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© Pony Express Territory
“Bottlecap Gazebo” created by Burning Man artists Max Pynton and Andrew Grinberg.
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Dayton’s historic Odeon Hall and Saloon
ODEON_SALOON
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Fallon’s Maine Street Historic District is the perfect start to a great journey.
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Austin’s Stokes Castle, erected in 1897 by Anson Phelps Stokes.
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The recently restored Eureka Opera House is the town’s crown jewel, perched atop main street.
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The Nevada Northern Railway in Ely features train rides pulled by century-old steam engines.
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Baker serves as gateway to the Great Basin National Heritage Area, and Great Basin National Park.
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© TravelNevada
The clearest skies in the nation can be found along highway 50. Great Basin has been designated an International Dark Sky Park.
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America’s Loneliest Road in America, Nevada’s Highway 50
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The official Highway 50 Survival Guide
Story by The Loneliest Road in America, Nevada's Highway 50
In July 1986, Life magazine described Nevada's Highway 50 from Baker to Dayton as the "Loneliest Road in America." Life recommended that drivers have "survival skills" to travel the route. The Loneliest Highway in America, The Pony Express Trail, and The Old Lincoln Highway: with a variety of names for this route, you would think that Highway 50 might have an identity crisis but just the opposite is true. This legendary highway cuts through the middle of Pony Express Territory, an expanse of Nevada's most historic and picturesque country, and the communities of Fernley, Dayton, Fallon, Austin, Eureka, Ely, and Baker.
Originally a railroad town, Fernley was established in 1904 and later evolved into an agricultural and ranching community. Today it’s the gateway to both Nevada’s Highway 50 to the west, and Black Rock Desert to the north. Visitors can stroll along a walkway that meanders through artwork created by the local community, or was once featured at Burning Man, like “Bottlecap Gazebo” created by Burning Man artists Max Pynton and Andrew Grinberg.
Old town Dayton lies at the mouth of Gold Cañon on the Carson River. After gold was discovered in California, thousands of fortune seekers trekked west and often camped in this area while waiting for the snow to melt in the Sierras. Many of the old buildings now serve as restaurants and shops. In 1961, scenes of the movie, “The Misfits,” featuring Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, and Clark Gable were shot inside the Odeon Hall.
From its beginnings as a dusty desert crossroads between St. Clair and Stillwater, Fallon has evolved into a rich agricultural area that hosts Naval Air Station Fallon, as well as many iconic annual events. Among the diverse destinations for visitors to enjoy is Lattin Farms for a taste of agritourism, Stillwater wetlands for birdwatchers, and Sand Mountain Recreation Area for off-highway vehicles, hikers and sandboarders. Maine Street Historic District is the perfect start to a great journey!
Austin was settled in 1862 and was once the mother of mining camps and a flourishing Old West town. Eleven buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Place, including the old Gridley Store, St. George’s Episcopal Church, the Methodist Church, St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, and Stoke’s Castle. Stokes Castle was erected in 1897 by Anson Phelps Stokes, a prominent mine developer, railroad magnate, and banker. Stokes sold his mine, milling equipment, and castle in 1898.
Eureka was settled in 1864 by prospectors who discovered silver at nearby Prospect Peak. In the early 1990s, Eureka began to preserve its rich history with the restoration of the Eureka Opera House that now serves as a convention center and cultural arts center. The Eureka County Courthouse was then restored, and the Eureka Sentinel Museum expanded. There are many other beautiful historic buildings to explore along the streets of Eureka.
Ely is a historic mining town full of year-round activities. Today you can experience the arts, events, and outdoor activities including mountain biking and OHVing. Outdoor murals and sculptures created by artists from all over the world depict local history in downtown Ely. The Nevada Northern Railway National Historic Landmark offers a look back at this rail system with rides that travel the original tracks from Ely to the Robinson mining district.
The town of Baker serves as a gateway to the Great Basin National Heritage Area, a region that includes White Pine County, Nevada; Millard County, Utah; and the Duckwater Shoshone Reservation. This area is also home to Great Basin National Park. From the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak to the sage-covered foothills, Great Basin National Park is a place to sample the stunning diversity of the larger Great Basin region.
Before traveling The Loneliest Road in America, make sure to pick up an official Highway 50 Survival Guide or request one at LoneliestRoad.us. Then visit the towns along Highway 50 (Carson City, Fernley, Dayton, Fallon, Austin, Eureka, Ely, and Baker) to get it validated. Once you have at least five stamps from the eight communities, fill in your name and address, tear off the back flap that doubles as a postage-paid postcard, and drop it in the mail to the Nevada Division of Tourism. In return, you’ll receive an official Highway 50 Survivor souvenir and certificate!