Nevada, the part you missed
Nevada is more than Las Vegas and large casinos. There are small towns in various stages of life expectancy and hundreds of miles of lonely highways in the high desert.
There is a certain beauty and serenity in traveling those empty stretches. Mile after mile of visual “white noise”. When you come upon the next oasis, there always seems to be some oddity of interest that you won’t find anywhere else.
A gas station near Fallon has a striking architecture - especially near sunset.
Fly Geyser, in the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nevada. The geyser is the product of a failed geothermal test well and is located on private land near the Burning Man venue. It’s a long hike from the roadway but access is restricted and must be arranged through The Friends of Black Rock.
About 120 miles east of Reno you will find Thunder Mountain - the Imlay exit from Interstate 80.
This was a massive art project and cultural/political statement orchestrated by Frank Van Zant of Creek Indian heritage who adopted the name Chief Rolling Mountain Thunder.
It was a spiritual commune in the 70’s and built mostly with hippie labor.
Much of it was destroyed by arson but the remains are now a quasi State Park.
It is “Pee Wee’s Playhouse” meets “Sanford and Son” meets “Haight-Ashbury”.
Veterans Park is on the north side of Winnemucca. Every small town in Nevada seems to have a park or monument honoring veterans.
These folks acquired and utilized more surplus military equipment than most. Now a bird sanctuary - intended or not.
An aging casino in Elko went out of business and the City Fathers persuaded the owners to leave the lights on - but most of the “bulbs” have burned out…
There are some products that you could probably only find at a truck stop in Nevada.
Ely, Nv is a town embracing its past and making the best of things fading away. Rather than let this old gas station turn into blight, it has become an unofficial, historic landmark. And bird sanctuary.
This mural from a defunct paint company has been preserved for its history as well as its “two coats” irony.
It looks like the local bank has a place to hang your hat….
Even a deteriorating building has an ambiance….and bird sanctuary.
Sitting on the side of the road near Stagecoach, NV is one of the few surviving Doggie Diner fiberglass heads from the small Bay Area fast food chain that folded in 1986. If you thought “Bat Winged Hamburger Snatcher”, you win the trivia prize.
The Little A ‘Le’ Inn, a wide spot in the highway in Rachel, NV just around the corner from Area 51.
Not exactly a resort but any saucer pad in the storm.
Cafe, gift shop, motel - bird sanctuary.
A storefront in Rhyolite was built to last the centuries - but not so the rest of the building or the local economy.
Heads up for further deterioration.
The Valley of Fire State Park is a phenomenal landscape of “red rock” formations.
One expanse is reminiscent of the “Wave” in Vermillion Cliffs.
Keep your eye on the upper ridges for Big Horn sheep.
Along some of the back trails you may encounter Chuckwalla lizards.
They are herbivores and rarely carry off small children.
Which came first - the bureaucrat or the comedian?
Similar to the Nevada casino industry is another way to burn money - fireworks stands.
The Toiyabe Cafe is great place for lunch in Austin, NV. If you can't grow something, arrange your refuse aesthetically.
The saloon is further down the the street and was for sale. It looks like they tried a few business models over the decades.
Just outside Tonopah, NV is the billion dollar Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project. It failed. The battery leaked.
That always happens to my flashlights.
Speaking of disturbing, Tonopah is home of the world famous Clown Motel and museum.
The motel has a new owner and the rooms are being renovated.
Pleasant dreams!
….THANKS FOR THE LOOK1