Anasazi Inn / Painted Desert Project
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Abandoned
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The abandoned Anasazi Inn at Gray Mountain, south of Cameron, Arizona, has been transformed by the Painted Desert Project. Once a busy roadside motel along Highway 89, its walls now feature large-scale murals created by artists from around the world, blending Navajo culture, history, and modern design into an outdoor gallery in the desert.
Campground
Lodging
Dispersed Camping
Camping: None
Obey no trespassing signage
Notes
Abandoned
Exploring
Have you been here?
Located along Highway 89 near Cameron, Arizona, the Anasazi Inn at Gray Mountain was once a thriving roadside motel and rest stop for travelers between Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation. Built during the mid-20th century, the inn served motorists for decades before closing in the early 2000s. Since then, it has stood abandoned, its empty rooms and weathered walls slowly succumbing to the desert.
In 2009, artist and physician Chip Thomas (Jetsonorama) began using the property as part of the Painted Desert Project, a community art initiative bringing artists from around the world to collaborate with Navajo residents. The project turned the inn’s walls, water tanks, and outbuildings into massive canvases. Many murals reflect Navajo identity, resilience, and history, while others add fresh international perspectives.
Today, the Anasazi Inn is both a relic of a bygone travel era and a vibrant, evolving art site. Visitors can walk among the ruins, photograph the murals, and reflect on how art can transform forgotten places into something unforgettable.
Anasazi Inn / Painted Desert Project
Arizona
Coconino County
Gray Mountain, AZ 86020, USA
Elevation: 5,029 ft
Located directly off U.S. Highway 89 at Gray Mountain, about 27 miles north of Flagstaff and 25 miles south of Cameron. Visible roadside stop.
Anasazi Inn / Painted Desert Project