Nevada - Northwest

Plaque describing St. Augustine as the oldest Catholic Church in Austin, built in 1866 and considered to be the 'mother church' of all other Catholic churches in Nevada. Per the article listed below, the building is in private hands that formed a non-profit to restore the structure, it is slated to become a cultural and arts center for the community. It was unclear whether services were still provided at the church. www.goaustinnevada.com/staug.html

St. Augustine Catholic Church, built in 1866 from local materials. Though restoration has occurred that stabilizes the building, the exterior of the church is largely as it was originally.

Looks like it could easily date back to the Lincoln Highway in the early 1900's.

On the right, the Austin Masonic and Odd Fellows Hall, built in 1867, next to it, the Stagecoach Inn.

Very much a ghost sign....barely visible on the upper level of the white building: "Stagecoach *nn Rooms Kitchens"

Bell tower (for fire department?) and a 50's era travel trailer (on the hill) in Austin. The "Lucky Brand Jeans" sign (just below the bell tower) mystified me, that's something I wouldn't expect to see in what is almost a ghost town.

Stokes Castle (see nearby picture)

View out over Reese River Valley from near Stokes Tower, Austin. US-50 runs basically in a straight line just below the center of the picture, the road curving north is NV-305 that goes to Battle Mountain.

Nevada state plaque describing Stokes Castle. The plaque doesn't describe it as such, but I'm surprised it isn't called "Stokes Folly" since it was built rather ornate in 1896/97 and only occupied in June & July of 1897.

Per the plaque in the adjacent picture, the tower/castle had a fireplace on each floor and plate glass windows looking out over the Rheese River Valley.

Stokes Castle, early morning sun. See descriptions with nearby pictures.

Stokes Castle, early morning sun. See descriptions with nearby pictures.

NV-722. The route is labeled on maps as 'old US 50' which, per a Wikipedia article, was the first paved version of the Lincoln Highway, constructed in 1924-25. This is also referred to as NV-2, which was the designation given by Nevada to the Lincoln Highway before the US route system was developed. At this point the route fit the description used for US-50 of loneliest road. Though there are ranches along this section, I saw no other traffic for about a half hour.

On NV-722, old US 50. Not very far back I had passed a sign saying that this section was not maintained. Considering the narrow gap up ahead, I wondered if I'd soon reach a point where I had to turn back.

The road crosses this mountain range in a narrow canyon where there's at least enough water for some trees. Along NV-722, the old US-50.

Unusual columnar rock formations. The canyon was very shaded and I had to take the picture quickly since I had to stop in the middle of the road, but I thought some of the rockhounds on Ipernity might find this interesting.

More of the columnar rock formations shown in the adjacent picture.