February – April 2022

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This is an exciting time for the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, as Travel Nevada and Nevada Magazine have joined forces to create a quarterly publication with engaging information to showcase the amazing people, places, and adventures you can enjoy in Nevada. In the pages that follow, learn about off-the-grid Sagebrush Saloons, unique accommodations in the form of Uncommon Overnighters, and stories of those who shaped the history of our state – people we call Legendary Nevadans. Plus, get ideas for Spring Break, hit an open trail, explore one of Nevada’s many ghost towns, and dive in deeper to learn the history behind some of our state’s town names. We affectionately call ourselves the Weirdest, Wildest West, and for good reason: From all-to-yourself highways and crowdless national parks to cowboys and counterculture, Nevada has always been about the road less traveled. So, if you’re ready to satisfy your wanderlust, Nevada is here to welcome you with road trips and adventures that speak to your soul. Peruse these pages and use this guide as inspiration to plan your next Silver State getaway. And if you call this great state home, we hope you find some ideas to Discover Your Nevada.
Issue Cover February – April 2022

What’s Inside

Yesterday: Nevada Tourist Roads are Calling You

This story originally appeared in the January/February 1946 issue of Nevada Highways and Parks. Americans have at last emerged from the A-card era and entered the “fill ‘er up” stage. The Great War has ended. Gas rationing is out, tires are much easier to get with good prospects for future supplies. New cars, with trimmer lines and post-war styles, are beginning to show themselves on the highways. ... read more

Austin Adventures

Two friends embark on America's Loneliest Highway to prove that they're not boring. Along the way they'll encounter history, spontaneous wine walks, wild burros, and an appreciate for the rugged landscape in the heart of the Great Basin. ... read more

Revitalizing Sutro Tunnel

The Sutro Tunnel in northern Nevada is an engineering marvel. Along with other sites within the Comstock Historic District, it served to put Nevada at the center of mining technology, politics, and finance in the mid 1800s. ... read more

A Paradise Named Galena

For outdoor recreation, Galena Creek Regional Park outside Reno is a splendid, outdoor playground that’s hard to beat during any season—but especially autumn. Moreover, Galena has a historical Nevada notch that's not so well-known. ... read more

Basque Delights

The Basque who came to Nevada seeking gold in the 1860s may not have all found riches, but the treasures they brought left an indelible, tasty mark. Many found work as sheepherders, forming communities with fellow Basque immigrants. Others started up boarding houses and kept alive their culture, language, and traditions. One tradition that outsiders came to embrace was the communal dining experience: picture enormous platters of steaks, steaming bowls of savory soup, and abundantly flowing homemade red wine. It's the kind of meal that makes you wish you grew up Basque. ... read more

What's In A Name?

Just like superheroes, every town’s name has an origin story. Some are straightforward: Mesquite is named for a tree found in the region; Carson City is named after the pioneer Kit Carson. For others, the tale has a little more to it: Yerington, for example, was originally called Greenfield, but had to be renamed when the postal service said there were already too many towns called that. Here's a look at other towns where the story is disputed, steeped in legend, or just downright fun.   ... read more

Rock Out

Getting down—and maybe dirty—in the hills of Nevada is one of the easiest, least expensive, and most rewarding pastimes you’ll ever find. Hunting for gems and minerals can be an easy day trip from many towns, including Fallon, Ely, and Mesquite.  ... read more

Nevada's State Parks

Nevada’s parks celebrate the Great Basin's natural and human history, and for this issue, we’re zeroing in on ones that tell the story of the state from prehistory to today. Get ready for a trek through time; along the way you’ll meet ancient reptiles, tour military forts, and hang out in pioneer pit stops. ... read more

Legendary Nevadans: Wyatt and Virgil Earp

On a cold October day in 1881, four men approached a group of cowboys gathered in an alley. These four represented the law in Tombstone, Arizona: City Marshal Virgil Earp, his brothers Wyatt and Morgan, and Doc Holliday. Reports of what happened next run the gamut from massacre to a fair fight, but 30 seconds later, three cowboys were dead and the West’s most famous shootout at the O.K. Corral entered the history books—guaranteeing posterity would know the names Virgil and Wyatt Earp. ... read more

Where The Wild Things Are

While the bald eagle serves as a national emblem for the U.S., the states tend to take icons to a new level. Sure, there’s a state animal in Nevada, but there’s also a reptile, fish, and even a state insect. Without further ado, here are five creatures that Nevadans chose to embody the spirit of the state.   ... read more

Spirited Adventures

Nevada’s distinct history is borne by the nearly 600 towns that rose and fell before the 1900s even had time to stretch its legs. The gold and silver fever that struck the nation resulted in a clamor that touched nearly every corner of the state. While most towns bore fruit only for short periods, they literally left their mark on the state’s landscape. Many ghost towns may have no residents, but they are still full of stories, if you listen closely.   ... read more

Break Time!

Spring break. The phrase conjures many thoughts, but for parents it’s one simple question— where should we take the kids? The weather can be mercurial, much like the kids’ moods, but staying home is just not an option. Across the Silver State, spring break can be celebrated indoors and out, with adventures both near and far. Here are just a few.  ... read more

The Disaster at Mazuma

When a sudden cloudburst bursts over the small towns of Seven Troughs and Mazuma, residents had only seconds to evacuate out of the raging torrent. After the flood waters rushed through the canyon, a town was completely destroyed. ... read more

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