Nothing says 66 like trading posts and over-sized animal statues. Head down the Mother Road to Joseph City, Arizona, where you’ll find the iconic Jack Rabbit Trading Post.
This destination includes everything people love about the Dust Bowl Highway: quirky charm, a rich past, and iconic memorabilia … Americana at its finest.
Established in 1949 by Jim Taylor, the post began by selling groceries and Native American trinkets to locals and passers-by. Its iconic name and mascot come from a giant blackjack rabbit statue that was traveling with Taylor in the back of his car.
He set it up outside his new location and it instantly became a destination for photo opportunities, as well as an identifier for the trading post.
Location, location, location: 66 being the thoroughfare that it was, ensured that the business always had a steady stream of customers. However it was more than its strategic positioning that kept the trading post thriving.
The Taylors thought up a brilliant marketing campaign when Marian, Jim Taylor’s wife, began painting mile signs leading up to the store. The signs lead to a final roadside billboard that -now famously- read “HERE IT IS” with an image of the silhouetted jackrabbit. A true embrace of the journey, and finally … the destination.
From the beginning, the Taylors leased the building and the trading post changed hands over time. Today, Tony and Cindy Jaquez run the store, preserving its history and encouraging travelers along route 66 to stop in. You can still find antique signs, souvenirs, and handmade Native American crafts. It’s an eclectic treasure chest of all things past and present relating to 66 – a real gem for collectors and visitors.
Head to the Jack Rabbit Trading Post today. Climb the oversized fiberglass jackrabbit for your next Insta post, and feel what Route 66 is all about. Discover the nostalgia and freedom that embodies the Mother Road in this thriving small business.
