Highway 50 Visitors Guide The Loneliest Road in America Visitors experience Nevada’s unique Basin and Range geography as they travel the Loneliest Road in America - Highway 50 Welcome to Highway 50, the Loneliest Road in America. This highway crosses Central Nevada through the Great Basin, a unique area because no water leaves the basin. Rivers begin, run, and go underground. They may resurface once in awhile but soon return underground. The route Highway 50 follows has been a pathway for travel for centuries. The Native Americans followed migrating herds of deer, antelope, and other game across Central Nevada. Early explorers crossing Nevada included John Fremont and Jedediah Smith. The Overland Stage later followed Smith’s route; then the Pony Express took this route, and finally, the transcontinental telegraph came over this area. On July 1, 1913, the Lincoln Highway Association was organized at Detroit, Michigan with the objective: “To procure the establish- ment of a continuous improved highway from the Atlantic to the Pacific, open to lawful traffic of all descrip- tions without toll charges and to be a lasting memorial to Abraham Lincoln.” (Lincoln Highway Association brochure) The Lincoln Highway was the first coast-to-coast highway, running from New York City to San Francisco. Dwight Eisenhower backed the idea as a young lieutenant colonel in the Army trying to move troops across the country. When he became President of the United States, he promoted the Interstate high- way system. Today, highways take travelers across the country in comfort. Reading journal accounts of pioneers cross- ing Nevada to get to the west coast, one can really appreciate travel conditions today. The mountain ranges of Nevada run north to south with valleys in between. This is known as Basin and Range formation in the High Desert. This makes Central and Eastern Nevada a one-of-a-kind place. As you travel, take time to enjoy the open spaces, abundant wildlife, unique plants, and friendly communities. A nar- rated CD of the area has been developed and can be found in the local chamber of commerce or tourism of- fices. The towns along Highway 50 each offer points of interest, museums, historical buildings and sites, special events, a variety of services and interesting shops. Visitors can rest assured that all the necessities can be found along the route. However, it is a long way between places. The wise traveler knows it is best to carry extra water and warm clothing because this is mostly high desert; conditions and temperatures can change quickly. Travel with your gas tank filled. Watch for wild life including deer, elk, coyote, rabbits, birds, cows, horses, and other critters. This is open range country so any of these may be on the road ways, especially at night. Enjoy your trip through Nevada and plan enough time to enjoy all the attractions along the way. Inside this guide on page 2 are phone numbers and web addresses for local visitor information. Check ahead to get the most current information. INFORMATION White Pine Public Museum 2000 Aultman St., Ely, NV 89301 White Pine Nevada Commission on Tourism 775-289-4710 Chamber of Capitol Complex, 401 N. Carson St. www.wpmuseum.org Commerce Carson City, NV 89701 McGill Drug Store Museum 775-687-4322 1-800-NEVADA-8 11 4th St, McGill, NV 89318 www.travelnevada.com 775-235-7082 www.whitepinechamber.com Great Basin Business & www.mcgilldrugstoremuseum.com e-mail: [email protected] Tourism Council Eureka Opera House 14 Main St., Baker, NV 89311 (Visitor Information), 31 S. Main St. 775-234-7323 PO Box 284, Eureka, NV 89316 636 Aultman St., Ely, NV 89301 www.greatbasinpark.com 775-289-8877 775-237-6006 775-237-6040 fax Fax 775-289-6144 www.co.eureka.nv.us.opera05.htm Great Basin National Park 100 Great Basin Hwy 488, Eureka County Economic Baker, NV 89311 Development Pony Express 775-234-7331 PO Box 753, Eureka, NV 89316 Territory www.nps.gov/grba 775-237-5484 City of West Wendover E-mail: [email protected] www.eureka.county.com PO Box 284 Tourism & Convention Bureau PO Box 2825, 735 Wendover Blvd Greater Austin Chamber Eureka, NV 89316 West Wendover, NV 89883 of Commerce ponyexpressnevada.com 775-664-3138 122 Main St., Austin, NV 89310 www.westwendovercity.com 775-964-2200 Travel the Loneliest Road in E-mail: austinnevadacham- Lincoln Communities Action America! Council [email protected] www.austinnevada.com PO Box 202, Caliente, NV 89008 775-728-4282 Austin Ranger District Fallon Convention & www.lincolncountynevada.com PO Box 130, Austin, NV 89310 Tourism Authority 100 Campus Way, Pioche Chamber of Commerce 775-964-2671 Fallon, NV 89406 PO Box 127, Pioche, NV 89043 BLM Field Office 775-423-4556 or 800-874-0903 775-962-5544 Battle Mountain, NV 89820 www.VisitFallonNevada.com www.piochenevada.com 775-635-4000 Great Basin Heritage Route Fallon Convention & Tourism www.greatbasinheritage.org Authority 100 Campus Way, Fallon, NV 89406 East Ely Railroad Depot Museum 775-423-4556 or 800-874-0903 Greater Austin 1100 Ave A, Ely, NV 89301 www.VisitFallonNevada.com Chamber of Commerce 775-289-1663 Churchill County Museum & 122 Main St., Nevada Northern Railway Archives Austin, NV 89310 1100 Avenue A 1050 S. Maine St., Fallon, NV 89406 775-964-2200 PO Box 150040, Ely, NV 89315 775-423-3677 [email protected] 775-289-2085, 886-407-8326 www.austinnevada.com 775-289-6284 (fax) Fernley Chamber of Commerce www.nnry.com 70 N. West St., Fernley, NV 89408 775-575-4459 Ely District BLM Office www.fernleynvchamber.com 702 E North Industrial Way, Pony Express Territory Ely, NV 89301 PO Box 284, Eureka County 775-289-1800 Eureka, NV 89316 Economic Development Ely Ranger District www.ponyexpressnevada.com PO Box 753, 825 Ave. E, Ely, NV 89301 775-289-3031 This Visitor Guide is prepared by Eureka, NV 89316 the White Pine Chamber of 775-237-5484 White Pine Chamber of Commerce Commerce [email protected] 636 Aultman St., Ely, NV 89301 from the best information www.eurekacounty.com 775-289-8877 775-289-6144 fax available. E-mail - [email protected] We cannot guarantee that it is complete nor in all cases www.whitepinechamber.com correct. 2 BUSINESS DIRECTORY Nevada Northern Railway Fallon 1100 Avenue A, PO Box 150040 Ely, NV 89315, Fallon Convention/Tourism Center Austin 775-289-2085, 866-407-8326 , 100 Campus Way, Fallon, NV 89406 Greater Austin www.nnry.com 775-423-4556 or 1-800-874-0903 Chamber of Commerce fallontourism.com 122 Main St., Austin, NV 89310 E-mail: [email protected] Sahara Motors 775-964-2200 Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Kawasaki www.austinnevada.com 585 N. McGill Hwy, Ely, NV 89301 e-mail: austinnvcham- 775-289-4473 or 1-800-228-0955 West Wendover [email protected] City of West Wendover Sportsworld Tourism & Convention Bureau Pony Express RV Park PO Box 2825, 735 Wendover Blvd 260 Main St./ Hwy 50, 1500 Aultman St., Ely, NV 89301 775-289-8886, fax 775-289-8887 West Wendover, NV 89883 Austin, NV 89310 Email: [email protected] 775-664-3138 775-964-2005 westwendovercity.com Ely William Bee Ririe Hospital 1500 Ave H, Ely, NV 89301 Wells White Pine Tourism & Recreation 775-289-3001 Chamber of Commerce Visitor Bureau www.wbrhely.org PO Box 615, 395 6th St., Bristlecone Convention Center Wells, NV 89835 150 6th St., Ely, NV 89301 William Bee Ririe Rural Health Clinic 775-752-3540, WellsNevada.com 775-289-3720, 800-496-9350 #6 Steptoe Circle, Ely, NV 89301 [email protected] elynevada.net 775-289-4040, JCAHO Accredited www.wbrhely.org Bristlecone Motel 700 Ave. I, Ely NV 89301 White Pine Chamber of Commerce 775-289-8838, 800-497-7404 636 Aultman St., Ely, NV 89301 Pony Express Fax 775-289-6128 775-289-8877, Fax 775-289-6144 Territory [email protected] E-mail - [email protected] whitepinechamber.com Economy Drug PO Box 284 696 Aultman St., Ely, NV 89301 White Pine Golf Course Eureka, NV 89316 775-289-4929 / 888-289-4929 151 North Golf Course Drive elyeconomydrug.com Ely, NV 89301, 775-289-4095 ponyexpressnevada.com whitepinecounty.net Ely Times Travel the Loneliest Road in 515 Murry Street Eureka America! PO Box 150820, Ely, NV 89315, 775-289-4491 www.elynews.com Eureka Co. Economic Development Flower Basket PO Box 753, Eureka, NV 89316 425 E. 11th St., Ely, NV 89301 775-237-5484 775-289-2828 / 1-800-821-0011 E-mail: [email protected] www.co.eureka.nv.us Jailhouse Motel & Casino 211 5th St., Ely, NV 89301 Eureka Opera House 775-289-3033/ 800-841-5430 Convention & Cultural Arts Center KDSS Radio 92.7 FM PO Box 284, Eureka, NV 89316 White Pine Golf Course 466 Aultman St., Ely, NV 89301 775-237-6006, Fax 775-237-6040 775-289-6474 www.co.eureka.nv.us/opera05.htm 151 North Golf Course [email protected] Eureka Museum Drive Lincoln County Record 10 South Bateman St. Ely, NV 89301, PO Box 485 775-237-5010, FAX: 775-237-6040 Pioche, NV 89045 www.co.eureka.nv.us McGill Historic Drug Store Eureka Sentinel - Since 1870 Museum PO Box 150820, Ely, NV 89315 11 4th St. McGill, NV 89318 775-289-4491 775-235-7082 E-mail: [email protected] www.mcgilldrugstoremuseum.com 3 press Train rides. 1999, the mine reopened in 2004 and White Pine County Information about continues to operate today. A the murals and the company town in the beginning, McGill Village can be found Ruth’s houses and buildings have The Consolidated Copper Company at elyrenais- been sold to individual owners.