Cowboy Country ~ Wells

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Things to see in and around Wells:

Emigrant Trail Center, 395 6th Street, (775) 752-3540. Clinging to the Humboldt River came explorers, fur trappers, and families seeking a new life in California. After the discovery of Sutter's gold in 1848, what had been a trickle turned into a flood and hundreds of thousands came this way, including the ill-fated Donner party. See how they traveled, what they ate, what they wore. Read from the diaries those brave souls wrote as they endured hardships we can only imagine, then see actual trail ruts nearby.

Old Town Front Street Walking Tour. Get self-guided walking tour brochures at the Visitor's Center/Chamber office. Plaques are posted with a brief history of each building -- most of which are over a hundred years old -- or go to http://www.wellsnevada.com and click on "Wells Wants Movie Makers" for a virtual tour of distinctive Wells buildings. Did we mention part of Joyride was filmed here?

Angel Creek is 8 miles south on State Route 231. Open May-October. Beautiful setting for camping. Reservations available (877) 444-6777.

Angel Lake Road/Angel Lake:. Take State Route 231 for a spectacular climb to 8400 feet and beautiful country! Picnic, camping, and restroom facilities available. Hike three miles further to Winchell Lake.

Ruby Mountain Brewery is 9.2 miles south. Take Hwy 93 south for 6.4 miles, turn right at Clover Valley sign, drive 2.8 miles to first ranchhouse on the right. Tours by appointment only (775) 752-2337 or 752-3697. Case sales of this award-winning micro-brew available on site.

Hole in the Mountain is a little past the Ruby Mountain Brewery. Take Hwy 93 south for 6.4 miles, turn right at Clover Valley, continue for 8.5 miles until you reach Weeks Access Road by the Cemetery. You can drive about three miles and then hike the rest of the way.

Tabor Creek Campground is only 30 miles north of Wells via a maintained county unpaved road through the very sagebrush-covered hills rode by cattle king Colonel E.P. Hardesty and the Wild Bunch. Overnight camping with fire pits and picnic tables. Information (775) 753-0200.

Dude Ranches/Backpacking. Experience cowboy life. Click onto http://www.nevadaoutfitters.org.

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 street lights 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 cashed-in by selling land and got out leaving water rights unsecured 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.

Catch Wells Fever! Live the Dream!

Visitor's Center & Wells Chamber of Commerce
395 6th Street
P.O. Box 615
Wells, NV 89835
Phone: 775-752-3540
Fax: 775-752-2172
E-mail: coc@californiatrailinterpretivecenter.com

Wells City Hall
1269 Clover Ave.
P.O. Box 366
Wells, NV 89835-0366
Phone: 775-752-3355
E-Mail: wellscityhall@citlink.net

Wells Rural Medical Clinic
197 Baker Ave.
Wells, NV 89835
Phone: 775-752-3322

Stuart's Pharmacy
647 Humboldt Avenue
Wells, NV 89835
Phone: 775-752-3556

Links of Interest:
Cowboy Country Events Calendar
Wells Nevada Chamber of Commerce