “Get Hitched on Route 66” and 3 couples tied the knot under the neon on the historic highway. The festivities were set up by the Kingman Visitors Center. Victoria’s Sugar Shack provided some goodies and the cakes were made by Carnival Cravings and Bakery. Photography for the couples was provided by Imagine Photography.

Also supporting the event, the Pharoahs Car Club of Arizona, State 48 Camaros and others came out with some of their beautiful cars to mark the occasion.