6 Whimsical Towns to Visit in Nevada
Landlocked with a dry desert climate, Nevada is a place of extremes. The Silver State is a little out there, and that’s what makes a Nevada vacation so fun. You’ll find a lot of personality and whimsy in its one-of-a-kind small towns, which were born out of the gold rush boom, cowboy culture, the Wild West, and other fascinating periods in the state’s long history. Where else can you hunt down UFOs, dig for gems in a turquoise mine, stay in a clown motel, or quench your thirst in a 1901 saloon? Meet the many faces of Nevada in these whimsical small towns.
Rachel
Alien hunters, extraterrestrial enthusiasts, UFO watchers, and space fans will all love a trip to Rachel, the self-proclaimed ‘UFO Capital of the World’. This whimsical desert town on the Extraterrestrial Highway, otherwise known as State Route 375, is the closest population to the notorious Area 51.
You’ll find all the alien action at the Little A’Le’Inn, an alien-themed hotel and bar serving up Alien Ale and lots of quirky space memorabilia. Just half a mile down the highway is the Alien Cowpoke Gas and General Store, where one can fuel up while grabbing more extraterrestrial kitsch and snapping a few photos with the store’s larger-than-life alien figures. For those who haven’t had enough UFO-related fun, head a few miles down the road to the Alien Research Center, where you might find out what exactly is happening at Area 51 while shopping for out-of-this-world souvenirs.
Eureka
Nicknamed ‘the Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road,’ Eureka is an old-fashioned mining town in north Nevada. Taking a walk down Main Street, Eureka’s long history is on full display in its perfectly preserved 19th-century buildings. The Eureka Opera House is one of the most eye-catching structures in town, dating back to 1880, and in the heart of the historic district. The Jackson House Hotel next door is another gem. The hotel was originally built in 1877 with eight Victorian suites, a bar, a restaurant, and a tea room.
Visitors can dive into this quaint town’s captivating stories at the Eureka Sentinel Museum, home of the town’s newspaper from 1879 to 1960. The first floor is a replica of a pressroom from the 1860s, while the second floor contains exhibits on Eureka’s schools, homes, mining industry, and military history.
Jackpot
As the name suggests, Jackpot is a fun-filled gaming town on the Idaho-Nevada border. Casinos are obviously the big draw in town, bringing a stream of customers over the border. Cactus Pete’s is one of the oldest, in operation for over 5 decades, and has expanded over the years to include restaurants, accommodation, bars, and lounges. Across the road, you’ll find another long-standing favorite, the Horseshu Hotel and Casino. This sprawling property is designed in a classic Hollywood Western style, making you feel like you’ve stepped onto a movie set.
Jackpot also offers plenty of attractions away from the slot machines and tables. Nature enthusiasts love the nearby Jarbidge Wilderness Area, where one can see some of Nevada’s stunning backcountry. With over 150 miles of trails, the preserve is a scenic place to escape the bright lights of the Jackpot strip and enjoy a day hiking, biking, fishing, or birding.
Lovelock
There’s an adorably whimsical tradition attached to Lovelock’s unusual name. It comes from a custom where two lovers attach a chain and padlock to a meaningful place or structure. As long as the lock holds, so will their love. You can make your own romantic gesture at Lover’s Lock Plaza in the heart of town, where starry-eyed visitors and locals add a wall of heart-shaped padlocks.
On your way to the Plaza, take a look at the Pershing County Courthouse across the street. This unusual building was constructed in 1920 and is the only round courthouse in Nevada. Or, visit the Marzen House Museum nearby for more on Lovelock’s history since English settler George Lovelock founded it in the mid 1800s.
History meets nature in one of Lovelock’s most famous attractions, the Lovelock Cave. Miners stumbled across thousands of artifacts here in 1911, and further research dated the treasures to 2000 BC - 1000 AD. Today, you can visit the cave by driving 20 minutes southwest of Lovelock along the Cowboy Corridor.
Tonopah
Tonopah, in Nye County, Nevada, has a lively sense of whimsy. Here, you can stay at one of Nevada’s only clown-themed accommodations. The Clown Motel is located next door to Tonopath’s historic cemetery, packed with life-sized clowns and clown art. To thrill seekers' delight, the motel is also rumored to be haunted. If that sounds like the stuff of nightmares, just visit the gift shop and save your stay for the historic Mizpah Hotel, which opened in 1907 and was known as ‘the finest stone hotel in the desert.’
Clowning aside, Tonopah is also known for its dark skies. The Tonopah Stargazing Park rated the top stargazing destination in the country by USA Today, is one of the most popular stops on the Park to Park in the Dark route, which takes travelers from Death Valley to the Great Basin via some of the least light-polluted areas in the Lower 48.
From skywatching to going underground, the other major attraction in Tonopath lies beneath the surface. Nevada has more turquoise mines than any other state, and you can see the action for yourself on an Otteson Brothers Turquoise Mine Tour. The Ottesons have been guiding guests around the mine for three generations, allowing visitors to dig out their own gems as souvenirs.
Goldfield
The population of Goldfield has dwindled since its 1901 heyday when it was a thriving gold camp. Today, this cute village is a ‘living ghost town,’ home to a tiny community of residents living among its historic buildings. Walking down Main Street feels like stepping back in time to when prospectors came from all over the country to strike lucky. To get a sense of the town's glory days, wander by the 1908 Goldfield Hotel, once the most luxurious hotel in the region, the 1907 Esmeralda County Courthouse, and the Bullfrog-Goldfield Railway Yard. Across from the railway yard is the Santa Fe Saloon, an old-timey drinking hole that opened in 1905 and hasn’t changed much since.
To see one of Goldfield’s most whimsical attractions, tourists have to go a mile south of town to the International Car Forest of the Last Church. This bizarre art installation features a ‘forest’ of upturned, rusted cars and trucks buried in the desert sand. A team of artists in residence regularly decorate the vehicles with fresh designs.
Whimsical and Welcoming
Nevada is the state that gave us Burning Man, the Las Vegas Strip, and Area 51, so it’s not surprising that it’s a little different. There’s a lot to love in the state’s oddball communities, where its personality, history, and hospitality shine. Wild, wacky, and whimsical, these towns promise a vacation like no other. Whether you’re taking the family for a fun road trip, planning a couple’s weekend away, or getting away from it all in the desert, Nevada’s charming small towns have what you’re looking for. This year, take a trip out west to bring back great stories and even better memories.
