Steam Power on the Grand Canyon Railway - Ken Hulsey Photographer - Circa 1994

I have thoroughly enjoyed reminiscing about my days in the Southwest over the past couple of months. In my previous posts, I've focused a lot on my experiences in California, New Mexico, and, to some extent, Texas. However, I feel bad for neglecting the great state of Arizona. I often referred to it as "the great land in between" the states I once called home. Although I never lived there, I spent a significant amount of time traveling down the famous Route 66 and later Interstate 40 through Arizona. I have wonderful memories of looking out the window, eating at roadside diners, and stopping at countless tourist traps during family summer vacations.

Today, I want to talk about one of those many tourist traps: the Fort Courage Trading Post in Houck, Arizona. If you're old enough, you may remember the 1960s western comedy sitcom "F Troop," which aired on ABC from 1965 to 1966 and starred Larry Storch, Ken Berry, and Forrest Tucker. The setting of that sitcom was the fictional western military installation known as Fort Courage. As you can imagine, the Fort Courage Trading Post was established in the early 1970s to capitalize on the show's popularity, attracting families eager to see how wild the West really was.

During the 1970s, Fort Courage thrived as families traveled to California from the East. This replica of an 1860s army fort featured a gas station, an Ortega's Tacos restaurant, a Pancake House, and several gift shops selling cowboy and Native American souvenirs. The fort itself acted as a pseudo-museum, showcasing what life may have been like in a pop culture version of the Wild West.

 

However, a tourist destination based solely on a 1960s sitcom was destined for decline, and Fort Courage eventually met that fate. Over time, "F Troop" transitioned from prime time to syndication and ultimately faded into obscurity. By the 1980s and 1990s, this once-popular tourist spot had shifted from a must-see attraction to somewhere families drove past without a second thought.

 

Motorists traveling down Interstate 40 in the 1990s likely found themselves wondering, "What on earth is 'F Troop'?" as they sped along the highway.

 

Today, the location is abandoned. A recent attempt to sell it was unsuccessful, and a fire has since destroyed many of its buildings. Sadly, Fort Courage is now on the brink of becoming just a memory, wasting away under the Arizona sun.

- Written By Ken Hulsey

(All photos are stock images from various sources)

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Route 66: The First 100 Years Hardcover – by Jim Ross

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