9 Picture-Perfect Towns in Nevada
From lofty mountain ranges to spectacular desert landscapes, the landlocked state of Nevada bordered by Oregon, Idaho, California, Arizona, and Utah in the Western United States, is esteemed for its varied geography. Nevertheless, whenever there is an opportunity to tour the Silver State, it is always the bright lights and eye-catching sights of the state’s urban metropolises like Las Vegas and Carson City, that first come to one’s mind. However, beyond these dazzling cities are multiple picture-perfect towns that are worth discovering. With impressive natural sceneries, captivating landmarks, lively celebrations, and scores of outdoor recreations, come and explore everything that these fascinating towns in the Battle Born State have to offer.
Virginia City
Storey County’s seat and its biggest community, Virginia City is placed on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, roughly 20 miles south of Reno. Currently, a portion of the Reno-Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area, Virginia City was initially settled in 1859 and transformed into a booming mining camp after the Comstock Lode silver discovery at the adjacent Mount Davidson. Home to 787 inhabitants as per the latest US Census, the town draws more than 2 million visitors yearly to its historic district which contains innumerable properties dating back to the 1860s and 1870s. Some of these restored structures house many bed & breakfast facilities at present that cater to tourists visiting Virginia City. Travelers must also browse the several saloons lining the Historic C Street like the Red Dog Saloon, Delta Saloon, Bucket of Blood Saloon, Bonanza Saloon, etc. The town’s other prominent points of interest include the Silver Terrace Cemetery, the Way It Was Museum, the Police Officers’ Museum, the Fourth Ward School Museum, Comstock Historic Walking Trail, the Fireman’s Museum, Piper’s Opera House, St. Mary’s of the Mountain Catholic Church, the Washoe Club Haunted Museum, and the Silver Queen Hotel & Wedding Chapel. Virginia City hosts unique events like parades, Civil War re-enactments, and an annual Hillclimb from the town to Silver City via State Route 341.
Ely
Ely, a remote four-season mountain town is located at the eastern edge of “America’s loneliest road” in East-Central Nevada’s White Pine County. Founded in the 1870s as a stagecoach stop along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route, Ely started to develop rapidly following massive copper mining and the setting up of a lot of copper mining companies. Travelers visiting Ely should check out the Nevada Northern Railway Museum – featuring the “Ghost Train of Old Ely,” the Ely Renaissance Society Village, Hotel Nevada & Gambling Hall, White Pine Public Museum, the six charcoal furnaces at Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, and the adjoining wilderness areas like Great Basin National Park, Ward Mountain Recreation Area, and Cave Lake State Park offering year-round recreation opportunities. Moreover, while on a walk through the town, visitors can gaze in awe at more than 20 murals and sculptures done as a part of the Ely Historic Mural Project, which beautifully depicts Ely’s history and ethnic diversity.
Caliente
Previously called “Calientes” and “Culverwell,” the name of this calm Lincoln County town in Southeastern Nevada has been derived from the Spanish term “caliente” which means ‘hot’ and refers to the adjacent hot springs. Fondly called the “City of Roses” due to the abundant wild roses in the region, Caliente is a crucial stopover point for travelers and an outstanding locale for extensive outdoor recreation activities. The town has 30 miles of mountain bike trails, several miles of motorized off-road tracks, rock climbing routes in Rainbow Canyon and Big Rocks Wilderness area, and fishing and boating activities in the Eagle Valley Reservoir. The Caliente Railroad Depot, Kershaw-Ryan State Park, Delamar Ghost Town, Beaver Dam State Park, and Cathedral Gorge State Park are some popular places to visit. Every year, Caliente hosts softball tournaments, barbecues, Mountain Bike Fest, the Fourth of July festivities, and the Memorial Day Celebration.
Tonopah
Located at the intersection of U.S. Routes 95 and 6, roughly equidistant from Reno and Las Vegas, this tourism-based resort city serves as the administrative center of south-central Nevada’s Nye County. Dubbed the “Queen of the Silver Camps,” the town is renowned for its rich mining heritage, which is well preserved at the Tonopah Historic Mining Park and the Central Nevada Museum. Adventure seekers get to partake in a wide variety of outdoor recreations like camping, birdwatching, hiking, and mountain biking. A tour of the Old Tonopah Cemetery and the Clown Motel (“America’s Scariest Motel”) is a must for spooky experiences. Stay for the night at the Mizpah Hotel and do not forget to taste the delicious buttermilk pancakes and egg miz-muffins for breakfast, as well as country-fried steaks and grass-fed beef burgers for dinner at the hotel’s Pittman Café. Also, the Tonopah Stargazing Park is a haven for stargazers and for all those who want to look up at billions of twinkling stars in the darkest night skies.
Minden
Minden, the seat of government of Douglas County, is set at the heart of Carson Valley to the east of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Established in 1906 by Heinrich Friedrich Dangberg Jr., the settlement was christened after its namesake town in the Western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Having 3,442 inhabitants, this charming small town is best known for its old-fashioned charm, friendly ambiance, and aesthetic surroundings. Stroll through the downtown and take note of the numerous centuries-old houses and storied brick buildings that line the streets, in addition to an array of antique stores, locally-owned eateries, and superb mountain views at every turn. Tourists visiting Minden must visit the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park, SoaringNV, Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, Skydive Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley Inn Casino, and Red Barn Antiques. Every year, Minden hosts special events like Eagles & Agriculture (a yearly winter celebration of Carson Valley’s migratory raptors), the Aviation Roundup Air Show, Carson Valley Days, and the Dangberg Summer Festival.
Genoa
The Nevada Territory’s first permanent settlement, Genoa is a quaint Douglas County town on the western extremity of the Carson River Valley, approximately 42 miles south of Reno and 7 miles northwest of Minden. First settled as a trading post named “Mormon Station” by Mormon pioneers, the community was renamed in honor of Christopher Columbus’s birthplace by Orson Hyde. The National Register-listed 129.5-acre Genoa Historic District comprises over 29 contributing buildings in Late Victorian architecture. To learn more about the town’s past, tour the Mormon Station State Historic Park and the Genoa Courthouse Museum. Additionally, visitors can have an excellent shopping experience at Genoa Square, play a round of golf at Genoa Lakes Golf Club, hike the Genoa Trail System, explore the River Fork Ranch Preserve managed by Nevada Nature Conservancy, soak in one of the five mineral-rich hot spring-fed pools at David Walley’s Resort, and relax after all these hectic adventures at the Genoa Bar & Saloon. Genoa also hosts the annual two-day Candy Dance Festival on the last weekend of September with over 400 arts & crafts, food vendors, fun activities, and a Saturday Night Dinner Dance.
Incline Village
An elite census-designated place in Nevada’s Washoe County, Incline Village is placed on the northern banks of Lake Tahoe at an elevation of 6,350 ft above sea level. Set up in 1882 as a part of the Sierra Nevada Wood & Lumber Company’s logging endeavor, the town was named after the incline railway of the company that served the region. Being home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country, Incline Village is a business hub for affluent individuals hailing from California and the southern part of Nevada. Moreover, stunning mountain vistas and crystal-clear water bodies entice thousands of holidaymakers to this year-round vacation destination. During summer, tourists at Incline Village can enjoy water-based recreation and incredible lakeside beaches, play golf at the Incline Village Championship Golf Course, and mountain bike down the Flume Trail. In the colder months, snow lovers can enjoy sliding the ski slopes at the Diamond Peak Ski Area or unwind at the deluxe hotels, restaurants, and casinos. The travelers can also spend quality time at the Sand Harbor, US Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, and the adjacent Lake Tahoe State Park.
Austin
Nevada’s “Living Ghost Town,” Austin is situated on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range, close to the junction of Highway 50 and State Route 305. This friendly Lander County community is home to countless original properties lining the beautiful Main Street in its Historic District. Aside from these old buildings, there are four renowned churches including St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, St. George’s Episcopal Church, Austin Methodist Church, and the newly constructed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Stokes Castle, Gridley Store, International Hotel, Old City Hall, the former Lander County Courthouse, Austin Cemetery, Toquima Cave, and Odd Fellows Home & Masonic Lodge are some other interesting sites. A cluster of natural hot springs is located about 15 miles east, whereas the Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area, around 24 miles east, offers breathtaking views of Toiyabe and Toquima Mountain Ranges, besides a self-guided hiking tour along a 0.5-mile trail providing access to multiple ancient petroglyph panels.
Eureka
Eureka, the administrative center of Eureka County and dubbed “The Friendliest Town on The Loneliest Road,” is located at the southern edge of Diamond Valley along the Lincoln Highway. Originally founded in September of 1864 by a team of silver prospectors from Austin, the town was christened based on an incident where one of the prospectors shouted “Eureka” (Greek term, meaning “I have found it”) on discovering the silver ore deposits. Tourists visiting this 19th-century mining town can get an insight into Eureka’s glorious bygone days by walking past the carefully maintained structures of the 1870s and 1880s. Some notable attractions include the Eureka County Courthouse, Eureka Opera House, Eureka Sentinel Museum, Raine’s Market & Wildlife Museum, Jackson House Hotel, and Richmond Mine. Throughout the year, the town also hosts various festivals like the Eureka Art, Wine & Music Festival, Eureka Gold Rush Games, Nevada Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest, and a Fourth of July celebration organized by the Eureka Volunteer Fire Department.
From the famed mining town of Virginia City to the mind-blowing vistas of Lake Tahoe at Incline Village, the picture-perfect towns in the country’s 7th-largest and 32nd most-populous state allure tourists worldwide. Often shadowed by vibrant nightlife and other captivating sites of interest in the big cities of the state, these lesser-known towns have something for all ages. Jam-packed with a plethora of historical architecture, cozy bed & breakfasts, restaurants serving mouthwatering cuisines, and serene wilderness areas in the abutting landscapes, holidayers will surely have a memorable vacation in these Nevada towns.
