Discover Rhyolite Ghost Town and Goldwell Open Air Museum near Beatty

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

Nevada is known for many things, the most popular among them being ghost towns. With its rich history in mining, there are dozens of examples of these once booming mining towns spread throughout the state, many with structural remains.

One such example is Rhyolite, located just off Highway 95, just a few miles outside the Death Valley gateway town of Beatty. If you’re traveling along the highway, Rhyolite is easy to get to as all you’ll need to do is make a couple of turns to reach it.

There are many remains of the former structures to explore, but the ghost town isn’t the only attraction here. There is also the Tom Kelly Bottle House and the Instagram infamous Goldwell Open Air Museum, featuring several sculptures.

In this post, I’ll discuss several aspects of a visit here, including what to expect, the parking situation, how much it costs to visit and I’ll even throw in a bit of history. Let’s get into it.

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Quick Stats

• Location: Near the town of Beatty, NV

• Fee: None

• Open: All year, sunrise to sunset

• For: Everyone

• Cell Service: Spotty, at best

• Restroom: At the end of the road near the train depot

• Parking: Dirt lots at the museum and bottle house, “park where you can” in Rhyolite

• EV Stations: None

• Popularity: Medium to high

• Time: One to two hours

• Features: Desert art sculptures, a glass bottle house and historic building remains

• Pets: Allowed

• Drones: Allowed

• My Visit(s): August 2023

Directions to Rhyolite,Parking & Fees

As mentioned above, despite its remote location, Rhyolite is easy to get to as there are very few turns to make to reach it. It’s a mostly straight shot.

Coming from either Northern or Southern Nevada, you’ll find your way onto Highway 95 and continue until you reach the town of Beatty. If you’re traveling north, take a left onto Highway 374 for about four miles, then take a right on Rhyolite road.

If you’re traveling south, continue straight when you come to the stop sign in Beatty for about four miles and then turn right on Rhyolite road. From the Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley, follow CA-190 west for about 48 miles, crossing the Nevada border in the process, before turning left onto Rhyolite road.

Once on Rhyolite road, it’s a short drive to the attractions. The first of which you’ll drive up on will be the Goldwell Open Air Museum, followed by the bottle house and finally, Rhyolite Ghost Town.

Both Goldwell and the bottle house have designated parking lots, though they’re of the gravel variety and aren’t maintained well. The road leading up to Goldwell is paved, then turns to gravel around the bottle house. Past there, the road returns to asphalt before going through Rhyolite.

My Chevrolet Cruz managed the road and parking lots just fine, as did several other small vehicles that were there at the time, so no need to worry.

Goldwell Open Air Museum

The Goldwell Open Air Museum will be the first attraction you’ll come across during your visit to Rhyolite. You’ll find the parking lot on your left, with the visitor center and sculptures just feet away from the parking lot.

It is 100% free to park and explore the museum, but they do accept donations in the visitor center and online if you feel so inclined. The sculptures are in fairly close proximity to one another, so there isn’t a lot of walking involved here.

The sculptures were made by a group of artists led by Albert Szukalski, a Belgian-born artist who’s behind the museum’s most recognizable sculpture, The Last Supper (pictured below). The colorful designs make a beautiful contrast against the vast landscape of the Mojave desert.

The First sculpture, The Last Supper, was installed in 1984, followed up by Ghost Rider, which is located just steps from the parking lot.

As time went on, additional sculptures were added, leading to the creation of the open air museum. Sculptures continue to be added to this day. A few more examples include:

• Ghost Rider (1984)

• Lady Desert: The Venus of Nevada (1992)

• Icara (1992)

• Sit Here! 2000 (2023)

• Tribute to Shorty Harris (1994)

You can spend as much time as you want at the museum. While it is a popular place, it doesn’t seem to get too crowded, as I was here in August and there was only two other people here at the same time as me.

When you’re finished exploring the sculptures, take a left out of the parking lot and continue up the road for a few hundred feet before arriving at the Tom Kelly Bottle House parking lot.

Tom Kelly’s Bottle House

Just a bit further up the road on the right is the Tom Kelly Bottle House. It was built in 1906 by Australian-born Tom Kelly, who was a stonemason turned gold miner.

He built the house using over 50,000 beer, whiskey and medicine glass bottles, in which he obtained by paying local children ten cents per wheelbarrow full. In total, Kelly paid $2500 to construct the house.

While this one is the oldest and largest known glass bottle house in the United States, it isn’t the only one. Many don’t know that glass bottles were often used for home construction in the American West due to them often being cheaper than other material, such as stone or wood.

Another infamous example of glass bottles being used as construction material is Thunder Mountain Monument in Northern Nevada near Lovelock, though not nearly used as extensively as Tom Kelly’s.

Price wasn’t the only driver for using glass bottles. They do a great job at staying cool in the summer and retaining heat in the winter, a perfect recipe for Nevada desert living.

During filming for the 1926 film The Air Mail, Tom Kelly’s Bottle House, along with the rest of the structures in Rhyolite, were partially restored and featured in the film.

Unfortunately, due to past vandalism and theft, the bottle house has a locked fence surrounding the entire perimeter, making access to the house off-limits to the public.

You’re free to walk the perimeter, as there are numerous informational signs scattered about. At the rear of the home is where you’ll see the largest wall, almost entirely made with glass bottles and adobe mud.

As with the Goldwell Open Air Museum, there are no fees associated with Tom Kelly’s Bottle House. When you’re ready to proceed to the rest of Rhyolite, take a right out of the lot and continue forward.

Rhyolite Ghost Town Remains

The structural remains of a variety of Rhyolite businesses and public buildings can be found just up the road from the museum and bottle house. Until you reach the Train Depot at the end (which is also where a bathroom is located), there is no parking lot. Even then, parking is mostly just grabbing a spot that looks good.

The remains are dotted on both sides all along the road. If you see one you’d like to explore, just park on the side of the road and jump out. Most of the structures are fenced off for safety, though, so you can only explore so much.

Some of the historic buildings include:

• Porter Brothers General Store (pictured below)

• Caboose House

• Local School

• Cook Bank (pictured above)

• Train Depot

Rhyolite was founded in 1905 in the heart of the Bullfrog Mining District. What began as a humble two-tent operation exploded into a town of 5,000 people in just six months.

Despite being one of many mining towns in Nevada, Rhyolite stood out for its high quality ore, producing a total of one million ($27 million by today’s standards) in its first three years.

As is the case with all boom towns, it didn’t last forever. Issues such as deteriorating ore quality and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake literally derailing operations by destroying the railroad, lead the town’s decline by 1914.

The entire town would lose its electricity supply, causing the banks, newspapers, post office and train depot to shutter. By 1920, all that would remain in the town were 14 residents.

At the end of the road is where you’ll find the train depot, the most intact structure left. The windows have been boarding up, but the stone structure is nearly 100% intact.

The building is fenced off, with warnings of cameras being present, but there’s an intentional opening near the depot’s original entrance where you can enter and explore.

It appeared as if they were doing some kind of restoration project, as I’ve seen fairly recent photos of the depot without the fence. I wasn’t able to determine that one way or another, though.

I hope you get a chance to visit Rhyolite as it’s uniquely Nevada in every possible way and an important reminder of the state’s history.

Planning a trip to Southern Nevada? Be sure to read How to Spend a Few Hours at Valley of Fire in the Summer. Also read Explore the International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield.

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See The Historic Petroglyph Wall at Red Rock Canyon

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

Located within Red Rock Canyon Recreation Area, not too far from the Las Vegas strip, you can find an amazing example of Native America history - the Petroglyph Wall.

It’s easy to find as the road leading to it runs just off of Scenic Drive, the main road that runs through the park. Additionally, it’s easy to get to as it’s less than a quarter mile to the wall and back.

So what’s the parking situation like? How do you get to the trailhead? Are there any fees involved? I answer all of these questions, and more, in the post below. Let’s get into it.

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Trail Stats

• Location: Red Rock Canyon Recreation Site, Las Vegas, NV

• Fee: None for the trail, but Red Rock charges an entry fee

• Open: All year

• For: Everyone

• Cell Service: Spotty, at best

• Restroom: In the trailhead parking lot

• Parking: Semi-large, unpaved lot

• EV Stations: None

• Difficulty: Easy

• Accessibility: Not wheelchair or stroller friendly

• Popularity: Medium

• Mileage: Less than a quarter mile, there and back

• Time: 20-30 minutes

• Condition: Semi-maintained (follow trail markers)

• Features: Historic petroglyphs and mountain views

• Best Viewed: Any time of year

• Pets: Allowed, as long as they’re leashed

• Drones: Allowed for recreational purposes

• Hazards: None other than usual outdoor hazards

• Our Visit(s): August 2023

Petroglyph Wall Parking, Trailhead and Getting There

While there are no fees associated with Petroglyph Wall directly, there are fees you’ll need to pay to enter Red Rock Canyon and depending on the time of year you visit, reservations may be needed as well. Fees for Red Rock Canyon are as follows:

• $20 per vehicle

• $10 per motorcycle

• $8 per bicyclist

• $5 per pedestrian

• $50 for a Red Rock annual pass

• $80 for the ‘America the Beautiful’ pass

Additionally, between October 1 and May 31, advanced reservations are required to enter the park between the hours of 8am and 5pm. Reservations are available 30-days in advance and no re-entry is allowed. Scenic Drive is only one-way, so arrive early and have a plan in place.

To get to the parking lot and trailhead for Petroglyph Wall, simply drive for about eight miles from the Red Rock Canyon entrance. You’ll see the road ahead turning into a tight horseshoe. As the road begins to horseshoe, you’ll see Rocky Gap Road on your right. Turn there.

You’ll first come upon another parking lot for a different trail on your left, bypass this and continue until you reach the second parking lot, where the Willow Springs Picnic Area is. This is where you’ll park for Petroglyph Wall.

The trailhead is located at the north end of the lot, on the far left corner, across from Willow Springs. There’s a sign indicating you’re in the right spot (pictured above).

Trail to Petroglyph Wall

The trail from the parking lot to Petroglyph Wall, one-way, is just a tenth of a mile across a wash. The trail isn’t maintained all that well, but it’s still easy to follow as it’s dotted with the same trail markers you’ll find on most Red Rock Canyon trails.

After a short time, you’ll arrive to at Petroglyph Wall. The area surrounding the wall is small, with a couple trees providing a smidgen of shade. Near the wall, you’ll find informational signage detailing the facts of the petroglyphs.

The rock art on Petroglyph Wall is estimated to be at least 800 years old. Most of the art is found on one section of the wall (the dark part), but there are a few others scattered about.

This is far from the only examples of petroglyphs in Red Rock Canyon, but it is the easiest to access. While the trail isn’t stroller or wheelchair friendly, it’s accessible to children, the elderly and everyone in between.

Unless you’re a huge fan of petroglyphs, I don’t recommend visiting Red Rock purely to visit Petroglyph Wall considering the fees to enter the park. This is more of a bonus if you’re already planning to be here.

Where Do You Go From Here?

As stated above, Petroglyph Wall serves as an excellent bonus to your already planned visit to Red Rock. Considering that Scenic Drive and there is no re-entry during the reservation period, I recommend checking out the Calico Tanks hiking trail first, as it’s before Petroglyph Wall.

Beyond Petroglyph Wall, there’s another amazing hiking trail by the name of Icebox Canyon you should check out, as well as Pine Creek Canyon.

If you want further examples of petroglyphs, I recommend driving east to famed Valley of Fire State Park. There’s an equally easy example of rock art on Atlatl Rock, among other areas of the park. While you’re there, there are many other highlights in the park you can see in a relatively short amount of time.

How To See Atlatl Rock in Valley of Fire

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Valley of Fire is one of the most popular parks in the Nevada state park system, and for good reason. This beautiful park is littered with fire-red sandstone rocks that, with the help of erosion, have formed mind-boggling shapes and formations.

There are many attractions within Valley of Fire, but the one that stands out from the pack due to its historical value is Atlatl Rock. It’s one of the first things you’ll see if you’re driving in from the west entrance and is easily seen from the main road.

Aside from its unique formation, the big draw to Atlatl Rock are the petroglyphs located on the smooth rock face at the top of the stairwell and others scattered around the base of the rock. These petroglyphs are believed to over 4,000 years old!

So how do you get to Atlatl Rock? What’s the parking situation like? Are there any fees involved? I cover all of this and more below.

Trail Stats

• Location: Valley of Fire State Park in Southern Nevada

• Fee: $15 per vehicle ($10 for Nevada residents). This is to enter Valley of Fire

• Permit: None

• Open: All year

• For: Anyone

• Cell Service: Spotty

• Restroom: In the parking lot

• Parking: Medium sized paved lot

• EV Stations: None

• Difficulty: Easy

• Popularity: High

• Mileage: Walk-up

• Time: At least 30 minutes

• Condition: Well maintained and easy to follow

• Features: Petroglyphs and unique rock formations

• Best Viewed: In the morning (less crowded)

• Pets: Not allowed

• Drones: Prohibited

• Hazards: No shade on the stairwell or platform.

• Our Visit(s): August 2023

What is an Atlatl?

An atlatl, the namesake of this location, was an tool used by ancient tribes as a throwing stick or dart thrower. It allowed the user to employ more force to their spears or darts.

An atlatl was usually made of wood, about two feet long and had a handhold on one end with a hook on the other. A slot cut into the tail end of the dart was set against the nook enabling the dart to lie along the atlatl so that both could be grasped midway.

There was no signage explaining why this rock was named after this ancient tool, but one reason could be that there are multiple petroglyph illustrations of the tool on the rock.

Getting There & Parking

Getting to Atlatl Rock is easy, as it’s located just off the main road in the park. It’s closest to the west entrance of the park, but getting there from the east entrance is just as easy.

From the west entrance, drive for about 4 miles before turning left onto Campground road. You’ll keep straight for about a half mile before turning left into the parking lot. The directions are virtually the same coming from the east entrance. Though you’ll drive a few more miles.

The parking lot is decently sized, but it will fill quickly as the day progresses. Your best bet is to arrive early in the morning. I was here about an hour after sunset and there were just a few others at the rock.

There are covered picnic tables near Atlatl Rock you can use, as well as a restroom at the far end of the lot. From what I could see, there was only one spot designated for disabled parking.

Atlatl Rock Petroglyphs

To reach the main petroglyphs on the smooth rock face at the top, you’ll need to go up the stairwell. There are three sets of stairs, totaling about 100 steps or so.

The downfall to being here early in the morning is you’ll be hit by the sun full-blast as it’s rising. There’s no real cover from the sun on the stairwell or on the viewing platform up top.

The upside is as the sun hits the rock, you get the full color show those fire-red sandstone rocks put on. It’s an amazing sight to behold.

Before long, the petroglyphs come into view. From what I could see, the smooth rock face is the only location (at the top) where petroglyphs can be found.

Just above the smooth rock face on the bottom side of a rocky lip are dinosaur tracks. Unfortunately, the close up shot I got of them was lost, but you can see them in the photo below from further out.

As stated in the beginning of this post, these petroglyphs are over 4,000 years old. As such, there’s no way for us to know exactly what the ancient tribes were trying to convey, but you can see a mixture of illustrations of presumed animals, possible portraits of tribal members and other symbols.

I stood and stared at these petroglyphs for a while, trying to come up with possible meanings or subjects behind them. There was one that looked like a goat. The squiggly lines, to me, indicate flowing water and another appeared to be the sun.

There was another near the top of the rock face that looked like a tribal member, possibly a warrior, holding what looks like an atlatl or some kind of weapon above their head in celebration.

Before leaving, be sure to explore the base of the rock to see more petroglyphs. Most people just go up the stairwell, come back down and leave. Don’t be one of those.

While it’s definitely one of the touristy areas of the park, these’s so much history on display in this single location that it would be a crime to skip it. Be sure to put Atlatl Rock on your ‘things to do’ list for your visit to Valley of Fire.

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Anaconda Mine: See This Abandoned Open Pit Copper Mine In Yerington

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Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Yerington, Nevada, lies a hidden gem that takes visitors on a journey through time.

Anaconda Mine, with its rich history and captivating allure, offers an unforgettable experience for those seeking a glimpse into the region’s mining legacy.

In this post, I take you to Weed Heights, an unincorporated community adjacent to Yerington, where the miners and their families once called home.

There, you’ll find the viewing platform where you can see the near entirety of the water-filled pit and on the way, get a distant view of the former processing plant.

Let’s get into it!

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Anaconda Mine History & Stats

Anaconda Mine holds a significant place in Nevada’s mining history. Originally established in the mid 20th century, it played a pivotal role in the copper mining boom that shaped the region.

The mine was named after the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, who purchased the site in 1942. They were one of the most prominent mining companies of the time.

Anaconda’s initial 26-year run took place between 1952 and 1978, with secondary milling and processing until the year 2000. At which point, the newest owner, Arimetco, declared bankruptcy and abandoned the site.

During its run, Anaconda Mine produced:

• 1,744,237,000 pounds of copper

• 103,834,000 tons of oxide ore

• 58,589,000 tons of sulfide ore

• 189,034,000 tons of waste

The total market value from its operation is estimated to be $765,504,000, with total net profits exceeding $200-million. A staggering amount for the time.

At its peak, Anaconda employed 450 people, operated six-days per week and produced 13,000 tons of ore to the crushers daily.

Directions to Anaconda Mine

To see the water-filled open pit, you’ll need to make your way to the small Nevada town of Yerington and then up to the even smaller community of Weed Heights.

Much like other mining sites, such as Bodie, Weed Heights was built directly adjacent to the site for the purpose of housing miners and other employees.

Simply typing, “Anaconda Copper Mine”, into your GPS of choice will get you there. The main road leading to Weed Heights is just off the highway (US-95A).

After turning onto the road, continue straight. Keep in mind that during winter, this road is known to be icy at times.

About halfway up the road, prior to driving under the overpass, you’ll see the old processing plant on your right. There’s a large dirt/gravel area to pull into.

The buildings are gated off and unfortunately there are no tours or public access offered, so you’ll have to settle for admiring them from a distance.

From here, continue up the road until you reach a stop sign. Turn left and soon thereafter, you’ll see the fenced-in viewing platform with a small parking area on your left.

Anaconda Mine Viewing Area

In front of the entrance to the viewing platform are two informational boards detailing the history and production of Anaconda Mine.

To see the pit, continue past the signs along the dirt path between the fences. There’s lots of barbwire here so watch where you put your hands.

From the viewing area, you’ll be able to see the pit (or lake, as some locals refer to it as) in all its glory, including the hauling roads circulating around it.

Here are some interesting stats of the pit:

• It’s one mile long

• A half mile wide

• 810 feet deep

• Water level is approximately 450 feet deep

To some, it’s just a giant hole with water in it. For those who appreciate mining/local history, or who enjoy roadside stops like this, it’s a fascinating sight.

Unfortunately, this is all you’ll be able to legally view. There’s no public access to the haul roads or even in the perimeter of the mine for safety reasons.

All told, Anaconda Copper Mine makes for a quick but fascinating stop for those traveling through or for locals who want a glimpse into the area’s past.

Travel safe, travel responsibly,

Kevin

Check Out These Amazing Nearby Destinations!

• “Bodie State Historic Park Guide: Fees, Directions, Parking & More”

• “Fort Churchill State Park: Nevada History, Fees, Hiking & More”

• “How To Visit Walker River State Recreation Area”

• “Tour The Historic Chollar Mine In Virginia City”

• “Hiking Wilson Canyon: A Hidden Gem In The Nevada Desert”

• “How To Visit Berlin-Itchyosaur Historic State Park”

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Fort Churchill State Park: Nevada History, Fees, Parking, Hiking and More

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Nevada has no shortage of historic sites to explore. Fort Churchill State Historic Park is more than deserving of a spot on your list. Particularly if you’re into military history.

Fort Churchill sits on 3,200 acres of protected land. It features several structures, a cemetery, museum, campground, group area and Buckland Station (which is located across the highway from the park).

If you’re going to be driving through, Fort Churchill is an easy to visit as it’s just off the highway. It’s a great way to get out and stretch your legs or to let the kids burn off some energy.

In the guide, we’ll cover how to get there, the parking situation, crowd levels, fees and more. Lets get into it!

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Fort Churchill History

Construction on the post was completed in 1861 and was named after Sylvester Churchill, an Inspector General for the Army.

Its original purpose was to provide protection for this section of the Pony Express. Later, the fort was used to store supplies for the Union Army during the Civil War.

Though many Soldiers came and went, it’s believed to have housed around 200 at any give time. Despite its importance, it wasn’t active for long as it was abandoned shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War.

Since the state declined to take ownership, the fort’s structures were auctioned off for $750. For decades, the structures just sat as nothing was done with them.

It wasn’t until 1932 that the National Park Service took control of the property and began restoration efforts on the structures. Additionally, the visitor center was built at this time.

Then, in 1957, Fort Churchill became part of the Nevada State Park system. In 1966, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Getting To Fort Churchill, Parking, Fees & Museum

The park is located between the towns of Silver Springs and Yerington along the highway. From either town, get on highway 95 and keep an eye out for Fort Churchill road and turn there.

Park fees are as follows:

• $5.00 - Nevada Resident (day use)

• $10.00 - Non-Nevada Resident (day use)

• $15.00 - Per Night, Nevada Resident (camping)

• $20.00 - Per Night, Non-Nevada Resident (camping)

• $2.00 - Bike In

The park accepts cash and credit cards for fees. As you drive up to the entrance, you’ll fee the pay station on your right. There’s an area where you pull-off to do so.

Whichever payment method you use, be sure to place the receipt (face-side up) on your dashboard in case the park ranger needs to verify payment.

The parking lot and museum will be to your left after driving in. The cemetery is off to your right (above the pay station). The parking lot is small, capable of holding a dozen vehicles or so.

There are additional lots on either side of the structures further down the road if this one is full or closed off.

The entrance to the museum can be found just off of the parking lot. It’s small, but contains quite a few artifacts from both the fort and the general area.

While the park itself is open 24/7, the museum is not. It’s open daily from 8am to 4pm.

The trailhead to the structures below is located adjacent to the museum. There are two additional parking lots closer to them if you prefer to skip the trail.

Fort Churchill Historic Structures

From the trailhead near the museum and back, the trail is roughly one mile. It’s a fairly even grade and is easy to follow as it’s lined with rocks.

Most people, including children, would have no issue on this trail. Using strollers and/or wheelchairs on it, though, would be challenging.

With the exception of a couple off-shoots, the trail makes a perfect circle to each of the featured structures. There are around a dozen or so.

There are signs posted in front of most stating what the structure was, such as the Hospital. A few have bigger informative boards with broader details.

One important thing to note is to be sure to keep out of the structures and remain on the trail. The structures are old and in a state of arrested decay.

There are no doors or windows on the structures so if you’re curious as to what the inside of them look like, they're easy to see/photograph from the trail.

Something else to keep in mind is that there isn’t any shade or water fountains along this trail. So be sure to come prepared, particularly in the summer.

Fort Churchill Campground & Group Area

The campground is open throughout the year and operates on a first come, first serve basis. It’s located along the Carson River on the east side of the park.

There are 20 spots featuring a table, fire ring and plenty of shade from the dozens of cottonwood trees that dot the landscape.

Each site can accommodate RV’s or a tent. There are no hook ups, but there’s a dump station located nearby. The only real amenity are the bathrooms (no showers).

To reach the campground, drive past the main parking lot on the road and continue until you see the sign to turn right. Simply follow that road.

The group use/picnic area is a serene, often crowd less area of the park. There are many picnic tables, lots of shade, a bathroom, water bootle refill station and easy access to the Carson River.

To get to the river, walk on the paved path next to the bathroom and keep going through the grove of Cottonwood trees until you reach a gate. Go through the gate and enjoy the river.

To reach the group use area, drive past the main parking lot at the entrance and take the first left after that (the historic structures should be on your right).

Once you see the sign, turn left and follow the gravel road. At the point where it splits, turn right and continue until you reach the parking lot.

Buckland Station

Buckland Station. Fort Churchill State Park. Nevada.

Buckland Station was built in 1870 out of materials from the abandoned fort. It was first used as a boarding house and the home of the Buckland Family. Beginning in 1885, it served as a supply stop on the Pony Express.

Self guided tours are available of the interior of the recently remodeled building. The fee is $1 per person with free parking.

The fee goes towards ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the property. Bathrooms are available behind the house.

Across the street are more historic structures. These are of the farm variety. I wasn’t able to find any information on them but they’re cool to check out, nonetheless.

Additional Info, Tips & Reminders

Do not climb on or go inside the remains. The remains are fragile and entering or climbing on them could cause irreversible damage and most importantly, your safety would be at risk.

Watch out for wildlife. Rattlesnakes have been known to frequent the park so please, watch your step, stay on the trail and keep an eye on the little ones.

Buckland Station is across the highway. To visit this historic station, you’ll need to leave the park proper and drive south on highway 95. You can either drive there or you can utilize the 2 mile trail that connects Buckland to Fort Churchill.

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Thunder Mountain Monument: A Deeply Meaningful Roadside Oddity In Nevada

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Imagine you’re on a road trip through the Northern Nevada desert along Interstate 80. You go miles seeing nothing but rolling mountains, vast openness and the occasional small town.

You eventually reach one of those small towns; Imlay. A former railroad station 130-miles east of Reno with a population of 178 (as of the 2020 census).

You look around and at first, nothing sticks out. But soon after getting past the main stretch of town, something catches your eye on the side of the freeway. Something strange, but unique. That something is Thunder Mountain Monument.

We recently visited Thunder Mountain, not knowing much about it and thinking it was just another cool (and weird), roadside oddity.

As we explored the property, though, we discovered how meaningful this property was to the original owner, Frank Van Zant, and the current owner, his son, David.

In this post, we’re going to cover some quick details about the property, what you can expect and some other important information.

However, we’re going to encourage you to visit the monument’s website for a more detailed account of its history and background. We will share the link at the end of this post.

Quick Stats

• Location: Imlay, NV

• Fee/Permit: None, but a $2 donation per group is requested (cash or check)

• Open: Year round, from dusk to dawn

• For: All visitors

• Parking: Semi-large, dirt lot.

• Restroom: None

• EV Stations: None

• Drone Use: Not allowed

• Difficulty: Easy

• Popularity: Low

• Time: An hour or more

• Milage: N/A

• Elevation Gain: N/A

• Trail Condition: Somewhat maintained pathway.

• Main Feature(s): The monument and art installations

• Pets: Not allowed

• Special Notes/Hazards: Broken glass scattered throughout the property. Rattlesnakes have also been spotted here

• Our Visit(s): June 2022.

Directions, Parking, & Fees

Thunder Mountain Monument may be located in the middle of nowhere, but it’s easy to reach as it’s located directly off Interstate-80 in Imlay, NV.

There isn’t a whole lot to do, see and eat in Imlay. So if you’re making the trip here from a larger area, you may want to ensure your tank is full and bring plenty of water/food with you.

Additionally, the nearest EV charging stations to Thunder Mountain are in Lovelock (40-miles west) and Winnemucca (35-miles east).

From Reno (133-miles, one way)

• From wherever you are in Reno, make your way to I-80 eastbound and continue straight for 133-miles.

• Take exit #145 for Frontage road.

• At the stop sign, turn right and then make an (almost) immediate left on Frontage road.

• You’ll follow this road for slightly less than a mile and it’ll terminate at the monument’s parking lot.

 

From Winnemucca (36-miles, one way)

• Start by jumping on I-80 westbound and continue straight for roughly 36-miles.

• Take exit #145 for Frontage road.

• At the stop sign, turn left and go under the freeway.

• Turn left on Frontage road and continue straight until it terminates at the parking lot.

Shortly after turning onto Frontage road, it’ll turn into dirt. No need to worry if you have a compact vehicle, it’ll make it just fine. Our Chevrolet Cruze made it without issue.

The parking lot is fairly large and entirely dirt. There are no official parking spaces so just find a spot that makes sense and go with it.

There are no parking or hard entry fees. They do request a (totally reasonable) $2 donation per group. There’s nobody on site collecting these donations but they do have an iron ranger adjacent to the picnic table.

It’s cash or check only. So if you don’t have either on hand, you can send a donation to the following address when you get home:

Thunder Mountain Monument, LLC

P.O Box 162 Imlay, Nevada 89418

Any donations left at or mailed to the monument go towards to continued growth, rehabilitation and maintenance of the property.

Exploring Thunder Mountain Monument

To begin exploring the monument, simply look for the official entry to the grounds (pictured above). You can easily spot it from the parking lot.

If your only interest is the monument itself, turn left along the dirt/gravel path as you approach the picnic table. If you have the time though, we recommend heading right and exploring the rest of the grounds in a loop.

At the picnic tables, you’ll find binders containing printed information about the monument’s history and development, as well as information about its founder, Frank Van Zant.

We highly encourage you to stop here and learn about the monument. Its history is fascinating. This is also where you can drop your donation (if you’re able to).

From the picnic table, go right along the path (away from the monument) to check out a cool, but admittedly creepy, art installation on the far side of the property.

Over here, you’ll find rusted vehicles lined up like a barricade of sorts, a swing set made out of wood and mud, a model airplane also made from mud/plaster and a de facto fort in front of all that. It’s weird, but so cool at the same time.

After exploring this area, simply follow the dirt path running parallel to the freeway. After a short distance, you will arrive at the monument itself.

The monument was conceptualized and built by Frank Van Zant (with the help of hippies and passerby’s) after being inspired by a visit to a bottle house in Death Valley.

As you walk up to the monument, the first thing you’ll notice is it’s fenced off with ‘no trespassing’ signs dotted along the fence. This was done to protect the monument from vandalism.

Based on our research, once upon a time the general public was allowed to explore the interior of the monument, but weather damage to the roof has made it too dangerous.

The monument was once lived in by its founder, Frank Van Zant and his family and initially started out as a one-room travel trailer. Over time, it was rocked over and additional features like bedrooms, corridors, stairwells and levels were added.

The roof is adorned with multiple statues and arches, the tallest of which stands fifty-feet. The exterior walls are covered in bas-relief tableaux depicting many historic events, betrayals and massacres of the American Indian.

If you know your history, you’ll no doubt recognize the depictions in some of the statues. Some notable figures include Standing Bear, Quietzalcoati, and Sarah Winnemucca. There’s even one honoring Franks’s late son, Sid.

It’s important to note that the vast majority of the materials used to construct the monument was “trash” Frank found discarded in the desert. This was done to honor the Native Indian tradition of using what you have and not be wasteful.

Many of the windows are windshields from old cars, glass bottles line much of the top end of the monument and a wooden Eagle is perched at the very top.

Some other material used in the monument includes galvanized pipe, scrap iron, chicken wire and concrete. It’s truly amazing what Frank was able to accomplish with what many perceived to be trash.

When you’re done exploring the monument, simply head back up the trail towards the entrance where you came in and back to your vehicle.

There are a few other nooks and features of the property, but we want to leave those things a surprise when you visit for yourself. We highly encourage you to do so.

As promised at the beginning of the post, be sure to visit the monuments official website for more in-depth information of its history and the background of its creator, Frank Van Zant, as well as photos of the interior.

Your Thoughts

Have you visited Thunder Mountain Monument before? We’d really like to know what you thought of it. Or if you’ve never been there, have you been wanting to visit or have you even heard of it?

Either way, let us know in the comments below. We LOVE hearing from our readers!

Please support our website by sharing it with your family and friends.

Thank you for reading.

How To Visit Walker River State Recreation Area: Camping, Fishing, and More

On September 22nd, 2018, Nevada unveiled its newest State Park, Walker River State Recreation Area (mouthful, isn’t it?)

This gorgeous stretch of the East Walker River is made up of four historic ranches; Pitchfork Ranch, Flying M Ranch, Rafter 7 Ranch, and Nine Mile Ranch.

Thanks to these acquisitions, the nearly 30-miles of river and picturesque 12,856 acres of rangeland will be open for the public to enjoy for generations to come.

Of the four, Pitchfork is the only one developed and open to the public. The Elbow at Nine Mile, while publicly accessible and popular with Fishermen, isn’t developed. The others will be developed in phases.

Walker River is an outdoorsman’s paradise, offering many recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, photography, and more!

In this guide, we’ll go over topics such as where you can camp, park fees, nearby attractions and restaurants, and how to get there.

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Jump To Section…

Park Information

• Directions

• Road To Walker River Park

Pitchfork Ranch

• Parking & Fees

• Visitor Center

• Camping

• Squeeze Chute River Access

Things To Do

• Fishing

• River Access

• Photography

Nearby Attractions & Restaurants

• Attractions

• Restaurants

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Park Information

Directions

Getting to Walker River State Park is relatively simple. The turn-off is right off Highway 208 just 10-miles or so from the town of Yerington.

From Downtown Yerington, head west on highway 208 for 10-miles and turn left onto E. Walker road for 4-miles until you reach the park entrance.

Road To Walker River State Park

E. Walker road is a 4-mile, well maintained dirt road. It’s the road you’ll be on after turning off the highway and will take you to the park.

Our Chevrolet Cruz made it just fine, so a truck or some other high clearance vehicle isn’t required. RV’s can also navigate it easily.

While it is maintained, if wet weather recently happened, you may experience some difficulty. It would be best to call the park ahead of time to check road conditions.

Pitchfork Ranch

Pitchfork is the main section of the park and is an outdoorsman’s paradise. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the giant arch entrance. Turn right here.

About half a mile after turning right you’ll see your first right turn into a huge dirt parking lot. This is the group-use area with picnic tables, restrooms, and handicap parking.

Parking & Park Fees

As with most state parks, there are fees associated with visiting. The pay stations can be found on the left side of the visitor center in the smaller parking lot.

There are two ways you can pay your fee:

1. Cash: You’ll slip the cash into the provided yellow envelope, fill out the necessary information, and drop it in what’s called the, “Iron Ranger” (Don’t forget to tear off the receipt section of the envelope).

2. Debit/Credit Card: Adjacent to the cash station you’ll see an electronic pay station. Here, you’ll select your fee amount, swipe your debit/credit card, and take the printed ticket. You’ll then place this ticket on your dashboard.

Park fees are as follows:

Nevada Resident

• Day Use: $5.00 per vehicle

• Camping: $15.00 per vehicle, per night plus $10.00 per night for sites with RV hook-ups

Non-Nevada Residents

• Day Use: $10.00 per vehicle

• Camping: $20.00 per vehicle, per night plus $10.00 per night for sites with RV hook-ups

Also, if you bike in (non-motorized), it’s a $2.00 day-use for no matter your state residency.

Visitor Center

The visitor center is centered in the Pitchfork Ranch entrance of the park in a beautiful, Spanish style building with western flare.

Inside, you’ll find the staff office where a Park Ranger is often stationed and a mini museum featuring multiple exhibits detailing the park’s history and local wildlife.

Unfortunately, during our visit, it had closed for the day. The Ranger did offer to let us in to look around but we left our masks in the car (this was before the mandate was lifted).

Visitor Center Hours

While the park itself is open 24/7/365, the visitor center is not. The hours for the visitor center are as follows:

• 9am to 5pm - Monday - Friday

• 10am - 2pm - Saturday & Sunday

Exterior Features

Outside the rear entrance of the visitor center is a rentable event space featuring picnic tables, a propane grill, and fireplace.

Adjacent to the event space is a beautiful grassy area with many trees and a man-made pond (not filled in the winter).

Camping

Camping at Walker River State Park is a wonderful, hassle-free experience. Unlike other parks, there isn’t a whole lot of red tape to jump through to camp here.

Some things you’ll need to know are:

• Camping sites, both RV and primitive, are first-come, first-serve. They cannot be reserved ahead of time.

• You’re limited to 14-days in a 30-day period. This policy is strictly enforced.

• If you’re using an RV site, you’ll pay an additional $10 per night. This is true for Nevada residents and non-residents alike.

• The RV sites include shaded picnic tables, grills, a communal restroom, and dump site.

Campground Locations

There are three designated campgrounds (so far) in the park. They are:

• Riverbend Campground: There are 16 sites able to accommodate RV’s, Motorhomes, or tents. Sites come with shaded ramada, fire ring, and table. No hook-ups available.

• Quail Run Campground: Site features include everything above, but come with power hook-ups.

• Bighorn Campground: This campground is located up the load in the unspoiled Nine Mile section of the park. Sites include a table and fire-ring. This campground is primitive and has only a pit-toilet (BYO TP).

Squeeze Chute River Access

An additional three miles up the road from Pitchfork Ranch is where you’ll find a quaint, quiet area of the park known as, Squeeze Chute.

You’ll need to keep your eyes open for the turnout as it isn’t obvious. You’ll see a sign on your left pointing the way through a small entrance on your right. Turn here.

At Squeeze Chute, there’s a small parking area with a sole, uncovered picnic table. From here, you can access the river for fishing, swimming, etc.

As you drive in, take note of the gate on your right. This is the start of a hiking trail and follows the river through a beautiful tree-covered meadow.

Just keep in mind that cows do graze this area. So be sure to give them plenty of space and watch your footing (if you know, you know).

Things To Do

Fishing

Fishing is the undisputed king of activities at the park. If you’re from out-of-state or a resident, you will need to have a Nevada fishing license.

If you don’t have one, you can scan the QR code near the pay station at the park with your smart device and purchase one.

Keep in mind that cellular service at the park can be spotty at best. So to avoid disappointment, it would be wise to purchase one prior to arriving.

River Access

There are multiple river access points throughout the park, specifically in Pitchfork Ranch and The Elbow. You can swim and float to your heart’s content.

The Squeeze Chute area offers free, fly fishing introductory classes (you just need a fishing license). You can check this link for available dates.

Photography

Our personal favorite! Photographers of all kinds will love this photogenic oasis. For maximum results, definitely come during sunset.

River and mountainous landscapes plus ample wildlife such as; Deer, Antelope, Big Horn Sheep, Water Fowl, and Chukar provide endless photographic opportunities.

Nearby Attractions & Restaurants

Attractions

While the park itself offers plenty of fun activities all its own, if you’re planning on an extended stay, you may want to know what else the area offers.

Thankfully, there are many wonderful parks and destinations to visit that are within an easy drive from Walker River:

• Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Historic Park: This one is the furthest away at about 2 hours (one-way). However, it’s more than worth the effort. It’s a preserved, mining ghost town and is also the site with the most Ichthyosaur fossils in the state. To read more about it, check out our article here.

• Fort Churchill State Historic Park: If you’re into military history, this park is mandatory. Located just 30-minutes or so from Walker River, this state park features the ruins of an old military post. It also features a museum and campground all its own. You can read our article about it here.

• Wilson Canyon: Wilson Canyon is a recreation destination all its own. Since it’s BLM land, camping is free and plentiful. You can hike, fish, and use motorized vehicles such motorbikes, side-by-sides, and more! You can read our article on its hiking trail here.

• Bridgeport, CA: Bridgeport is a charming town in eastern California right next to the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountains. It’s our favorite town in California due to its proximity to amazing hiking trails, Yosemite, lakes, hot springs, and more! Check out our article about Bridgeport here.

• Virginia City: About an hour from the park is the famed mining town, Virginia City. Step back in time and explore this wonderfully preserved and highly historical place. You can tour awesome attractions like MacKay Mansion , Chollar Mine , and more! Check out our article here.

Restaurants & Supplies

The small town of Yerington is a short drive away from the park and is a great place to pick up supplies or get something to eat.

When camping, it’s always preferable to eat your meal over a fire but in the case of an extended stay, you may want to sit down at a restaurant.

For supplies, the one and only traditional grocery store is Raley’s. There’s also a Dollar General located on Main Street that offers limited grocery supplies.

As far as restaurants go, there are three fast food joints if all you’re looking for is a quick bite. They are:

• McDonalds

• Port of Subs

• Subway

If you’d rather support a local business and sit down to eat, there are a few local places we can personally recommend. They are:

• Country Sunflower: It’s slightly out of town but this small, charming, local spot serves up amazing breakfast and lunch. It’s our personal favorite in the area.

• Tailgaters Sports Bar: Open for lunch and dinner, Tailgaters offers traditional fare like cheeseburgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads, and more in a sports themed setting.

• El Alteno: If you’re craving hot and fresh Mexican food, head to El Alteno. It’s the closest restaurant to the park and has great food and service (Note: They are closed on Saturdays).

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*Side Note: We’re often asked about the equipment we use to take the photos used on our site. Below, you’ll find links to that equipment on Amazon. If you purchase, we get a small commission from Amazon for referring you. This helps keep our site running, doesn’t cost you anything extra, and is a great way to show support.

• Nikon D750 Body

• Tamron 24mm - 70mm 2.8 Lens

• BAGSMAR Backpack

• Geekoto Tripod

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Conclusion

It is our hope that you’ve found this article helpful in planning your visit to this amazing place. If so, please support our site by sharing it with your friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook. You can further show support by reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

Mackay Mansion: How To Tour This Real-Life Haunted House in Virginia City

2 minute read | contains affiliate links

If you’re into visiting historic places - specifically ones that supposedly still house the original occupants - look no further than Mackay Mansion in Virginia City.

Mackay Mansion was built in 1859 by a man named George Hearst (five years before Nevada became a state). This was the same year silver was discovered here.

Twelve years later in 1871, Hearst would sell the property to Irish immigrant and one of Virginia City’s four “Silver Kings”, John Mackay. Mackay would later go on to be the richest man to come out of the Comstock.

The former occupants have long since passed on, but they are believed to still roam the halls. The spirits of two little girls, an Army cornel, a shadow man, and Mr. & Mrs. Mackay themselves have all been seen.

Over the years, the mansion has been preserved well and year-round, daily tours are conducted detailing the history of this - even by today’s standards - lavish abode.

In this article, we’re going to give you all the information you’ll need to see it for yourself. We’re not going to spoil the tour, but we will show some pictures we took to give you an idea of what to expect.

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Getting To Mackay Mansion

The Mackay Mansion is located in the heart of one of Nevada’s most historic towns; Virginia City. It is right off and can be seen from the main strip through town.

For GPS purposes, the official address is:

• 291 S. D Street, Virginia City, NV 89440

As you’re driving on the main road, keep an eye out for a blue, 3-story house. There’s a road going down a steep hill right by this house and the mansion is right at the end of this road.

Parking

There’s plenty of parking around the mansion but as you’ll see when you get there, they’ve coned off the area directly in front of it. There’s plenty of street parking on D Street or on the main road above.

Admission Fees & Hours of Operation

The hours and admission fees vary and are dependent on the type of tour and time of year. There are two types of tours available:

Day Tour

The day tour is the one you’ll likely be doing and is the one with the most available time slots. This is also the most affordable option. The day tour schedule is as follows:

Summer

• Friday & Saturday between the hours of 10am and 6pm

• Sunday - Thursday between the hours of 10am and 5pm

Winter

• Sunday - Saturday between the hours of 10am and 5pm (weather permitted).

The fees for day tours during the summer and winter are the same. They are:

• $8.00 per adult

• $5.00 for kids 5-12 years old

• Free for kids under 5

There are several ways you can pay for your admission fees:

• You can pay cash (I asked and this was their preferred method of payment).

• They will also accept debit/credit cards.

• Or you can purchase a Comstock Adventure Pass at the Virginia City Visitor Center. This will also include other local attractions.

Tours run about 30-minutes in length and the final tour will leave 30-minutes before closing. If a tour is running as you arrive, you’ll find the front door locked. Have a seat on the porch and the guide will come get you when they’re ready.

After Hours

We haven’t done an after hours tour (yet), but we’ve heard it’s a lot of fun. You’ll hear a lot of the same information you would during the day, but this one focuses more on the paranormal side of it.

• After hours tours run on the same schedule as above but only take place between 5-6pm.

Reservations are highly recommended for the after hours tour as they cannot guarantee you a spot otherwise. To make a reservation, call this number.

The admission fees for this tour are:

• $10.00 per person (adult or child)

Mackay Mansion Tour Experience

When it’s your turn to join a tour, your guide will open the door and invite you inside the office. Here, he or she will collect your admission fees and go over some quick safety information.

Our Tour Guide, Megan, was wonderful. Super friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. We hear this isn’t the exception as all the other guides are exactly the same.

The tour begins with your guide detailing the history of Mackay Mansion and its purpose back in the heyday of the Comstock. You’ll be shown examples of real silver ore, pictures of the time, and the vault where payroll and bullion was kept.

The Living Room

After checking out the vault, you’ll be instructed to head into the next room; the living room. This was my favorite of the tour due to the decor and the hand carved framing around the fireplace.

Here, your guide will tell you more about the personal lives of John Mackay and his wife, Marion. Among other things, Marion was a well known seamstress and would often design and sow her own dresses with the intention of, “stopping the show”.

Also, this room is where your guide will delve into the paranormal aspect of the mansion by showing you verified, non-doctored photos of Marion Mackay in that very room and another of a little girl.

The Stairwell

After the living room, you’ll temporarily move into the hallway adjacent to the stairwell. As you can see in the photo above, this wooden stairwell is both narrow and steep.

Here, your guide will go over what to expect on the second level where the bedrooms are. You’ll also see the Tiffany window pane above the door and see more photos of spirits.

The Upstairs Bedrooms

According to our guide, Johnny Depp stayed in John Mackay’s room while filming a movie. He was supposed to stay for 30-days but on the third night, he woke up to a little girl in a white dress jumping on his bed.

After that episode, he refused to stay another night or even step foot back into the mansion. The film crew had to go in to gather his things and move him to a hotel.

Back then, it was common place for a husband and wife to sleep in their own, separate rooms and the Mackay's were no exception. They each had their own adjoining rooms.

Across the hall are the children’s rooms and bathroom. All rooms are roped off except for one of the girls rooms. You’re able to go in and look around but you’re asked not to touch anything.

The late-1800’s era bathroom was a trip. The bathtub was the first in town to be plumbed and the toilet has gold leaf paint on both the outside and inside of it.

This is where the guided portion of your tour will conclude. You’ll be free to continue exploring the rooms at your leisure and to leave, you’ll go down both stairwells and out the door to the grounds out back.

Just before leaving the mansion, look to your left to see the dining room with original table, carpet, and chandelier. To see the grounds, go out the door and turn right.

Don’t forget to tip your guide on the way out or as the tip jar says, “Ghosts will follow you home”.

The Grounds

After finishing the tour, you’re welcome to explore the grounds in the back of the property at your leisure. We highly advise you to do this as it is simply beautiful back there.

To start touring the grounds, simply follow the brick path through some thick greenery. When weddings are held here, this is the pathway Brides take to get to the archway during the ceremony.

Beyond this area is where you’ll find the Gazebo which is original to the property. To get to it, you’ll need to go through a white gate. At first, it’ll appear as if that area is off limits, but you are able to go through.

Events

Events of all kinds can be held here. Weddings are the most common but you could also celebrate birthdays, family reunions, company events, etc. We don’t know the number of people the space can hold but it looks like it can accommodate a decent sized group.

For your event, the space comes with the gazebo, hanging lights, tables, chairs, a bar area, heaters, space for seating, and a grill (you’ll need to provide propane).

If you’re interested in holding an event at Mackay Mansion, you can contact them directly for prices and availability. Be sure to give them our regards!

Once your done, you’ll simply head out the gate and back to the front of the mansion. Afterwards, consider touring another great local destination, Chollar Mine. Read about it in our post below!

• “Tour The Historic Chollar Mine in Virginia City”

Paranormal Activity

According to our tour guide, Mackay Mansion is the 5th most haunted place in the state. We didn’t see any spirits ourselves, but others have reported seeing children, a shadow man, and John Mackay.

Consequently, the mansion has been the subject of many popular shows such as, “Ghost Adventures”, and “Dead Files”. We were told one of the crew members was knocked down by a spirit after trying to access the attic (which is off limits to the public).

The owners decided to open the mansion up to amateurs and professionals alike by offering the opportunity to hold their own paranormal investigations inside this real-life haunted house.

You can the listing for hours, fees, and how to set an appointment for one here.

We had a great time touring Mackay Mansion and we have no doubt you’ll also enjoy it. Even if you don’t believe in the paranormal, the sheer amount of history behind this place will peak your interest.

We hope you enjoyed this article and that it inspired your travels. If so, please support us by sharing it with your friends and family on your favorite social media site. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Safe travels and thanks for reading!

Tour The Historic Chollar Mine in Virginia City

Established in 1859, Chollar Mine was one of Virginia City’s highest producing mines. Eventually producing 17 million in silver and gold ore over the course of its 80-year operation.

These days, there isn’t any mining going on in VC, but Chollar Mine has stood the test of time and has been preserved to offer daily tours. Visitors will get a rare glimpse at mining life in the 1800’s during this 30-minute adventure.

We recently paid a visit here and took part in a tour. Being a local historian and former miner himself, our tour guide provided tons of interesting information throughout and made it a fun, memorable experience.

While we won’t spoil the tour, we will provide you with all the information you’ll need to plan a visit. We’ll also give you some examples of topics covered during the tour.

Let’s get into it!

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Location

The Chollar Mine is located in the historic Nevada town of Virginia City and right off the main strip. The exact address for GPS purposes is:

• 615 South F Street. Virginia City, NV 89440

If you’re one of the few that doesn’t own a smartphone with GPS capability, here’s a some visual help. Regardless of which direction you’re coming into town from, look out for the Fourth Ward School (pictured above).

Directions

As you’re approaching the school:

• If you’re coming from Silver City, you’ll turn right on Occidental Grade (just before the school)

• If you’re coming from the opposite direction, turn left just after the school.

• You’ll drive a couple hundred yards before seeing a sign for Chollar Mine. Turn left here.

• After another 100 yards you’ll see another sign (pictured above). Turn right here and go down the driveway to the parking lot.

Fees

As with most tourist attractions, there are fees to be paid in order to take part in the tour. You can feel good about it, though, as this money goes towards supporting local and preserving the mine itself.

The tour prices are as follows:

• $15.00 - Per Adult

• $10.00 - Per Child (age 5 - 12)

• Free - Children under 5 years old

You should note that tour fees are cash only at this time. There is no ticket booth or window, rather, you’ll be greeted by the operator as you drive up and he will collect the fees.

Special rates are available for large groups from schools, churches, etc. It is also possible to arrange a private tour. You can contact them directly to inquire.

The Tour

Tours are held daily during the months of May through October between the hours of 10:00am - 4:00pm and are roughly 30-minutes in length. Depending on when you arrive, there may be a bit of a wait for the current tour to end.

After paying, your tour will begin at an old barn where you’ll all gather to listen to the tour guide describe the history of Chollar Mine. You’ll also be given a chance to look at the many artifacts that surround you.

You’ll then be taken to the entrance of the mine and hear more descriptive history of it, the miners themselves, and what life was like back then. Your tour guide will also go over some safety information with you during this time.

You will then be guided through the entrance of the mine. You’ll need to watch your head and your step as you go through the mine tunnel. For clarity, I’m 5’9 and I needed to duck to go through.

Going Inside

The tunnel is 400-feet in length and throughout the majority of it, dark. There is a rope light that runs the length of the tunnel but provides only just enough light for you to get through it. It’s as close to authentic as you can get.

The original mine cart track still runs along the floor so you’ll need to watch your footing around that. There’s also portions of the tunnel where that infamous blue/gray mud that stuck to the miners’ tools and boots is still ever present. Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.

Near the end of the tunnel is where it’ll start getting cramped. When the tunnel was constructed, it was much larger. Over the years with normal wear and damage from earthquakes, the tunnel has gotten smaller. Don’t worry, though. It is safe.

If you’re claustrophobic, have a hard time bending, or have back problems this is not the tour for you. It does get uncomfortable at times and it caused my anxiety to kick in towards the end. Just something to keep in mind.

The Stope (Mining Room)

At the end of the tunnel, you’ll reach a room known as a “stope”. This is the very room where miners worked day in and day out mining for silver ore.

(As stated at the beginning of this article, we’re not going to spoil the tour. We want you to experience it for yourself. So we’re just going to give you a few examples of what to expect):

• You’ll be shown examples of tools used by the miners.

• You’ll see how the miners communicated with the outside world.

• You’ll find out how rats were essential to miners and how they used them.

• The lights will be turned off so you can get a sense for what it was like for them if a gust of wind came through and blew out the candles.

• You’ll hear stories of local superstitious.

• And much, much more.

Once your tour guide is finished, you’ll be given the opportunity to ask your own questions, move around parts of the room you couldn’t see, and take photographs.

The room is small and tight so depending on the amount of people in your group, you won’t be able to move around much until the end. You’ll also have a hard time standing up straight. So be prepared to sit or crouch down.

After spending 15-minutes or so in the room, your tour guide will take you back the same way you came through the tunnel.

As you’re going out be sure to keep your head down. Your eyes have adjusted to the darkness so the sudden rush of light at the end could prevent you from seeing the wooden frames above.

After you exit the tunnel, your tour guide will take any questions you may have and offer to take pictures of you and your group in front of the entrance. This is where you can give a tip if you feel inclined.

At this point, you can continue on with your vacation to other great attractions in the area. If you need suggestions, here’s a list of seven things we think you would love in Virginia City

Conclusion

We highly recommend going on a tour of Chollar Mine (provided you’re ok with tight spaces). It’s an intimate and interesting look at Virginia City’s history. This is something the whole family could take part in.

If you’ve found this article helpful in planning your trip to VC, please support us by sharing it with your friends and family on your favorite social media site. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

7 Things You Will Love About Virginia City

If you’re an avid reader of this site, you’d probably be familiar with our “7 Things” series, where we list seven of our favorite features of a particular town or area. The other two in the series, Bridgeport and Lee Vining, are proving to be popular so we decided we would bring the series over to the Nevada section.

After discussing a few Nevada towns that are more than worthy of being featured, we decided to go with Virginia City as the first. There’s so much to love about this little town in the Nevada mountains but for the purpose of this article, we’re going to list seven of our personal favorites.

Virginia City became a bustling mining town in June of 1859 when land owner Henry Comstock discovered a rich deposit of silver ore. Comstock is also credited as being the first to discover gold in nearby Gold Canyon (just south of VC). From there, mansions, churches, saloons, hospitals, schools, and mining companies began popping up as the population exploded to around 25,000.

These days, active mining is long gone in VC. Locals have done a great job preserving the many historic buildings and mines contained here. Most offer guided tours. On top of that, the main strip is now filled with quirky shops, restaurants, bars, and hotels. Tourism is the boom here now. So sit back and relax while we present you with seven things you will love about Virginia City.

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1) The Way It Was Museum

If there’s one attraction in VC that corners the market on local advertising, its the “Way It Was” Museum. Multiple signs dot the roads coming into town from either direction proudly disclaiming it a, “must-visit”. That’s hard to argue as this museum contains the most complete collection of Comstock material in the world.

It is open seasonally from 10:30 - 4:30 and costs a mere $4 per person. Visitors can purchase tickets at the museum itself or at the visitor center on the main strip. The self guided tour of the exhibits are perfect for families and history buffs alike.

2) Mackay Mansion Tour

Originally build in 1860 to be the headquarters of the Gould and Curry Mining Company and later purchased by one of VC’s “Silver Kings”, John Mackay, seasonal guided tours are offered at this hauntingly beautiful mansion and its grounds.

During the tour, you’ll see many historical artifacts such as mining equipment, original furnishings, Tiffany silver, and other historic anecdotes. Weddings and other special events may be held here as well. If you’re into conducting paranormal investigations, you can arrange one.

Information for guided tours is as follows:

Day Tours

• Summer: Daily, 10am to 5pm

• Winter: Weekends, 12pm tp 5pm (weather dependent)

• Duration: 30 minutes

• Cost: $7 per adult/$4 per child aged 5-12/free for children under 5

Night tours

• Weekends: 5pm to 7pm (must call to reserve)

• Cost: $10 per person

READ: “Mackay Mansion: How To Visit This Real-Life Haunted House”

3) Silver Terrace Cemetery

Life in Virginia City during its heyday wasn’t easy. Life expectancy was short due to dangerous working conditions in the mines, harsh weather, and other 1800’s era problems like disease, so the need for an official city cemetery became more and more apparent. Thus, the Silver Terrace Cemetery was born.

The cemetery is located on the north end of town on Old Cemetery road and is free to visit. It was common for the locals back then to flaunt their wealth and many did so both in life and death. Many beautiful hand carved headstones, many as tall or taller than a person, dot the hillside and are surrounded by iron fencing.

The majority of the grave sites date back prior to 1920 and a few are cracked and in a state of disrepair, but the site as a whole is beautiful and has amazing views of the mountains. You can visit daily from sunrise to sunset but a trespass warning is in effect outside of those hours and yes, it is taken seriously.

4) Chollar Mine Tour

Our personal favorite on this list, this guided tour of Chollar Mine will take you 400-feet into Mount Davidson through a dark and claustrophobic walk along the rail once used to transport silver ore and will end at a room carved out by miners in the 1800’s.

You’ll hear historical facts about both the mine and area by your knowledgable tour guide. You’ll also learn about how the miners communicated to those on the outside, how they depended on rats as both a food source and warning system, how they navigated their way out if their only light source (wax candles) were to go out, and more.

This tour operates daily (seasonally) between the hours of 10am and 4pm and is cash only at this time. Prices are as follows:

• Adults: $15

• Children 5-12: $10

• Children under 5: Free

READ: “Tour The Historic Chollar Mine in Virginia City”

5) Nevada’s Oldest Hotel

The Gold Hill Hotel & Saloon is the oldest hotel in the state of Nevada. So old, it was operating as a hotel even before the state became part of the union. The exact year it opened is debated as either 1859 or 1861 but either way, Nevada didn't become a state until 1864 so that fact still holds.

It is located just one-mile south of Virginia City and is the only full service hotel in the immediate area. Original flooring, walls, and plaster still adorn the interior and you can even reserve rooms that are exactly as they were back in the 1800’s. It’s truly astonishing this property is still thriving all these years later.

This hotel also has quite the reputation among the paranormal crowd as it’s considered one of the most haunted places in the state. This is due to the fire that took place in 1869 at the Yellow Jacket Mine located just behind the property. This fire claimed the lives of 35 miners and is considered the worst mining accident in Nevada history.

6) Quirky Shops and Bars

The main strip through the center of town is a tourism mecca and thus, it’s jam packed with unique shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels. Many of the original buildings from the town’s early days have been re-purposed to house these.

Such examples include Virginia City Mercantile (pictured above), Silver Queen Hotel & Wedding Chapel, Forever Christmas Gift Shop, Bucket of Blood Saloon, Kettle Corn Depot, Primrose Lane Antiques, Grant’s General Store Museum, The Washoe Club, Silver Sadie’s Old Time Photos, and many more. There’s simply too many to list.

Strolling by these shops on the wooden boardwalks is part of the appeal of visiting Virginia City. Actors and Actresses in western attire typically walk around greeting people and thanking them for visiting. The people who live and work here truly care about their town and want you to feel as welcomed as possible.

7) That 100-Mile View

From the main strip and other points, you can look east towards the mountains at what locals refer to as the, “100-mile view”. This number is fudged a bit as it’s really about 90-miles but hey, who’s counting? Seriously though, the views of the mountains are outstanding and truly show how remote of a place Virginia City used to be (and still kind of is).

The church you see in the image above is Saint Mary in the Mountains. It is still an active church where services take place on Sundays. During the week, visitors are welcomed inside to tour the interior and museum but they do ask that you be respectful by remaining quiet and removing hats/sunglasses upon entering.

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Too Many To List

It was hard narrowing all there is to do in VC into a 7 list article. We definitely listed some favorites but people will no doubt question why this or that wasn’t listed. Simply put, this list is a small sample of all there is to do here. So much so, we very well may do a sequel to this post.

Other favorite attractions include the V&T Railway, the various parades and special events that place throughout the year, Piper’s Opera House, Ponderosa Mine Tour, Virginia City Trolley Tour, The Pit Stop, VC Outlaws Comedy Show, Mark Twain Museum, and so much more.

Getting To VC

From Reno:

• Head south on I-580

• Take exit 25B

• At the round-a-bout, take the NV-341 exit and follow this for about 24-miles. It’ll take you straight to VC

From Carson City:

• Head east on US-50

• Turn left on NV-341 and continue straight

• You’ll pass through Silver City and Gold Hill before arriving at VC

From Las Vegas:

• Go north on US-95 for about 350 miles

• As you approach Schurz, turn left on US-95 ALT North towards Yerington

• Continue on US-95 ALT North towards Silver Springs (turn right from Yerington)

• Turn left on Ramsey Weeks cutoff

• Turn left on US-50 and continue for 16-miles

• Turn right on Six Mile Canyon road for about 8-miles before arriving at VC

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READ ALSO: How To Visit Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

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Conclusion

We sincerely hope this article was helpful to you in planning your travels to Virginia City. If so, please support our website by sharing it with your family and friends on your favorite social media site. Every view helps.

You can further show your support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above. Thank you and safe travels!

How To Visit The Historic Lovelock Cave

Nestled within the Humbolt Mountain range and located 20 miles outside the small Nevada town of Lovelock, the Lovelock Cave is a small, but significally historic landmark. It’s an easy, straight-forward drive along the Backcountry Byway and once there, it’s a quick hike to the cave entrance from the parking lot.

As stated above, it is small. This is not the kind of cave where you’ll be able to go from room to room deep into the earth. It’s a small entrance leading to a viewing deck inside an area barely bigger than a modern day studio apartment. Don’t let this stop you, though. The historical significance of the cave more than makes up for its lack of size.

Some 22,000 years ago, Lake Lahontan covered this entire area. As water levels began to recede, wave action started to interact with the limestone, resulting in little pocket caves like this one. Lovelock Cave is just one of many in the area that came to be because of Lahontan. Hidden Cave near Fallon is another example.

In later years, Northern Paiute Indians would utilize this cave for storage and shelter between the timeframe of 2,000 B.C and 1,000 A.D and it would go undiscovered until 1912 when bat guano miners found it and began operations. Shortly after, archeological digs would commence and regularly occur for around 60 years, resulting in the discovery of thousands of artifacts and human remains.

Read on below as we give you a detailed summary on how you can make your way out here and see it for yourself. In the second half of the article, we will briefly cover the legend of the cannibalistic giants that lived here as well as the discovery of the oldest known duck decoys in the world. Enjoy!

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Directions

Your journey to the cave begins and ends in Lovelock, NV. Thankfully, it’s easy to get there as your journey begins almost as soon as you exit the freeway. Whether you’re coming from the direction of Winnemucca or Reno, these are the easiest directions to follow:

• You’ll take exit #106 towards Downtown.

• As you’re taking the exit, you’ll notice a McDonalds.

• If you’re coming from Winnemucca, you’ll turn right on Main then left on Amherst (just before McDonalds). If you’re coming from Reno, you’ll turn left on Main, go under the overpass, and left on Amherst.

• This road will eventually turn into S. Meridian and becomes a well maintained dirt road as you pass through a beautiful agricultural area.

• You’ll stay on this road until you reach Derby road at a two-way intersection. You will go left here.

• You’ll cross over the Humbolt River and shortly after, come to a point where the road splits in three directions (as pictured below). You’ll want to continue to the right.

• Continue going straight until the road terminates at the parking lot.

Even though it is fairly straight forward, you may feel a little lost at times (we did). Just keep an eye out for those “Lovelock Cave Byway” signs. They’re dotted along the entire stretch of this drive. If you haven’t seen one in a while, you may want to turn around.

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READ ALSO: The Complete Guide To Your First Trip To Bodie

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Pictured above is a beautiful section of the Humbolt River we ran into along the byway. This view was on our left shortly after turning on Derby. Pictured below is where the road splits into three directions shortly after the river crossing. You’ll turn right to continue towards the cave (though we were curious as to what the other roads led to. If you happen to know, please let us know in the comments).

Between here and the cave, you’ll get amazing views of the Humbolt Mountains on your left and the Humboldt State Wildlife Management Area on your right. We observed many species of birds in this area and even spotted a Rattlesnake sun-bathing in the middle of the road. If you’re into birding, you would do well here.

The road you’ll be on is well maintained with only a few parts that get a bit rough for those driving a compact vehicle. For clarity, our Chevy Cruze made it just fine (though there were a few times we had to slow down due to rough bumps in the road). If you have a truck or jeep, you’ll have no issues.

The road will start to go left and up towards the cave and soon, you’ll see the entrance sign and the parking lot ahead of you. The lot is a decent size that could easily accommodate a few dozen or so creatively parked vehicles. There is also a covered picnic table and one restroom. Fair warning, the restroom isn’t very well maintained (better than nothing, though).

The Nature Trail

At the trailhead, you’ll find an informative board describing the history of the cave and the area as a whole. You’ll find the start of the trail just behind here. If you wanted to complete the trail proper (and you should) you’ll start by heading upwards. If you just want to get to the cave, head left.

The nature trail is short, coming in a just over half a mile for the whole loop. In the beginning there is a bit of an uphill climb but it’s on gentle switchbacks and doesn’t require a whole lot of effort. If you took a brochure along with you (at the trailhead), it’ll describe the mountains, plants, and other features as you go.

If you’re on the trail proper, it’ll take you up, over, and around the cave before dropping you off at the entrance. Just before this, you’ll come to another informative board with an expansive view of what was once ancient Lake Lahontan (now Humbolt Sink). The board details the plant, animal, and fish life that once called this area home.

From here, you’ll continue left on the trail until you reach the entrance to the cave. You’ll go down a little bit before working your way back up. This section of the trail does have sheer drop offs on your right, so be sure to watch your footing. Once you get to the entrance, you will see a few spur trails. There’s no right or wrong here. Just pick one and go up.

When you arrive at the entrance, you’ll see what we mean by how small it is. In fact, it used to be MUCH wider, but an earthquake caused a large rock to collapse into the mouth of the cave, leaving the tiny entrance we have today. You can still see how large it was by looking to the far right of the entrance.

Lovelock Cave

From here, simply head into the cave. Watch your footing as you descend as it’s a rocky and uneven surface. In front of you, you’ll see a wooden deck. This is where you can enjoy the cave from. This deck was installed around 10 years ago to help maintain the integrity of the cave. The BLM does ask that you stay on the deck as archeological digs do still occur here from time to time.

In the photo below, you will see a brightly lit photo of the viewing deck. I used my camera’s flash to attain this photo. It is NOT this bright inside. It isn’t pitch black or anything as you are able to see where you’re going, but it is much darker than what this photo shows.

All around you, you’ll see burn marks at both the entrance of the cave as well as nearly the entire interior. It is believed that this was due to fires being set by Native Americans for warmth, cooking food, etc. There’s also the legend of Natives setting fire to the entrance of the cave to “smoke out” cannibalistic giants that once lived in this area (more on that later).

There’s a lower portion of the deck to the right that takes you slightly further into the cave. It’s much darker on this side as it’s further from the entrance. Seeing a bat or two is a possibility. The brochure we had stated bats were rare in this cave these days but during our visit, we saw two flying around.

From either side of the deck, you can see the areas where both bat guano miners and archeologists dug through. Guano mining took place in the early 1900’s while archeology digs began later and still occur from time to time. Many historical items were discovered here including multiple bones, mummified remains (unconfirmed), weapons, tools, duck decoys (oldest known in the world), clothing, and other artifacts.

Per my research, a total of 10,000 human remains and cultural artifacts have been discovered in this small cave. Prior to the mining and digging, the floor of the cave was much higher than it is today, specifically the left side (which was where most of the digging took place).

Once you’re done enjoying the cave, simply exit and head to the left back on the loop trail to complete your journey. On this section of the trail, you’ll get more expansive views of the Humbolt Sink and see up close the amazing limestone rock formations that make up the exterior. If you’re a rock nerd (like me) you’ll enjoy it.

From here, you just keep going straight until the trail spits you back out to the parking lot. You’re total milage on the trail will be around 6/10’s of a mile and with time exploring the interior of the cave, it shouldn’t take you more than an hour or two to complete.

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READ ALSO: Take An Easy Hike To King’s Canyon Falls in Carson City

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Legend of the Giants

Now that we’ve gotten the “how to” part of this article out of the way, lets move on to some history. We have heard the legends and rumors surrounding what was and wasn’t found inside this cave. One of those legends pertains to the red-haired, cannibalistic giants that allegedly lived here while ancient Lake Lahontan was still present.

Native Paiutes described these giants (called, “Si-Te-Cah” and translates to, “tule eaters”) as upwards of 12-feet tall with reddish-brown hair all over their bodies and faces (think modern-day Bigfoot descriptions). They would sail across the sink to tribe villages, kidnap native women and children, and would take them back to this cave (and others) to be eaten.

Sick of their people being kidnapped and eaten (understandably), multiple tribes banded together with the purpose of killing these giants once and for all. So they chased them into the cave and after refusing to come out and fight, they set fire to the entrance of the cave. Some of the giants stayed inside, falling victim to burns and smoke inhalation. Others ran out and died after being hit with a hail of arrows.

It is said that many bones were discovered in the cave, some being split down the middle with the bone marrow extracted (which is probably something a giant cannibal would do). Furthermore, legend has it that mummified remains of these giants were found here. I was unable to find anything conclusive that confirmed the existence of these remains, so take it for what it’s worth.

The Duck Decoys

Among the confirmed artifacts unearthed here, the most known has to be the duck decoys. These decoys date back to between 400 B.C - 100 A.D. They’re made of bundled Tule (a desert plant which grows in marshy wetlands), are painted, and have actual Duck feathers still attached. In all, 11 were found with 8 being complete and 3 being unfinished.

These decoys have the distinction of being the oldest known in the world. They went undiscovered and untouched inside the cave for over 2,000 years. It’s truly amazing. Fittingly, they’re currently on display at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

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Conclusion

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You can further show your support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above and by subscribing to our newsletter. Thank you and safe travels!

How to Visit Berlin - Ichthyosaur Historic State Park

If you love ghost towns and dinosaurs then you need to head out to this little known town in Nevada’s expansive catalogue of State Parks. Berlin-Icthyosaur (say that 10 times fast) is located just outside the (very) small town of Gabbs, NV. It has been dubbed as the, “Bodie”, of Nevada and not only contains remnants of an old mining town (Berlin), but it’s also the site of some of the largest Ichthyosaur fossils ever discovered.

Berlin can be a difficult park to find as it is tucked away deep into the Shoshone Mountain Range and doesn’t receive a lot of publicity as some of the other state parks, but it is more than worthy of your efforts to get out and explore it. So read on and discover how you too can visit Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park.

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How to Get There

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park sign.

As stated above, Berlin is a bit out of the way and takes some effort to get to from either direction. It is located in Nye County and the nearest anything to it is the small, unincorporated town of Gabbs (population 155 as of this writing). If you’re coming from:

• Reno: Take I-80 east towards Fernley. You’ll then take U.S 50 east for about 70 miles before turning right onto highway 361 and follow that for about 35 miles before finally arriving in Gabbs. From this direction, you’ll take a left on NV-844 east for 16 miles. This road will take you directly to Berlin.

• Las Vegas: Make your way to U.S 95 north and follow that for roughly 215 miles. You’ll then veer right onto Route 89 to Gabbs and once there, you’ll follow the same directions above. The only difference is you’ll turn right on NV-844 to the park.

• Salt Lake City: You’ll get onto I-80 west and follow that for 300 miles. You’ll then take the exit for NV-305 south heading for the town of Austin. Once in Austin, you’ll briefly turn left on the Lincoln Highway before exiting to NV-722 (you’ll pass the Austin airport). Then, turn left on NV-21 before turning right onto Forrest Developed Road 024 (this will be the back way into Berlin).

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park entrance.

As you can see, no matter which direction you are coming from, it’s going to be an adventure just getting to Berlin. So whichever way you’re coming from, be sure to stop at one of the bigger towns and fuel up before arriving in Gabbs or Berlin as there are no services in either. It also wouldn’t hurt to make sure your tires are properly inflated and all your fluids are good.

With the exception of the final few miles and coming in through the back way, all roads leading to Berlin are paved and well maintained. The last stretch is on a maintained gravel road. My Chevrolet Cruze made it up there perfectly fine. Potholes and dips were minimal. Keep in mind that if you’re using GPS, it may or may not have you go right at the split. Don’t. Keep to the left road and that will take you straight to the main entrance.

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READ ALSO: The Complete Guide To Your First Trip To Bodie

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The Fossil House

The Fossil House.

It’s totally up to you on where you want to start. Once you’ve paid your entry fee, you’re free to enjoy the park at your leisure. However, we visited during the covid-19 crisis and one of the ways they were trying to prevent the spread at this particular location was to close the Fossil House. Thankfully, we were one of only two cars that came through this day so the Ranger was kind enough to open it up for us to check out. So we started our day here.

To get to the Fossil House, simply stick to the main road. You’ll eventually pass by the campground and will see a narrow road on your right with a sign pointing the way. Take this road. Be warned, this road is VERY narrow and there isn’t a whole lot of room for two vehicles to pass each other. At the top of the hill, you’ll come to the road’s terminus at the parking lot for the Fossil House. You’ll see a giant mural of an Ichthyosaur to the right of the lot to make it fairly obvious that you’re in the right spot. This mural represents the actual size of the largest, intact fossil inside the house.

Mural of an actual sized Ichthyosaur.

As you can see from the above photo, Ichthyosaurs were known to get huge. Some coming in at over fifty feet in length. The fossils found at this location were discovered in 1928 with excavations beginning in 1954 and running through the 1960’s. After it was all said and done, there were 40 near-complete Ichthyosaurs found at various locations throughout the park.

Tours of the Fossil House are 40 minutes in length and offered during the following times:

• Daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day at 10am and 2pm with an additional noon tour offered on Saturdays and Sundays.

• From March to Memorial Day and Labor Day to late November, there is no noon tour.

• FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020 AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, TOURS OF THE FOSSIL HOUSE ARE CANCELED! I will update this once official information from park officials are provided. There are viewing windows at the Fossil House that you are free to use.

There is a fee to take this tour. It is $5.00 per person while kids 12 and under are free.

The excavation site inside the fossil house at Berlin State Park.

Inside the Fossil House, there’s a small loop trail and takes you around the excavation site with actual fossils in the middle of it. There are numbered, white markers next to certain sections of the fossil that explain which part of the Ichthyosaur you’re looking at. At first, it won’t make any sense but eventually you’ll see it and that “ah hah” moment will hit you.

I’m grateful to the Ranger that opened the house and allowed us to explore it at our leisure. Normally, as stated above, this is part of a tour. The Ranger gave us the booklet he uses during the tour that matches up to the markers on the fossils and explains everything. Once we were done, we chatted with him a bit and then left to explore Berlin proper.

• To the Ranger that did this for us; If you’re reading this, thank you so much.

Berlin: A True Nevada Ghost Town

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park.

Once we got our fill of Ichthyosaurs, it was now time to explore the ghost town portion of the park. We drove back down to the town proper and found a small parking space near the visitor center and flag pole. In case you’re here during a particularly busy day, just know that parking can be a little scarce here. You may have to get creative.

Berlin was a true, turn-of-the-century mining town. The height of its peak ran from 1898 to its death in 1911. However, mining activity began in the area as early as 1863 when silver was discovered in Union Canyon resulting in the formation of the Union Mining District and included the towns of Berlin, Grantsville, Ione, and of course, Union. A few years later in 1896, the Berlin Mine was established.

By the time mining concluded in 1911, the estimated total production of Berlin was $849,000 with a price of $20 per ounce of gold. Around 250 people including Miners, Wood-Cutters, Charcoal Makers, a Doctor, Nurse, Forest Ranger, and Prostitute made up the town. The cool thing about this abandoned town is that not some, but MOST of the original buildings are still standing and there are even some original residents still buried in the town cemetery.

Here are a few of the highlights you’re able to check out on this self-guided tour:

The Machine Shop

This was what we know now to be a Maintenance Shop. Here, Blacksmiths and Mechanics worked to keep the machinery of the mine in working order.

Every so often, a passer-by would have his vehicle towed here to be worked on after breaking down.

The Assay Office

Here, samples of rock, ore, and concentrates from the mill would be sent for processing (assayed) to determine the values they contained.

The furnace used charcoal because it was the only clean burning fuel available locally. The night watchmen would use this office to keep warm and eat their meals.

The Stage Station

This is where the stage driver and his horse would live…together. A partition inside separated the living quarters from the barn section of the building.

The men who drove stage during this time was John Mullin, Ed Dieringer, and Alex Dyer.

Company Store

There’s nothing much left now, but this was once the site of the company store. Here, they sold everything from mining equipment, clothing, groceries, and drugs to locals and workers.

During labor troubles in 1905, the store also served as a jail. The building you see in the background was a storage warehouse.

Superintendent Home

This was the home of the mine’s superintendent and now serves as a small welcome center.

During a labor strike in 1907 when the miners wanted a raise from $3.50 to $4.00 per day Mr. Bowen, the Super, shut the mine down.

To counter, the miners teamed up and forcefully escorted Mr. Bowen off property. He then drove to the town of Tonopah and brought back a Sheriff to help re-gain control.

The Berlin Mill

During the heyday of Berlin’s production, you’d see a beehive of activity here.

One man would be operating the crusher, another tended the 30 stamps and concentration tables, while another looked after the boilers and steam engines.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of features found in Berlin. Other cool things to check out include the town cemetery, mine foreman’s house, miner’s dugout, entrance to the Berlin mine, doctor’s house, and more! As you can see, you could easily spend a full day or more checking everything out in Berlin.

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READ ALSO: Exploring Fort Churchill: An Abandoned Army Post in Nevada

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Lodging & Fees

The nearest hotels and/or Airbnb’s you’ll find are in the bigger towns nearby. These include Fallon, Austin, and Hawthorne. If you want to stay in the park, they have an established campground you could utilize. It contains 14 well-spaced units, some being able to accommodate RV’s up to 25 feet long. Each unit comes with a fire pit, BBQ grills, covered picnic tables, and drinking water (outside of winter). Restrooms and an RV dump station are located nearby.

The fee to camp is $15.00 per night with a 14 night maximum (30-day window). Keep in mind that this per night fee is in addition to your entry fees which are:

• $5.00 per vehicle

• $2.00 per bike (motorcycle)

When you arrive, someone may or may not be at the gate collecting entry fees. We arrived just before the Ranger was about to take off so he was kind enough to take our money and fill out the envelope for us. If there is no one there, simply stop at the gate to fill in the envelope and drop it into the red deposit pole (with your fee included, of course). Much like most Nevada State Parks, only cash is accepted for entry fees.

There are also no restaurants or vending machines in the park. So be sure to bring snacks and water with you. There is one restaurant in Gabbs (the gateway town to Berlin). It is called, “R&D’s Bar”, and serves up burgers, fries, hot dogs, chicken wings, and similar fare. Aside from that, you’ll need to get to the bigger towns listed above.

Directly adjacent to the pay station at the main entrance is a restroom of the pit toilet variety. I must admit that of all State and National Parks I’ve been to, Berlin had THE cleanest restroom of its kind. There is another restroom located near the campground.

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Conclusion

Berlin Mill. Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park.

Berlin is perhaps Nevada’s most intriguing and unique state park. The combination of an abandoned mining town and the discovery of a massive amount of Ichthyosaur fossils should put Berlin at or near the top of any traveler’s list of places to explore. It’s also a great place to shoot dark sky photographs if you have the gear. I highly recommend and encourage you to visit this amazing place for yourself. Thanks for reading!

Safe Travels.

Have you visited Berlin? Do you plan to? Tell me about it in the comment section below!

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Visit Dayton State Park & Rock Point Mill

Established in 1977 and originally used as a Paiute fishing camp, Dayton State Park is 160 acres in size and located in the highly historic Nevada town of the same name. It features hiking trails, picnic areas, camping, fishing opportunities, and the remnants of the abandoned, “Rock Point Mill”.

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Getting Here

Dayton State Park. Dayton, NV.

Dayton State Park is not too far from two of Nevada’s larger cities; Carson City and Reno. From Carson, you’ll travel east on Highway 50 for about 11 miles before turning right at the entrance.

From Reno, you’ll travel south on I-580 for 30 miles before joining US-50 east for, you guessed it, 11 miles before turning right into the park.

Things to Do

Hiking trail in Dayton State Park.

As mentioned at the beginning of this post, there are many activities for you to partake in. For starters, there are two hiking trails in the park. One begins near the campground and winds through the foliage as you make your way to the banks of the Carson River.

The other also begins near the campground but goes in the opposite direction and across the highway to the ruins of an old abandoned stamp mill (more on that later).

Picnic area. Dayton State Park.

There are several picnic areas located throughout the park proper and near the mill site. In addition, the group area provides shade and 10 picnic tables that you can reserve for birthday parties, reunions, etc.

You can also camp here. The campground is located near the entrance and contains 10 sites with fire rings, grills, and picnic tables. In addition to tent camping, each site can accommodate RV’s up to 34 feet in length. Dump stations and restrooms are located nearby.

Small garden. Dayton State Park.

Park fees are as follows:

• $5.00 per vehicle for day use

• $15.00 per night for camping (this is in addition to the day use fee)

Like most Nevada State Parks, fees getting collected are largely dependent on the honor system via self register. Both day use and camping fees are to be paid at the register station located at the entrance. Park Rangers do make regular checks throughout the day.

Rock Point Mill

Rock Point Mill. Dayton State Park.

For me and many others, the main attraction of this park is the opportunity to explore the remains of Rock Point Mill, an old stamp mill that first operated in 1861, was destroyed in a fire in 1909, was rebuilt in the same year, and closed for good in 1920.

Rock Point was built by Charles C. Stevenson (who from 1887 to 1890 was Governor of Nevada) at a cost of $75,000. There were originally 40 stamps that crushed silver and gold ore from the Virginia City and Gold Hill mines but was eventually expanded to 56 at its peak.

Rock Point Mill. Dayton State Park.

As mentioned earlier, Rock Point was destroyed by a huge fire in 1909 but was almost immediately rebuilt with galvanized iron. This new version of the mill (which are what most of the remains are from) ran until its permanent closure in 1920.

You’re free to wander about the ruins at your leisure. Here you’ll find the stamp remains, mill foundations, and a small rock hole cut out in the base of the mill. It’s not much (only around 5 feet), but it is cool to see.

Rock Point Mill. Dayton State Park.

There are two ways to reach the Rock Point ruins. One way is to utilize the trail that leaves from the campground in the state park proper that runs parallel along US-50. You’ll eventually reach a tunnel that goes underneath the highway and spits you out at the ruins.

The tunnel at Dayton State Park.

If you don’t feel like walking, your other option would be to hop in your car and drive there. You’ll turn left onto US-50 from the park exit and turn right into the Gold Ranch Casino parking lot. You’ll find the entrance to this section of the park to the right of the casino.

Rock Point Mill remains. Dayton State Park.

From your car, there will be a short stroll through cottonwoods and another picnic area before reaching the ruins. The whole walk will take you around 5 minutes or so.

When to Go

Fall colors at Dayton State Park.

The park is open 365 days a year so really, anytime is a good time. However, if you’re asking my personal opinion, I would highly recommend you pay a visit in the fall. Specifically when the fall colors are at their peak (as you can see in the photo above).

Dayton State Park, as told to me by the Ranger, is on the list for the top 10 places in the entire state for fall colors and I won’t argue with him. If you arrive at peak time, it is drop dead gorgeous.

Summer, as always, will see the most amount of visitors but even then, the park doesn’t get very busy. Chances are good that no matter when you decide to visit, you’ll be able to snag yourself a campsite and enjoy the park with minimal crowds.

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Safe travels & thanks for reading!

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A Promised Land

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