|
|
|
Welcome to the Nevada web page of the
U.S. Route 6 Tourist Association
The U.S. Route 6 Tourist Association is a
Not-for-profit IRS 501 (c) (3) "Public Charity"
Federal ID Number: 91-2136205
The Association is dedicated to the economic development and
cultural preservation of inner cities, small towns and rural
communities located along all 3,652 miles of historic U.S.
Route 6, aka the Grand Army of the Republic (Memorial)
Highway. We are all volunteers, either retired or keeping
our day jobs. Sponsorships and Donations are used to help
support our Sr. High School and College Student Internship
Programs. Join the Team!
"Working to preserve our American Heritage"
Sponsorships Application
NOTE: You can also use the below Donate to pay for
sponsorships.
Great Basin National Park
in Nevada
Explore ancient bristlecone pines and Lehman Caves in a 77,000-acre park.
The Great Basin National Park, Nevada, was established in 1986, though its caves had been declared a national monument in 1922. This park protects a diverse ecosystem that spans from desert to high alpine on the slopes of Mount Wheeler and is famous for its ancient bristlecone pines, the oldest known living organisms on earth.
Written by Dan Bourque https://ilovenationalparks.org/great-basin/
NOTE: On June 21, 1937, U.S. 6 became a transcontinental highway. Officials of AASHO extended U.S. 6 to Long Beach, California, 3,652 miles from Provincetown on Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
Now for a short comprehensive video > (Turn on the sound and enjoy!)
Highlights from Great Basin National Park - YouTube
Google Maps - Great Basin National Park
* * * * * *
Hotel Casino & RV Park | Baker & White Pine County, NV | Border Inn Casino
Located near Great Basin National Park along Historic U.S. Route 6
The Border Inn Casino | Facebook
Border Inn Casino - Google Maps
Border Inn - From the Archives
Starting with a TV news story
August 18, 2017
The Border Inn: A 'lonely' place with a split personality | KSL.com
Newly expanded Border Inn West Desert traveler's oasis has a tale to tell by Dean Draper
The Loneliest Road in America begins and ends at the Border inn on the Utah/ Nevada border.
The Loneliest Road campaign pinpoints points of interest and businesses along U.S. 6&50 through Nevada. Depending on one's direction of travel, the experience includes a stop (or a start) at the Border Inn. Experiences cover a broad spectrum at and about the Inn.
In 1951, U.S. 6&50 changed its route from Marjum Pass to its current location through King's Canyon. The change opened an opportunity for a business along the national highway in the Snake Valley. Now U.S. Senators, sheepherders, foreign tourists, and locals all make use of the Border Inn on a regular basis.
"The first Inn was the log house that was the original visitor's center brought down from Lehman's Cave. We just added on to the building that replaced the cabin after it burned down in 1981. The new building can now take care of weddings, family get-togethers, parties and other large groups," said Denys Koyle, co-owner of the Border Inn.
He has worked at the Inn as long as his mother. Gary manages the day shift and Denys manages the afternoon and evening. Running the Inn would seem be a full time effort, but both are heavily involved in other projects. Perea is running for White Pine County Commissioner-a seat he lost last election and is seeking to regain. Koyle is Chairman of the Great Basin Heritage Route. Both are well acquainted with the visiting senators and congressmen. They not only serve them, but also work with them on various political issues.
In 1979, eight motel rooms were added to the Inn. Believe it or not, the Border Inn has an international reputation. It is known for its showers.
An early morning fire burned the log structure to the ground. There was no fire insurance. The gas pumps were still intact, so were the motel rooms,
"We pumped gas and rented rooms all summer long. Some people bought the hotel Nevada in Ely and we sold to them.”
The newly revamped Inn reflects growing needs tret by the owners and operators of this way station of the Great Basin located far from civilization. It has seen many colorful characters both as visitors and operators.
"The Inn was opened in the early 1950s by Johnny the Sheik Slydowski. He was a bit paranoid out here in the middle of nowhere. When a customer pulled in for gas after dark, he would keep a rifle trained on them while his wife Amelia pumped the gas," said Koyle.
Slydowski sold the Inn to Neno and Shirley Schena in 1960. Shirley was pregnant with her seventh child and caring for a newborn when the Schenas took over the Inn. They were without the benefit of modern conveniences like electricity Travelers were offered the best available or had to wait until they reached the big cities of Delta or Ely. After two years, the Schenas opted to lease the Inn and moved back to Delta.
Martin Baker ran the Inn for 16 years until May, 1977. Baker later bought the Inn. It had a décor matching the years and then the payments stopped. I repossessed the Inn in 1985. They had kept a caretaker at the Inn and it was in reasonable shape. We built the building most people were familiar with in 1986. This building included our famous showers," said Koyle.
Business isn't and hasn't always been hopping at the border. When Koyle came into possession of the Inn again, her business was made financially sound by an unlikely source the Snake Valley's sheepherders. Free showers are offered to patrons involved in the sheep business- people with limited access to running water. These people come from Peru, Australia, Mexico, all over the world, and they have spread the word about the Border Inn.
"The sheepherders and shearers would come to the Inn for supplies, a meal and to visit the bar. They kept the business alive during the winter months. If you were waiting on them, you wanted them to shower first," she said.
The Border Inn also serves as an involuntary sanctuary for stranded and desperate travelers. Although it is usually warmer than Delta in the winter, desert temperatures sometimes get bitterly cold in the winter. In the late 1980s it got down to -34 degrees.
"In February of that year, a carload of Indians from India broke down in the cut near the top of King's Canyon. They were terrified. They had started to write farewell letters to their families," said Koyle. "They were brought to the Inn to recover."
Koyle said the most interesting traveler aided by the Inn was a bicyclist brought in five years ago when the temperature was -12 degrees. Although dressed warmly, his gloves were not adequate. He had frostbite on his fingers.
"Gary is a trained EMT. He was able to change the dressings on the man's fingers after we took him to the doctor in Delta. The guy stayed with us for about five weeks. One morning he wasn't there when we woke up. He had gone on his way. The last we heard of him he had been seen at the McDonald's in Delta," Koyle said.
Koyle led a short tour of the expanded facility. Cut metal signs identify the different meeting and dining rooms. The décor pays tribute to the sheepherders with sheep figuring heavily in the decorations. He has at chef who started working at the Inn at age 17. He left for a few years and has come back with increased skills and training. Koyle said a group of 150 to 200 is not beyond his ability to cater.
"I was valedictorian of my class at Delta High and a wallflower. I'm probably the last person you would expect to have been running a bar in Nevada for the last 30 years," Koyle said.
Gary and Denys are looking forward to continued service to the many people who visit the west desert. Stop in and see what they have been up to lately to make that visit more: enjoyable. Travelers will see that, wallflowers bloom in the darnedest places
* * * * * *
Only in ELY!
Artist concept of NNRY's Currie, NV depot
Relocated and Restored at Star Flats Dear Friends, (July
2021)
Thank you for all of your support. It was successful.
The White Pine County Commissioners voted unanimously to
include the Nevada Northern Railway's Phase VI Star Viewing
Station project as one of their recommendations to the
Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) Board
for funding. We received over 400 letters of support from
White Pine County, the State of Nevada, across the United
States and one letter from Japan! Thanks to that wonderful
support, we were included as one of the recommended
projects.
The next step is for us to put together the grant proposal.
The improvements covered in this grant proposal are:
Improve the railroad track on the HiLine for a better Star
Train experience.
Relocation of the original historic Currie, NV depot from
its current location (71 miles north of Ely) to the Star
Flats Viewing Area (see artist rendering, above).
Restoration of the Currie depot and repurposing as living
quarters for star interpreters in addition to creating
modern restroom facilities for passengers.
Expansion of the existing star platform to expand the
capacity for Star Trains, as well as providing a location
for additional programming.
Once the grant proposal is put together it will go to the
Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) Board
for funding. That should be before the end of the year.
Again THANK YOU for all of your support! This is a very
exciting project that will expand our programming and better
yet, save a historic Nevada Northern Railway building the
Currie Depot.
Mark
Mark S. Bassett
President, Nevada Northern Railway
Layout of the proposed Star Flats program area
Express Your Support
To Open The Railroad to McGill
Dear Friends,
This is about opening the Railroad's branch line into
McGill. The Nevada Northern Railway Foundation has a grant
pending before the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM)
Southern Nevada Public Lands Advisory Committee to open the
railroad track to McGill Nevada. The amount of the project
is $10,168,421. Our project was in Round 18, "Parks, Trails,
and Natural Areas" It was recommended for Secondary Funding,
but now needs to be promoted to Primary Funding.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting written
comments on these nominations until close of business (4:30
PM Pacific Time) on Wednesday April 14, 2021.
Commentsmay be sent via email to:
blm_nv_snplma_comments@blm.gov
Please mention "Nevada Northern Railway Phase III, Ely
railroad right-of-way (East Ely to McGil Depots) in White
Pine County, NV" in your comment. It does not have to be
long. It is most effective to start your comment saying that
you are in favor of funding the project.
The government committee will meet in May to review comments
received and develop a final recommendation for
consideration by the Secretary of the Interior in
consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture.
The Foundation is almost done with restoring the McGill
Depot. Opening the track to McGill will once again bring
trains to McGill and increase tourism opportunities for the
community.
Funding of this project will once again open the railroad
track to the McGill Depot from the East Ely Depot. Opening
the railroad to McGill will increase tourism for both Ely
and McGill. This will create jobs in both communities as
well as business opportunities too. The opening of the
railroad to McGill will open large swatches of BLM land to
the public for their recreational enjoyment.
This is a win-win for both communities. Please take a moment
and send an email today.
Thanks
The
Abandoned Tracks of the Nevada Northern - Mc Gill and Ely -
YouTube
********
Railroad Museum - Ely, NV - AOL Video
Search Results
Nevada Northern Railway -- National Historic Landmark
* * * * * *
Travel Nevada on U.S. Highway 6
Travel Back in Time!
History – Tonopah Historic Mining Park
Travel Nevada on US Highway 6 - The Nevada Travel Network
A Special "Thank You" to The Nevada Travel
Network
for making this Wonderful Web Site Available on the
Internet.
Picture by Frank Hargrove - March 2012
********
OK - here's a quicky. Same place as one before but no snow. This is the
west side of Montgomery Pass, NV. Old US 6 looking southwest towards the
Sierra Nevada's. The new alignment is to the right which was constructed
in '62. Not far past where the two highways disappear is the CA border.
This area is one of my favorite old road obsessions. When I was kid
(about 7) the highways pavement & white / double yellow lines were very
visible, but the road was very abandoned. It even sported the signs
"Road Not Maintained, Drive At Your Own Risk - Nevada Highway
Department" (some are still there). I begged, bargained, anything to get
my parents to drive on it or at least stop so I could walk on it - never
happened. Every time we went to my grandparents I would look forward to
staring at all the old alignments, especially this one. By the time I
traveled this myself it was more of a jeep trail than an old highway,
although when your on it you can still see the pavement in some
sections. I have driven coming from the opposite direction.
***********************************************************
The U.S. Route 6 Tourist Association is seeking
that special individual for the position of Executive Director for
the State of Nevada.
The Association is currently in the process of
creating state divisions of the National Association.
Our programs are serious. Our activities are
educational, fun and family oriented.
Sr. High School and College student interns play
a major role in
our development and programs.
The Executive Director would oversee all programs
and activities within the state, and work closely with local
communities, city, county, state and federal agencies.
He / she is authorized to apply for grants and
manage development programs.
MISSION
The U.S. Route 6
Tourist Association is a Not-for-profit IRS 501 (c) (3)
Public Charity
dedicated to the economic development and cultural preservation of
inner cities, small towns and rural communities located along all
3,652 miles of the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.
For
additional information contact Russell J. Lombard, President/CEO at:
RussUSRoute6@aol.com
NOTE:
We are currently all non-paid volunteers, either retired or keeping
our day jobs. Some of our student interns have worked their way up
to the position of Executive Director. The Association covers all
expenses related directly to Association activities.
|
