Tonopah Nevada Historic Mining Park Is It Worth Visiting

Tonopah, Nevada, known as the “Queen of the Silver Camps,” is approximately midway between Las Vegas and Reno. During the early 1900s, it gained recognition due to its silver and gold deposits. The high prices of precious metals, including lithium clays, have led to new mining projects in the area. Tourism is Tonopah’s primary income source and plays a significant role in driving the local economy. Below are some popular things to do and see in Tonopah, Nevada.

Tonopah Historic Mining Park

The Tonopah Historic Mining Park is located on old mine dumps on a hillside that overlooks the historic mining town. Covering about 100 acres of the original mining operations in Tonopah, the park is a must-visit for any history enthusiast. You should begin your tour at the visitors center, where you’ll be asked to sign in and watch a 20-minute movie. After that, you can explore the park independently or take a guided tour with a docent. For those who prefer to avoid walking, guided Polaris tours are offered for a small fee.

Some of the highlights of the mining park include the Silver Top mine ore house and headframe, Mizpah Mine, Hoist and headframe, Montana Mine and Mill ruins, Desert Queen mine buildings, North Star Mine, and a Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad trestle. Many old buildings are open so that you can take a peek inside. Tonopah Historic Mining Park is quite large and will take a few hours to explore. The Visitor Center and movie are free, and a self-guided walking tour costs $5. Guided Polaris tours are $12 per person and require a reservation. The park allows dogs on the Guided Polaris tour and self-guided tours.

Central Nevada Museum

If you are a history enthusiast, add the Central Nevada Museum to your must-visit list in Tonopah, Nevada. The museum boasts an impressive collection of old photographs, intriguing mining machinery, buildings, and artifacts that showcase Tonopah’s rich history. It also features excellent exhibits that shed light on the Tonopah Army Air Field, active during WWII, and the early families, mining activity, and Native Americans that significantly shaped the town’s past. Additionally, the museum boasts an extensive research library with a remarkable selection of books and periodicals that will captivate any history enthusiast. Website.

Belvada Hotel

Tonopah offers a range of accommodations, including various hotels and motels. One of the most exciting options is the Belvada Hotel, which has a rich history. Initially built in 1906 as the Nevada State Bank & Trust, the building has hosted a variety of tenants over the years, including a bank, Nevada Club Saloon, Drug Store, and a Cigar Shop. In the 1930s, it was transformed into The Belvada Apartments.

By 1985, the building was vacant and in need of renovation. The Town of Tonopah purchased the building in 2013 and updated the exterior. The current owners, who also own the Mizpah Hotel across the street, have completed the renovation. The hotel has five stories with forty guest rooms on floors 2-5, while the lobby and café are on the first floor. Dog-friendly. Website.

Mizpah Hotel

The Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada, is recognized as the Jewel of the Desert, offering modern amenities in a historically significant setting. The hotel was established in 1907 and was among the first luxury hotels in Nevada. It was also the tallest building in Nevada, standing five stories high. Today, the hotel offers 52 rooms, the Wyatt Earp Bar and the Jack Dempsey Room for upscale dining.

Is the Mizpah Hotel haunted? There is no proof that it is or ever was haunted, but During the hotel’s heyday, a high-class lady of the night lived on the hotel’s top floor and was strangled in the hotel by a jealous lover. It is said she haunts the hotel. There are reports of a soldier who died in the hotel and is believed to roam the upper floors. And if that’s not enough to convince you, the Mizpah is said to have haunted. Ghost children in the middle of the night and ghost bank robbers are said to reside in the basement. You can book a room at the Mizpah Hotel and learn more about the history of the hotel at their website. Dog-friendly.

The World Famous Clown Motel

The Clown Motel was founded by Leona and Leroy David, who opened a motel next to the cemetery where their father was buried. They decided to display their father’s collection of clown-related items to attract visitors. The unique attraction was an instant success, and the motel became known as the Clown Motel.

The Clown Motel has recently become a popular roadside attraction and features a museum and gift shop for visitors. Those who dare can even spend a night in the motel, but beware; it is believed to be haunted due to its location next to the historic Tonopah Cemetery. While some improvements could be made to the motel’s rooms, there’s no denying that it could use sprucing up; it remains a unique and unusual destination for those seeking an adventure to share with their friends. Dog-friendly. Website.

Dining in Tonopah

There are limited options for dining in Tonopah, including breakfast-only joints, fast food eateries, the Jack Dempsey Room at the Mizpah Hotel, which serves dinner only, and Ton pah Brewing Company on Main Street.

Nearby Things To Do

Goldfield The International Car Forest (30-miles)

The International Car Forest of the Last Church, also known as the Junk Car Forest Goldfield, Nevada, is a captivating collection of old cars and buses half-buried in the Nevada desert. The unique display of automobile art is situated in the middle of nowhere near the semi-ghost town of Goldfield. Approximately 40 vehicles were painted and placed in the desert by artists Chad Sorg and Mark Rippie.

Nevada Historic Sites