The Final Word: Kyle Horvath
Fall 2024
For Kyle Horvath, moving to Ely to become White Pine County’s tourism director was a leap of faith. After more than five years, it’s one of the best moves he’s made. Ely has earned national recognition for its outdoor recreation opportunities and special events, such as the Ring of Fire Eclipse Festival. His trick for marketing rural Nevada? Support your communities first.
NM&VG: What brought you to Nevada?
KH: I came to Nevada in 1999 teaching tennis at Lake Tahoe for the summer. One day in late May, I crested Spooner Summit. It was sunset, and snow was falling over the lake. I was filled with emotion and knew this was home. I went back East, graduated with a marketing management degree, and moved immediately back to the lake. I always tell people I’m not from Nevada, but I got here as soon as I could.
NM&VG: How did you get into Nevada tourism?
KH: I moved to Carson City after a few years at the lake, and when I asked people what there was to do, they would point me back to Lake Tahoe. I knew there had to be cool stuff going on in the capital, but no one was really talking about it. So, I started my own marketing and events business and worked to promote all the things I wanted to do. Eventually, I got picked up by Visit Carson City as their marketing manager.
NM&VG: What’s the biggest challenge you face as a representative for rural Nevada?
KH: Convincing people in Reno and Las Vegas the drive is not as far as they think and that it’s worth making.
NM&VG: Were there any surprises when you moved to White Pine County?
KH: I like to say the biggest surprise is the community keeps going along with some of the crazy things I’m suggesting. But honestly, here in Ely we have the biggest mountains and the oldest trees, so the culture is all about “let’s highlight the biggest, fastest, or oldest in everything we do.” The community is willing to try new things.
NM&VG: What’s been the secret to your tourism success?
KH: We don’t promote the area just to get visitors here. This is economic development. We want the people who will stay here to move here, so we invest in and promote the lifestyle that is uniquely White Pine. We want to grow, but we are not interested in having our destination lose its identity, so we use our budget to invest in raising the quality of life for everyone, not just tourists. We don’t have to be everything to everyone, so we just do Ely the best we can.
NM&VG: If I had 24 hours to spend in Ely, what should I do?
KH: First thing in the morning, grab a cup of coffee and walk the murals in downtown. Grab a hearty breakfast at JT’s Steakhouse and then go get in the mountains to hike, bike, or ride an ATV. After that, head to the East Ely Railroad Depot Museum and Nevada Northern Railway to tour the grounds and take a scenic train ride. Ride the Ping-Pong train over to the White Pine Public Museum, then take the train back to your car!