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Austin
Nevada: Where
to Stay
Located
midway along The Loneliest Road in America and at the
geographical center of Nevada, Austin was the largest of
30 busy mining camps in this region of the state in the
1860s and 1870s.
It
was silver that brought more than 10,000 people to the
city following an accidental discovery of the mineral by
a pony express rider (at least that's one of the
stories). The Nevada Central Railroad ran down the main
street, at the end of 92 miles of track from Battle
Ground. Fifty million dollars in silver was produced in
this town, which was named after Austin,
Texas.
The
town has some fascinating stories: The International
Hotel was moved -- board by board -- from its original
site in Virginia City. Emma Wixon, the daughter of a
prominent pioneer Austin doctor, went to Europe as Emma
Nevada and found fame as an opera singer. Mining
financier Anson Phillips Stokes used part of his wealth
to build a three-story "tower" as his summer home -- the
replica of a tower outside of Rome.Three churches built
in the 1860s and 1870s stand today, as reminders of the
days when churches in Nevada were funded with donated
mining stocks and pipe organs were shipped "around the
horn" from Europe. Austin today is a town that reflects
these early days, along its main street and in other
parts of town. Many of the old buildings remain in
various states of decline, decay and restoration.
What
to See & Do
Austin
is set in the middle of a fine recreation area that
includes parts of the Toiyabe National Forest.
There are many forest and BLM campgrounds in the region,
including an excellent campground in the Bob Scott
recreation area east of town along Highway 50. Seventy
million-year-old remains of huge fossils are found in
Ichthyosaur State Park, which also preserves the
substantial remains of the Berlin ghost town -- one of
the many mining camps of the 1860s. The park and ghost
town are 60 miles southeast of Austin at an elevation of
7,000 feet. There are campgrounds in the park, which is
reached by taking Nevada Highway 21.
The
Reese River Valley, extending south from Austin,
is a prime fishing area with more campgrounds operated by
the Forest Service. Spencer Hot Springs is located 21
miles east of town on Monitor Road. Water at 140 degrees
pours into a concrete tub. Wooden bathtubs were used by
early miners and Austin townsfolk. South of the springs
is Toquima Cave, with Indian pictographs and a
primitive campground. Diana's Punch Bowl, farther
south, is an old geyser.
Lincoln
Motel
28 Main Street, Austin NV 89310
(702) 964-2698
This is one of two standard motels in this historic
mining town. Rooms are air conditioned and there is
coffee available in the units.
Pony
Canyon Motel
P.O. Box 86, Austin NV 89310
(702) 964-2605
Located on Highway 50, this motel has queen beds in
otherwise standard units. The motel is near cafes and
services.
Austin
Camping
Austin
RV Park (Austin NV 89310) is a commercial RV
campground, located beside Highway 50 in Austin. For
reservations, call (702) 964-2393. Most camp sites in the
area are located in the national forest, or on BLM
land.
Bob
Scott Campground is at the mountain summit beside
Highway 50, 9 miles east of Austin. Kingston Campground
is farther from town: 12 miles east on U.S. 50, then
south on State Route 376 for 16 miles and finally 6 miles
on Forest Road 20012. RV length limit: 22 feet. Primitive
camping.
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