Kingman Activity: Side by Side

A fun activity we became involved with in Kingman was a 4x4 side-by-side.  We bought a Honda Pioneer.   We lived in east Kingman and were surrounded by dirt roads.  We lived in Kingman from 2021 until 2025.  We found many fun roads, including an old gravel pit for up and down driving.  We crossed under the freeway for driving on the other side.  We had many fun times.  We also made sure the grandkids had turns when they came to visit.  Elliott even drove.  It was on the side-by-side that Sheri saw a Mohave green rattle snake.  We even took Grandpa Scoresby for a ride to see the airport and the stored planes.  However over time we found that it was too dusty to ride for much.  We always wore helmets to be safe.  However when we decided to move the need for the side-by-side went away; so we sold it.  On the 4 by 4 we saw animals and animals.  

We once drove to west Kingman for a picnic at Beale Springs with the side by side and traveling there.  

 We live in the eastern most part of Kingman on the north side of I-40, at the end of the paved portion of Airway.  Beyond our house is a network of dirt roads.  We didn't want to take our vehicles on them, so have purchased a side by side.  We call it the sand buggy.  We have found bouncy roads, hilly roads.  Most are pretty dusty.  We have found what seems to be an old abandoned house.  I also go looking for pretty rocks and stop from time to time to pick one up and bring it home.  

Baby is in buggy while we are parked

east of Kingman

 Taking the side-by-side from our house, going east on East Diamond Joe Road, you encounter a couple old homesteads that are nothing but ruins now.  These are north of the I-40.  The first is not very far out.  It is between Diamond Joe and Airway.  Mostly all that remains is the rock work.

The other ruin I have been past is farther out on Diamond Joe.  Again only the rock work remains.  The people who lived here must have been pretty hardy as they were living isolated on the desert.  However in the end, the desert must have driven them away.  It would be fun to know more of their stories.

She was on the side by side buggy east of Kingman and south of the freeway by Rattle Snake Wash when she cam upon a rattler.  Looks to me like a mohave green.  Needless to say no one got out of the buggy.  Sheri says it was at least three feet long.

For my part I saw a couple road runners this morning.  I also saw a couple quail.  The road runners are much bigger. By the time I got my phone out for a picture they had scurried away.  They were under a cholla cactus close to our house.  

There is a cholla  cactus bush on the corner by our house which often shelters different animals.  Most commonly is quail, but one time I saw a couple roadrunners there, and also a little mammal--squirrel or mouse.  

Behind this bush there are prickly pears, which are currently blooming.  I worry about this area as I know development is slowly encroaching and this will all be scraped away for houses or businesses.  This is the area behind KRMC Santa Rosa and they have already cleared away the other side for houses.  

I was very wary for rattlesnakes as I took these pictures.  I never did see any however.  Sheri saw one a couple weeks ago and that has me skittish.  

We also saw lots of prickly pear which I have always thought are beautiful.

skull of some animal about two inches in length.