Nevada Lincoln County

A water tower built by the CCC in the 1930's -- use of the tower was soon discontinued when it was discovered that the water was not suitable for drinking. (Best viewed as part of Lincoln county set)

A bathroom in the park, built in the 1930's by the CCC. (Best viewed as part of Lincoln county set)

My very trusty and dependable camping and exploration vehicle -- still running very well and very comfortably, with 100K of miles including many rough roads around the west.

A picnic pavillion built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's (Best viewed as part of Lincoln county set)

As noted in an adjacent picture in the Lincoln County Nevada set, Coyote Springs is (was) a residential development in a remote area about 90 miles north of Las Vegas. On this visit in December, 2008, there were still no houses constructed though the golf course remained in very good shape -- and apparently unused. The palm trees near the entrance to the development were also wilting, suggesting that work on the development was at a halt. The two 12/08 pictures were taken on a Friday afternoon at about 4PM, when it would have been expected that there would be some construction activity in the area -- though I saw no one. (Best viewed as part of Lincoln county set)

As noted in an adjacent picture in the Lincoln County, Nevada set, Coyote Springs is (was) a residential development in a remote area about 90 miles north of Las Vegas. On this visit in December, 2008, there were still no houses constructed though the golf course remained in very good shape -- and apparently unused. The palm trees near the entrance to the development were also wilting, suggesting that work on the development was at a halt. The two 12/08 pictures were taken on a Friday afternoon at about 4PM, when it would have been expected that there would be some construction activity in the area -- though I saw no one.

Coyote Springs. These pictures speak for themselves -- a lush golf course in a rural arid environment, in what was to be a desert development but no houses have actually been built, and the greens are maintained for a very small number of golfers. (see nearby pictures) (Best viewed as part of Lincoln county set)

This lifeless looking picture is of Coyote Springs, an area that was being developed in 2007 to be an entirely new city about 50 miles north of Las Vegas on US 93. While I typically try to be understanding of development, I find the entire concept of Coyote Springs to be completely unfathomable. It is being built along a 2-lane highway 30 miles from the nearest Interstate (I-15), in an area where there is a limited supply of water, no existing industry, and no recreational potential other than high desert scrub and mountains. It simply seemed to be an effort to take what was a relatively pristine natural environment and destroy it. Of course, because it is being built, it will also draw from the water resources north of it, causing damage there as well. It seems to be the epitome of irresponsible development -- but then, the West is famous for that. Hopefully the credit and stock market crash of 2008 will stop this development. UPDATE: Yea! Due to the collapse of the real estate market, a large part of the development is going to be leased out for solar power generation: greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/brightsource-expand... ( greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/brightsource-expands-land-deal-in-nevada )

The Caliente Landing Strip or Delamar Landing Field. This is simply a gravel landing strip that was built in the 40's, with no indications of there having been any other structures here. Access to it is over a rutted dirt road. From nearby US 93, you can't even tell that there was an air strip here -- it just looks like open desert. It is visible, however, in a satellite view (see map). Considering the remoteness and condition of the field, it is difficult to imagine how it might have been used. However, considering the secrecy of government and military activities in the 1940's and 1950's, it is possible that this was involved in training and/or testing of secret aircraft.

Cemetery at Delamar, NV, which is an abandoned mining town about 15 miles off US 93. There's a fairly well-graded dirt road for much of the distance to it, and then a rutted dirt road which was fine when I took it but is probably a problem when there has been rain. I wouldn't do it in a low riding car -- having a detailed (BLM) map of the area is advised, because you can get lost. (Best viewed as part of Lincoln county set)

Ruins at the other end of the road in the adjacent picture. (Best viewed as part of Lincoln county set)

The largest of the ruins in Delmar are of former commercial and governmental buildings (if I recall correctly, the large ruins in the center was a bank). Scattered throughout this picture, including in the valley in the upper right, are piles of rocks that represent the foundations of houses. Further up the road was a large mining area, and to the right in the area that would be out of the picture, was another large mining area. The ruins in the adjacent picture were at the upper end of the road that runs through this picture. (Best viewed as part of Lincoln county set)

Nevada route 319 between Panaca and the Utah border near Modena.

Looking south from the access road for the lower lake of Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, which is about 100 miles north of Las Vegas. (And north of Coyote Springs, the adjacent pictures in set) (Best viewed as part of Lincoln county set)

Distinctive house in Panaca, NV

Pioche is the county seat for Lincoln County -- the court house is an interesting 1950's design.

The housing on the southern end of town runs right up to an abandoned mining area.

Pioche cemetery with former Godbe smelting mill in the background. The towers, buckets, and cables going over the cemetery carried ore from the mines above town, to the mill below (the red stacks to the left of center)