First a word of advice for
those of you who wish to travel through our desert area. The desert can be
treacherous, in winter as well as in summer. There is no water, carry it with
you. If you get stranded in the desert stay with your vehicle, it is easy to
spot from the air. Let people know where you plan to go and at what time you
plan to return. We have had cases, more than once, where hikers died within
half a mile of water. Hikers in the Grand Canyon seem especially vulnerable.
Hundreds have died there. A book is availalble that lists all those tragic
cases. Do not mess around abandoned mines or mine shafts. They are prone to
cave-ins, support timbers are rotten, water fills the bottom etc. Once you
slide into one of the shafts it is lights out, in more ways than one. Leave
those desert critters alone. They have a tough time surviving in our deserts.
Besides, it is against the law to pick up those desert
turtles. Two types of snakes that are poisonous the Coral snake. and the the Rattler The Rattler is dormant during the winter and
hides in the shade during the hot summer months. Some of the various rattlers
around here are the : Mojave Desert
Sidewinder, the Mojave Rattler, the Southwestern Speckled
Rattlesnake, the Western Diamondback, the most dangerous of them all.
The Rattler is extremely dangerous when provoked. Luckily he doesn't like
people and tries to take off whenever possible. He also mostly strikes low,
below the knees. That's why folks who live in these areas wear cowbow
boots.See, I knew there was a good reason for wearing them. Should you get
bitten you might as well kiss your behind goodbye. You have two to three
minutes to get help, after that it is all over. Luckily most of the bites are
so called "dry hits" where no venom is released at all. Coral snakes
I never encountered, but I have been aasured they are around. There is also a
poisonous lizard, I have never seen one of those
either. Then there is the latest import: killer
bees. If you stumble across them in the desert there is no advice I can
give you. Tarantulas look dangerous but are
harmless. Scorpions are around too. I've had them
in the house. They inflict a nasty sting but are not deadly unless you are
allergic. Isn't all this uplifting? It is not as bad as it sounds so long as
you take the proper precautions.Two types of spiders. The
Black Widowis recognized by the red hourglass on
its belly. I have had many of them in my house. The Brown
Recluse (it actually is the Western Recluse), hides in dark spots,
clothing etc. Said to be pretty dangerous. The Mountain
Lion, also called the Puma, Catamount, Silver Lion, etc. lives in the
mountains and usually stays away from people. When cornered or surprised it
could get nasty. Coyotes roam all of these
deserts. I have seen them here in town many times. They go after cats and other
domestic animals. They usually travel alone and cover vast distances, trying to
stay alife. There are also Black Bears in the
hills (anything under 10,000ft is a hill around here.). Not so much in Southern
Nevada, but more around Reno and Lake Tahoe. L.T. actually has a bear problem
with marauding black bears looking for food. |
Old Nevada
1 Gun Fighter Lane, Tel: 702-875-4191
This is a man made attraction, built for the tourist industry If you want to
see the real thing then read my stories below.
Drive west on State Route 160, take the Red Rock turn off, follow the signs. I
like it out there. Sure it is a replica, sure it is not the real thing. But you
have horses, ducks, goats, a buffalo, pseudo old buildings, guys dressed like
cowboys, gun fights, hangings and more. There is a restaurant, a small motel,
mini railroad. All in all a very cozy setting. And the scenery is unbelievable.
And it is next to the Krupp Ranch. Yes the munitions Krupp. They are long gone
and the ranch now belongs to the State and is open to the public. The whole
area is perfect for hiking, biking, rock climbing and just hanging out. And you
might just spot real wild horses and wild burros. Go ahead, explore for a few
hours. Perfect for our friends from Euroland too. |
If you have the time, the
interest and the inclination to see more of the remnants of the Old West as it
played out here in Neveda, and adjoining states you could take up on a few of
my suggestions in the following columns. If the above does not turn you on!
Some of those places are in AZ and/or California. |
Boulder
City
One of the first "planned" cities in the U.S. It was built to house
the workforce that built the Hoover Dam and was designed by a Dutch landscape
architect whose name escapes me at the moment (I am of Dutch descent myself).
It still has many of the original buildings. The Hoover Dam was a joint project
of the Fed. government and the states of Calif. and Nevada. Because of that one
can find two distinct building "designs" or "styles". The
dam was constructed during the Great Depression and workers flocked in from all
over the U.S. Those were desperate days and the many stories and pictures of
those days can be seen at theHoover Dam museum which is located inside the
historic Boulder Dam Hotel on Arizona St. in downtown Boulder City. |
Nelson and
Nelson's Landing.
Nelson is in the vicinity of Searchlight, off Highway 95 south of Boulder City.
Lots of old stuff and buildings. Folks get some income from the odd photoshoot
and film making. Nelsons Landing (or should I say the earstwhile Nelsons
Landing)?, is (was) in a narrow canyon, prone to flash floods. They were told
to move from there but they refused. Sure enough, a flash flood came down and
the whole shebang wound up in Lake Mead. |
Oatman
This is a very interesting small town. Constructed entirely of wood it is a
miracle of survival. Most, or probably all, towns constructed that way in
Nevada burned to the ground. Either by accident or by vandalism. It is actually
in California I believe and sits on the old Rte.66. Two ways to get there. You
could follow Highway 93 into Kingman, AZ and then follow the markers that
direct you to Rte.66. That road, once you leave Kingman is treacherous and full
of curves and has mostly no passing lanes. I would avoid it. The other
direction is as follows. Take H'way 93/'95 south out of Las Vegas. Before you
get to Boulder City take the turnoff onto 95S. This route will take you past
Searchlight and into Laughlin, NV. Searchlight is locally famous because it is
the home of Harry Reid, Senate Majority leader. If you were to stop in at the
small casino and coffee shop you may run into him. He is there frequently.Once
in Laughlin you should cross the Colorado River and continue South until you
get to Fort Mojave. There you will see a sign pointing towards Oatman. I would
not go there in the summer months, it gets blazing hot. Temperatures of around
120F are not rare. I figure the one way trip to be about 125 miles, more or
less. There are numerous resting/dining places and gas stations on this
route. |
Jerome
Jerome, Arizona Americas Most Vertical City and Largest
Ghost Town in America.
A Tale of Mines, Men, and Money The Early Years Jerome was built on Cleopatra
Hill above a vast deposit of copper. Prehistoric Native Americans were the
first miners, seeking colored stones. The Spanish followed, seeking gold but
finding copper. Anglos staked the first claims in the area in 1876, and United
Verde mining operations began in 1883, followed by the Little Daisy claim.
Jerome grew rapidly from tent city to prosperous company town as it followed
the swing of the mine's fortunes. The mines, the workers, and those who sought
its wealth, formed Jerome's colorful history. Americans, Mexicans, Croatians,
Irish, Spaniards, Italians, and Chinese made the mining camp a cosmopolitan mix
that added to its rich life and excitement. Jerome was the talk of the
Territory, a boom town of its time, the darling of promoters and investors. The
mines were nourished and exploited by financiers who brought billions of
dollars in copper, gold, and silver from its depths. Changing times in the
Territory saw pack burros, mule drawn freight wagons, and horses replaced by
steam engines, autos, and trucks. Fires ravaged the clapboard town and
landslides destroyed whole sections. Jerome was always rebuilt. At the mercy of
the ups and downs of copper prices, labor unrest, depressions and wars,
Jerome's mines finally closed in 1953.
From Las Vegas take the Hwy.93 to Kingman AZ, about 85 miles. From Kingman
Rte.66 north,and turn off onto Rte.89. |
Pioche
It's a living ghost town -- about 900 people, though it had 8,000 people in
it's 1860s mining boomtown days.Pioche ( pronounced - pee-oach) is located 180
miles northeast of Las Vegas. Hanging on the side of a mountain in Nevada's
high desert, it enjoys old-west charm, mild summertime temperatures, fine trout
fishing, hunting, and some of Nevada's most scenic state parks. I get quite a
kick out of all those abandoned mines around there. Mine buckets still hanging
on cable running across the street. The have the original "Boot Hill, an
old opera house and that infamous "Million Dollar Courthouse". |
Pioneer
Saloon
In Sandy Valley. The bar consisted of three parts originally. It was built in
the east and shipped around the Horn. One part was lost a t sea, one part
burned and the third part is what you see. B.t.w. , Sandy Valley has no post
office. All mail for that location is delivered to Primm, NV. |
Rhyolite
Of the many ghost towns in Nevada, Rhyolite by far lives up to the name.
No one lives here. The tall stone and concrete buildings are in ruins. You
cant buy anything, stay anywhere or fill up your gas tank. But for
photographers and people with a love for the Old West, Rhyolite is a dream. The
few standing walls with their gaping windows are picturesqueand pretty
much all thats left of the once-thriving, early 20th-century city. The
concrete jail, with its big iron door and barred windows, is still in good
shape. A few wooden structures perch precariously. A house made of beer bottles
twinkles in the sun. I recall a railroad depot being there too. That was in
good shape last time I visited, some years ago. |
St.
Thomas
This town was abandoned when the rising waters of Lake Mead reached it. Its
ruins can be seen from time to time during periods of drought when the lake
experiences low water. It is in Nevada at the north shore.of Lake Mead. |
Tonopah
Ever heard of Wyatt Earp? Well, he served as either U.S. Marshall or Sheriff in
this town. Wyatt was a shootist and became quite famous because of the
"gunfight at the OK Corral" in Tombstone ,Arizona Territory. I have
seen several movie verions of it. He was involved in a few shootouts but never
received as much as a scratch. He died peacefully, in his sleep, in Los
Angeles, California sometime in the 1920's I believe.For detailed information
contact "Nevada Silver Trails" Another thing to keep in mind, Tonopah
is at about 7,000 ft elevation, enough for you to bring a jacket, even in the
summer. T. is about 125 miles north of Las Vegas. There is also a town called
"WYATT" in California. Everything there is Wyatt. Then there is Jack
Dempsey, famous pugilist, who was the bartender and bouncer at the Mizpah Hotel
back in the day. |
Goldfield
The last major goldrush in the West. A lot of the old buildings are still
standing, notably the hotel. The whole thing lasted but a few years. A soon as
the mines petered out all those folks moved on. Had to, no way to make a living
any longer.
It was also the scene of a historic boxing match. Goldfields Golden
Battle: The Centennial Anniversary of Joe Gans Battling Nelson, Labor
Day Sep 2, 1906.
The fight lasted an astounding 45 rounds, something unheard of these days.The
fight was decided by a low blow. |
Battle
Mountain
The last major encounter between white settlers and Native Americans took place
here. They were the "Ghost Dancers" so called because they wore white
shirts. Some shaman had told them it would make them invulnerable/bullet proof.
That did not work out very well. I think their leader, a shaman, called himself
"Wowoja" (?) Im not sure about the spelling. |
Berlin
Yes, we do have a Berlin. One of about 32 Berlins around the U.S. It is located
in the center of the state and is home to the Ichthyosauros State Park. I have
never been there myself but I have heard good things about it. Quite a few
skeletons of those ancient dragons were found here. Check with the Nevada State
Park Service. Oh, Berlin itself, or what remains of it, is also mostly a ghost
town. It is very hard to reach over long, lonely roads. Not much going on in
central Nevada. No water, no life! While most ghost towns in the West are left
to the wear and tear of weather and time, Berlin is preserved by the State of
Nevada. In this turn-of-the-20th-century mining camp you can peek into wooden
miners cabins and see what it might have been like to live in these
flimsy quarters. If you have any questions, a Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park
ranger will gladly answer them. |
Belmont
Dominating the skyline in Belmont, a 19th-century mining camp where ruins
outnumber residents, is the 1876 Nye County Courthouse. The county conducted
its official business here until 1905, when the county seat was moved to
Tonopah. The two-story brick building is the centerpiece of the Belmont
Courthouse State Historic Site. Belmonts old metal jail cells with their
heavy iron doors are stashed behind the courthouse. You can step inside the
cells to get a feel of how uncomfortable it was to be a jailbird in the old
daysbaking in the summer and freezing in the winter. The best time to
visit Belmont is in the summer. In fact, July 4th is the ideal day to stop by
this central Nevada town. Thats when former Belmonters come home for a
big Independence Day party. |