It’s no secret that Nevada offers a wide selection of glitzy resorts and casinos, though venture further afield to discover an eclectic mix of quirky and off the beaten track stays that are anything but ordinary. Overnight in an off-grid mountain yurt, a historic mining cabin, or test the courage in a haunted hotel or eclectic clown motel – all requiring a sense of adventure for an experience that is irresistibly different.
Check into Nevada’s unique retreats and unusual accommodation:
Free lodgings off the beaten track
The Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM) maintains first come, first served cabins all over Nevada — some in far away ghost towns, and others near natural hot springs. One dirt-road beauty is the Soldier Meadows Campground and BLM Cabin, a free, off-grid cabin with a woodfired stove and located by a flowing river of natural hot springs. A remote escape with the only neighbours being a resident band of wild burros who call the area home.
Ghost town encounters
With more ghost towns and mining ruins than any other state, road-trippers to Nevada can explore a ghost town by day, then spend a night of solitude in one. History comes alive at Gold Point Ghost Town, a once-booming mining town that’s now home to a well-preserved main street, picture-perfect saloon, and the one-of-a-kind Gold Point Bed and Breakfast with the former miners’ accommodation now converted into comfortable cabins for welcome travellers.
A spirited sleep and the Lady in Red
For more ghostly experiences, The Mizpah Hotel is said to have plenty of spirit. The opulent, five-story hotel built in 1907, is a Nevada icon with a significant history as the former gathering place for the mining and political elite of Nevada. Today, it’s been lovingly restored to match its Victorian-era authenticity. It’s also home to the ‘Lady in Red,’ Nevada’s most famous ghost who paranormal experts believe still lingers on level five, welcoming courageous guests who choose to stay on this floor with her hauntingly-sweet whispers.
Clowning around
Picture overnighting at a clown-covered motel next to a haunted historic cemetery. In Nevada, that very opportunity exists at the Clown Motel in Tonopah, along the Free Range Art Highway. Its colourful lobby is home to a large, private collection of clown figurines and memorabilia, a theme which carries throughout each room. For those that don’t wish to stay, a drop-in is always welcome to pick up a unique souvenir from the gift shop onsite.
Off-grid overnighter in a wilderness yurt
One of Nevada’s best kept secrets is the Ruby Mountains range, about 30 minutes south of Elko in northeastern Nevada. Book one of the glamp-tastic backcountry yurts: the ridgetop Ruby High Yurt at 10,000 feet above sea level, or the Conrad Creek Yurt with the babbling water sounds providing a meditative soundtrack for a good night’s sleep.
David Walley’s Resort – Photo Credit | Travel Nevada
Steamy springs
Trade hotel hot tubs for hot spring pools at David Walley’s Resort, where the surrounding breathtaking Sierra Nevada views are just as healing as the mineral-rich waters. Nestled on the western side of Carson Valley and minutes from Genoa, there is a variety of accommodation to choose from including spacious studios, villas and multi-room cottages. Kick back in one of the five on-site hot spring mineral pools that have been enjoyed for longer than Nevada has been a state.
Rendezvous at the Shady Lady
As the name suggests, this accommodation in Beatty has an intriguing past. Once one of the most famous brothels in the Silver State, the new owners have converted the Shady Lady into a personality-packed B&B where the roaming wild peacocks and heart-shaped bathtub remain. There are four themed lodgings, including the love-themed Paradise Room, the stately Victorian Room, the Asian Room with antiques and fireplace, and the Willow Tree Cabin which feels like a mountain retreat in the middle of the desert. The Shady Lady is a great base for exploring the nearby Death Valley National Park.
Fit for a king or queen
How about a castle in the desert? Paradise Ranch Castle serves up 360 degree views of the spectacular Reese River Valley and towering Toiyabe Range above, not far from the original Pony Express Route outside Austin. With ornately decorated rooms, a massive collection of dolls and baseball memorabilia, and the requisite full suits of armour and swords. In the basement, you’ll find “The Dungeon” – a game room, lounge and full bar.
Close encounters of the third kind
Road-trippers can feast their curiosity on alien-themed everything while travelling along Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway. Book at night at the Little A’Le’Inn in Rachel, a small town with a big reputation in the UFO and aviation community. Or head for Beatty’s Atomic Inn on the outskirts of Death Valley National Park, originally constructed in 1980 to accommodate defence contractors and military personnel working on top-secret operations nearby.
A taste of the Wild West
Settle into Nevada’s Western heritage at a handful of guest ranches that honour the lifestyle and icons of the American West. Kick back at the Old Yella Dog Ranch and experience the nearby Massacre Rim International Dark Sky Sanctuary, hear stories from true stewards of the land at the Cottonwood Ranch surrounded by spectacular countryside, and celebrate the majesty of adopted wild horses at the Mustang Monument Eco Resort and Preserve with its mix of accommodation including comfortable cottages and hand-painted tipis.
