Once a roadside motel along Highway 89 between Flagstaff and Cameron, the Anasazi Inn at Gray Mountain now stands silent and weathered — but its walls have been transformed into something unexpected. What was once just another forgotten relic of mid-century road travel has become one of the most unusual open-air galleries in the American Southwest.

The motel was built during the golden age of American road travel, when this stretch of US-89 buzzed with tourists heading to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. An attached café and gas pumps served the steady flow of drivers. Travelers from the surrounding Navajo Nation communities stopped here too. But traffic patterns shifted, newer routes pulled visitors elsewhere, and the Anasazi Inn gradually emptied out. By the early 2010s it was closed for good.

The Painted Desert Project

What happened next is the real story. The Painted Desert Project, created by physician and photographer Chip Thomas — known as Jetsonorama — is a privately funded public art initiative that connects artists with communities across the Navajo Nation. International street artists and local collaborators use the decaying walls of motels, trading posts, and water tanks as canvases, turning forgotten places into powerful storytelling spaces.

At the Anasazi Inn, bold portraits, striking designs, and weather-worn textures create an ever-changing landscape of art and memory. The project is both ephemeral and evolving — murals fade under the desert sun, while new works bring fresh life to the site. The large painted water tanks adjacent to the motel are equally striking and visible from the highway.

The project aims to boost tourism on the reservation, supplement the incomes of families with roadside stands, and nurture the creative talent of local youth. It is community-driven, not commercial.

Whether you're an art lover, road-tripper, or explorer of forgotten places, this stop along Highway 89 is a reminder that even in overlooked corners, beauty and meaning can thrive. Plan to slow down, look closely, and take your time — the details reward it.

Learn more about the Painted Desert Project: jetsonorama.net

More Information

• Visible from Highway 89 — pull off and view from the road and parking area

• This is Navajo Nation land — be respectful; do not trespass into the building interior

• Murals change over time — what you see may differ from photos

• The painted water tanks adjacent to the motel are part of the same project

• Combine with a Highway 89 road trip — Cameron Trading Post is nearby to the north, Flagstaff to the south

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