Wells Nevada Chamber of Commerce

Explore the Wells Area

ANGEL LAKE 13 miles from Wells, NV. Take Humboldt Avenue south, turn right at the Angel Lake sign (just south of I-80), follow road to Angel Lake. Picnic tables and restrooms available. Angel Lake Recreation Area 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. On the way to Angel Lake 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. Angel Lake Recreation Area 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. Both Angel Creek and Angel Lake campground have some sites reservable through the National Recreation Reservation System (1-800-280-CAMP). At the bottom of the access to Angel Lake is the Angel Lake RV park. For more information visit their website at Angel Lake RV Park (www.AngelLakeRV.com). Between Angel Creek and Angel Lake is the Winchell Lake Trail head, a 5-mile contouring hike to Winchell Lake and into the East Humboldt Wilderness. The road beyond Angel Creek (about 8 miles from Wells) is steep and winding and is not recommended for vehicles pulling trailers or heavy motor homes. The upper Angel Lake road (beyond Angel Creek) closes from the end of October through Memorial Day weekend.

CALIFORNIA TRAIL INTERPRETIVE CENTER 395 6th Street. Wells, Nevada. Relive life as a pioneer on the California Trail. Artifacts, tours and gift shop.

FABULOUS FORTY Old US 40 in Wells, Nevada is something special. Here is a highway-era motel strip which boasts period neon lights and original architecture. Once known as the Victory Highway, our stretch of “Fabulous Forty” boasts classic motor courts dating back to when leaded regular was less than 25 cents a gallon. Rediscover the convenience of a parking space that puts your auto’s trunk within ten feet of your motel room door. The Lone Star Motel, the Old West Inn, the Sharon Motel, the Shell Crest Motel, and the Wagon Wheel Motel are comfortable and competitively priced. On a warm summer night walk to trendy Dee’s Restaurant, visit The Old West Inn, a one-time haunt of cowboys and gandy dancers still popular with local ranch hands, or shoot pool at Luther’s Saloon. Looking for gaming and a fabulous salad bar? Pick up your room telephone and call for the 4-Way Casino shuttle, or enjoy the evening and walk over.

HOLE IN THE MOUNTAIN Take HWY 93 south for 6.4 miles, turn right at Clover Valley, continue for 8.5 miles until you reach the Weeks access road by the cemetary. You can drdive about 3 miles and then hike the rest of the way.

METROPOLIS GHOST TOWN 15.2 miles from Wells, NV. Turn left on 8th Street, continue for 12.7 miles, take the first left after you cross over the cattle grate, drive 2.5 miles. The New York based Pacific Reclamation Company's scheme of building a city and surrounding it with farms looked like a good idea late in 1909. When the plan was on the drawing board the next year it looked even better. In the midst of over 40,000 acres of farms was to be a modern city of 7,500. An office opened in Salt Lake City in the summer and the great reclamation project soon to rise on the Nevada desert was heavily publicized. Streets, lots and two parks were staked out in 1911. The semi-monthly Chronicle began publication in September, boosting the sale of dry farm land at $10 to $15 an acre, irrigated land at $75, and town lots for from $100 to $300. Metropolis eventually had graded streets, broad cement sidewalks, hydrants and streetlights in the four block commercial district. Later that year the Southern Pacific built an eighteen mile spur from its main line in Tulasco and erected an elaborate depot and a small park with trees. A hundred foot high dam was built early in 1912, along with the large canals and an expensive water distribution system for the town. A reservoir began to form behind the dam and land sales boomed; by year's end about 700 eager colonists, over two-thirds Mormon, had settled in the vicinity. The town then had a post office and several businesses including a wagon factory, five saloons and a modern brick hotel costing about $75,000. The same year farmers in Lovelock Valley initiated a suit enjoining the Pacific Reclamation Co. from using certain creeks in the headwaters of the Humboldt. A court decision allowed only enough water to irrigate about 4,000 acres in the Metropolis vicinity. The irrigation ditches were proving unsatisfactory too, in that they delivered too little water to many farmers and too much to others. Plaqued by these and other difficulties, the company went into receivership in the spring of 1913; the promotional paper ceased publication that December. Though a fine $25,000 brick school was opened in 1914, it was clear that the reclamation scheme was not successful. Farmers were moving away because of the water problems, which were compounded by several drought years, high interest rates charged buyers, litigation over water and land rights and general discontent. The farms that remained had more water available after the exodus and for the rest of the decade were successful in raising turkey-red wheat and potatoes as well as dairying. In the early 1920's they shipped cream to Reno by railroad. Social life centered in the recreation hall with dances and parties, and at the hot springs where picnics and baseball were enjoyed. Beginning about 1925 the town and farming activity steadily decreased. The Southern Pacific abandoned its branch that year. Buildings were moved away and land was abandoned. The famed hotel succumbed to fire in 1936; the post office closed in 1942 and the school was shut down five years later. No one lives in the town today, but about seven ranches are left.

OLD TOWN WELLS Lake & 7th Street, Wells, NV. The historical main street was constucted in 1876 & 1920 and served as the center for business and recreation. Jack Dempsey, the famous boxer, worked as a bouncer for one of the local saloons. The Coryell house is the oldest standing structure in Wells. It was built in 1879, and can be seen at the corner of Lake Ave. & 9th Street. Some of the houses in Wells were constructed of railroad ties, and examples of these can be found on 8th & 9th Streets.

RUBY MARSH CAMPGROUND Located in southern Ruby Valley, the Ruby Marsh Campground borders the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge administered by the U.AS. Fish and Wildlife Service. This recreation area is in a stand of juniper and pinion pine trees at the base of a steep slope to majestic Pearl Peak. It is also the home of an extensive stand of bristle cone pine trees, one of the oldest living organisms on earth. The campground has 35 single-family campsites, a fish cleaning station, and RV sanitary station. It overlooks the marshes of Ruby Lake, home of many species of birds. The campground is visited primarily by bird watchers, fishermen and hunters. Both trout and bass fishing are popular on the Refuge. The Refuge headquarters is located only 1 1/2 miles north of the campground and is a must to visit to obtain information about the local flor and fauna. The county road through Ruby Valley is the route of the Hastings Cutoff of the California Trail, route of the ill-fated Donner Party. Cave Creek, at the Refuge headquarters, was a major camping area for California bound emigrant wagon trains. The small community of Shanty Town is located 1 mile south of the campground and basic supplies are available at the general store. About 7 miles south of the campground is the old site of Fort Ruby, a U.S. Calvary post that was developed to help protect local settlers, riders of the Pony Express and later, traffic on the Overland Stage Route. Another 2-3 miles south of the Ruby Fort is the Overland Pass Road, which roughly follows the original Pony Express/Overland Stage Route. The route is marked on-the-ground and can easily be seen intermittently.

RUBY MTN. BREWERY 9.2 miles from Wells. Take HWY 93 south for 6.4 miles, turn right at Clover Valley sign, drive 2.8 miles to first house on the right. Tours by appointment only. For additional information call 775-752-2337 or 775-752-3697.