Standing on the Corner in Winslow Arizona Review

Have you ever found yourself with a compelling desire to stand on a corner? Probably not, right? But you might be familiar with a classic rock song made famous by The Eagles — “Take It Easy.” In this song, the group references the town of Winslow, Arizona. And that’s where this tiny park comes into play.

Standing on the Corner in Winslow, Arizona is a charming little park devoted to the famous 1972 Eagles song “Take It Easy.” Even though the Standing on the Corner park is fairly small, over the years it’s become a legendary roadside attraction that’s a full-blown pilgrimage for music lovers and Route 66 road trippers.

But this park is more than a cheesy photo op. It’s a testament to the town’s resilience. When Winslow fell on hard times after Route 66 was bypassed by I-40, the community leaned into its pop-culture fame, turning this corner into a symbol of local pride and a draw for tourists chasing Americana vibes.

HOWEVER, let’s just be honest; outside of this small area where the Standing on the Corner Park is, Winslow, in general, still looks like a bomb went off in it. It’s just a sad reality of what many of these old Route 66 towns are these days.

Where is Standing on the Corner Park?

It’s in Winslow, Arizona, duh! But for real – Standin’ on the Corner Park is located in Winslow, Arizona and isn’t far off I-40, so it’s a quick stop when if you’re passing through the area. It’s located on the old Route 66 route going right through the town of Winslow.

Admission and Parking

Admission and parking are free. We found a parking spot near Standin’ on the Corner Park right away. There were lots of people hanging around this corner for pics, so you won’t have a problem finding someone to take your pic, should you not be prepared with a selfie stick or a tripod.

general Information – Standing on the Corner in Winslow Arizona Park

This park was completed in 1999 and is now considered by many to be a must-stop on any Route 66 journey (and I concur!). On the corner, you’ll find everything you could ask for in an Eagles shrine – an actual flatbed Ford, a large mural painted on a building facade (part of which is meant to look like a reflection, which is really cool), and so-called “life size” statues of Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne. (But man, if these are life size statues, these men were really tiny!)

To add to the ambiance, the nearby gift shops blast “Standing on the Corner” and a few other Eagles songs over their speakers on repeat, so you’ll get the full effect when you stand here. I asked the cashier if it gets old and she just sighed and says she tunes it out. All in all, it’s definitely worth a quick stop – this small area of Winslow is pretty neat but the rest of the town is clearly going through some hard economic times, as it looks like an apocalypse hit it.

Where to stay near Winslow, Arizona? While Winslow has a few motels, we stayed in Holbrook at the Wigwam Motel. Check out my review here!

My Experience at the Standing on the Corner in Winslow Arizona

“What are we going to Winslow, Arizona for?” My sister asked as we were driving down I-40 in Northern Arizona.

“We’re going to stand on the corner. Duh.”

She shook her head, hunched down in her seat, as I hit replay on “Take it Easy” by the Eagles yet again. Prior to our visit here, I added this song to my iPhone playlist for the vacation to set the mood and now that we were nearing the famous Standin’ on the Corner park, it was time to go all in on this and keep this sucker on repeat until we arrived. I was bound and determined to get us schooled on The Eagles before we got there!

Now, neither of us are huge fans of the Eagles (and I fully admit, I was more familiar with the Travis Tritt cover of “Take it Easy” than I was of the Eagles’). It’s not that we don’t like them, it’s just that they’re before our time and we only know a handful of their songs — well, two: Take It Easy and Hotel California. Yet, we still felt compelled to go here and stand on the corner – and we had a great time.

I fully admit that I prefer the Travis Tritt cover of Take It Easy to the Eagles’ version. Don’t come at me!

I’ve been here twice now – once with my sister and once by myself on a winter road trip through Arizona. It’s never crowded, but there are always Route 66’ers around, taking photos and enjoying the surroundings.

Speaking of surroundings…

The Town of Winslow Arizona

I mentioned before that Winslow is a hole. And while they keep the area near Standing on the Corner Park very nice, go a block or two in any direction and you’ll see the REAL Winslow.

A bit of history — Winslow was founded in 1880 as a railroad town and continued its progress through the early 20th century when Route 66 was built through town. The “mother road” threw this town into its heydey, bringing travelers, commerce, and, well, life to Winslow’s dusty high desert. But then came the interstate system! I-40 was built in the ’70s and bypassed Winslow, leaving the town stranded on the side of progress, just like so many of the other abandoned towns along Rte 66.

Drive around town and you’ll see abandoned buildings everywhere. I even noticed a difference between my 2019 visit vs. my 2024 visit — more and more abandoned buildings.

Most of this decline is from the placement of I-40 in the 1970s, but it also has to do with declining railroad traffic, as Winslow was once a large rail depot, isolation from major cities, and poor climate (hot summers, cold & windy winters, plus barren land).

Winslow is no Sedona or Flagstaff; it’s not somewhere you’d want to park your ass for a few days as a tourist. They’re trying here, but the scars of the town’s decline are hard to miss. If nothing else, Winslow is proof that even the most forgotten places can carve out a little piece of kitsch!

Standin’ on the Corner in Winslow Arizona Park Final Thoughts

Pros:
It’s a well-done ‘park.’
Very fun photo op
Eagles music on repeat gets you in the mood!

Cons:
Might have to wait in a line to get your photos.
Winslow, Arizona is a hole. It could be such a cute town – they went all in on the Eagles on this small corner, but really should continue to embrace this throughout the rest of the time. Because, but outside of this very small area, it looks like bomb went off.
You will never get the song “Take it Easy” out of your head. Ever.

Whether you’re a die-hard Eagles fan, a Route 66 fan, or just someone (like me!) who loves a good roadside attraction, Standin’ on the Corner Park is the kind of place that makes you grin, snap a picture, and maybe belt out a verse!