Ozark Trails

The Ozark Trails, New Mexico

The Ozark Trails, the stated “father” of the Mother Road, played an early role promoting east-west highways and future U.S. 66 in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.

Today evidence of the Ozark Trails network is rare, and limited to a handful of pre-Route 66 road segments and seven concrete pyramids. Learn more about its history and routing in New Mexico.

• Spread of the Ozarks
• William Hope Harvey
• Pyramids on the Trail
• Pecos Valley Route
• Railroad Mountain Road
• Alien Roswell
• OT Marker Gallery

OT Marker courtesy Clovis Public Library

click here for a bigger version of the above map

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Built in 1921, the former Ozark Trails marker is situated in the center of Main and Broadway streets, Lake Arthur (population 432), Chaves County, New Mexico. Conforming to the Ozark Trails Association’s standards for marker construction, the monument is approximately twenty-one feet tall and constructed of reinforced concrete. The four-sided shaft tapers to approximately two-square feet at its top. Surrounding the base is course gravel encircled by concrete mountable curb. The curbing and gravel were added recently to protect the marker from errant vehicles. Each side of the base has the words “Lake Arthur” painted in green. Above the base the name “Ozark Trails” is painted across the west and east sides of the shaft. The community recently repainted the marker to bring attention to its history. Prior to this, the maker had been painted each year by the graduating class of the local high school.

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