In the late 1960s, a new trading post was built in Houck, Arizona, this time not as a humble supply stop, but as a full-blown roadside attraction: Fort Courage. Its design was inspired by the fort from the campy 1960s TV sitcom F Troop. Fort Courage was kitschy and fun. It offered travelers a slice of “Wild West” fantasy: gift shops and curio stalls full of Native-style jewelry, Navajo rugs, and souvenirs; a grocery/gas station; a restaurant and coffee shop; motel units; a campground and trailer-park area. It was a one-stop classic Route 66 tourist attraction — the kind where souvenirs, pancakes, and nostalgia reigned.
Today Fort Courage sits in disrepair, with Mother Nature taking its toll on the remaining structures. It was a fun stop to explore, and it was fun climbing up the old fort’s tower.
Thanks for stopping
