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Wells Nevada
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By Perry Mack
Although the town of Wells was founded in 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad, use of the Humboldt Wells dates back thousands of years to the Western Shoshone who still live in a colony overlooking the town. Shoshone, Hudson Bay trappers, mountain men, and westbound wagon trains replenished and refreshed themselves at the Humboldt Wells and RV travelers continue to do so today.
As a hub for regional ranchers and California Trail sites, Wells has an Emigrant Trail Center to tell the story. Three rodeos, Nevada State Fiddle Contest, annual car show and a 1/2 marathon to Angel Lake combine with stretches of the ‘Fabulous Forty’, once known as the Victoria highway, to give a period feel to this small town. Proud of its past, an airport, nine-hole golf course, casinos, and restaurants connect Wells to the Twenty-first Century.
Outdoor enthusiasts love the region, which enjoys some of the best hunting & fishing west of the Mississippi; there is horseback riding and hiking to pristine alpine lakes and excellent camping & RV’ing.
One of Wells unique sights is Metropolis Ghost Town. Soon after cattle king Colonel E.P. Hardesty sold his U7 ranch northwest of Wells, the so-called Pacific Reclamation Company bought land, and in 1911 advertised what they promised would be a planned community of 7,500. A four-block business district with concrete sidewalks and streetlights sprang up and the railroad laid track to the booming town. The grandest three-story hotel between Reno and Salt Lake opened followed by the brick high school.
Pacific Reclamation profited by selling land but water rights were not secured so Metropolis withered. Today sagebrush stands higher than most of the ruins, exceptions being what remains of the high school, the hotel, and a monument to mark the passing of hard-working pioneers doomed to see their dreams evaporate into the high desert air.
A popular site for visitors is Angel Lake, which includes a couple of camping options. The first is Angel Creek Campground and picnic area. This recreation site is located in a mature grove of aspen and looks down upon the sagebrush/grass valley floor. The campground consists of 18 single-family campsites and a group picnic area. The second is Angel Lake Recreation Area, which consists of a 26 single-family unit campground, an 11-unit picnic area, and the trailhead for the Grays Lake trail.
All of these areas are located in "snow bank" aspen at about 8,500 feet. The lake is stocked by the Nevada Division of Wildlife and is a popular fishing spot. Occasionally, mountain goats and bighorn sheep can be seen near the lake. Because of its elevation, this area is popular during the summer when valley temperatures rise. You can make reservations at both Angel Creek and Angel Lake campground through the National Recreation Reservation System (1-800-280-CAMP).
A word of caution here, the road beyond Angel Creek (about 8 miles from Wells) is steep and winding and is not recommended for vehicles pulling large trailers or heavy motor homes. The upper Angel Lake road (beyond Angel Creek) closes from the end of October through Memorial Day weekend.
Event Calendar for Aug/Sept
August 3rd &4th Wells Rodeo Ruckus
The largest junior rodeo in Northeastern Nevada has over 250 participants over two day’s of rodeo fun for the kids.
September 7th, 2013
Race to the Angel
½ Marathon with a 3250ft elevation change from the town of Wells to Angel Lake.
For more info visit www.racetotheangel.org and watch the YouTube video at http://youtu.be/jhiR2EnQXOg