Route: Bullhead -> Pahrump -> Beatty -> Rhyolite -> Death Valley -> Mountain Springs -> Bullhead
Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Roads and Hwys explored: 95 - 215 - 15 - 160
Attraction types: quirky roadside attractions, desert landscapes, abandoned structures, folk art, antique cars
Weekend #3 of life in Bullhead City brought me to some fantastic urban desert exploration.
With my main destination being an overnight camping trip in Death Valley, I drove north on HWY 95 in search of quirky roadside attractions along the way. I drove through Searchlight, where drivers suddenly halt to a 55 mph limit. It's a "don't blink you'll miss it" town with a handful of gaudy casinos and hillsides doted with mobile homes. At the end of the northbound side is a fenced mine shaft. I didn't care to stop here.
Next pass-through was the uneventful city of Pahrump. Nothing interesting here either. But some miles up ahead is the Area 51 Alien Center, which makes for some quirky photo opps. It's a rest stop that's connected to a diner, gas station, and brothel. Right next to it is a fireworks shop that boosts the largest firework in the world.
Onward to Beatty, a cute town with antique junk and classic cars laying around in parking lots and street curbs. It's a quiet, quaint kind of place with transient snowbirds and RV parks. As you head away from the town up north HWY 95, you'll see the Angel's Ladies Brothel sign, and right behind it is a crashed plane.
After visiting the plane crash, I made a u-turn to go south on HWY 95 then onto HWY 374 for Rhyolite, known for it's ghost town and lesser known for its open-air folk art. As I was leaving the boundaries of Beatty I saw 3 burros walking by and had to pull into a random lot to take photos of them.
Upon turning on the road that leads to the ghost town, you'll see some strange art work on your left such as a ghostly rendition of the Last Supper and a tall naked lady made of cinder blocks.
By late afternoon I finally arrived in Death Valley National Park and set up camp at Furnace Creek Campground. After setting up I drove out to the Mesquite Sand Dunes to enjoy what was left of the sun. The Sand Dunes are my favorite part of Death Valley. I love how the winds leave their footprints on the soft sand. I ended my night eating chips and bean dip under the stars while downing cheap rose wine.
Next morning my next door neighbors from San Diego offered me hot coffee. I couldn't refuse. I ran into my car to grab my coffee thermo and chatted with the 2 older couples who were in the next campsite. After breaking down camp, I stopped by the Death Valley Junction which houses the Amargosa Hotel and Opera House. Across the street is a run down, fenced off, old automobile shop.
Last, but not least, I stopped at a small town called Mountain Springs to admire the trees with turning yellow leaves. It more like a mountain village with a saloon popularly frequented by bikers.
Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Roads and Hwys explored: 95 - 215 - 15 - 160
Attraction types: quirky roadside attractions, desert landscapes, abandoned structures, folk art, antique cars
Weekend #3 of life in Bullhead City brought me to some fantastic urban desert exploration.With my main destination being an overnight camping trip in Death Valley, I drove north on HWY 95 in search of quirky roadside attractions along the way. I drove through Searchlight, where drivers suddenly halt to a 55 mph limit. It's a "don't blink you'll miss it" town with a handful of gaudy casinos and hillsides doted with mobile homes. At the end of the northbound side is a fenced mine shaft. I didn't care to stop here.
Next pass-through was the uneventful city of Pahrump. Nothing interesting here either. But some miles up ahead is the Area 51 Alien Center, which makes for some quirky photo opps. It's a rest stop that's connected to a diner, gas station, and brothel. Right next to it is a fireworks shop that boosts the largest firework in the world. Onward to Beatty, a cute town with antique junk and classic cars laying around in parking lots and street curbs. It's a quiet, quaint kind of place with transient snowbirds and RV parks. As you head away from the town up north HWY 95, you'll see the Angel's Ladies Brothel sign, and right behind it is a crashed plane.
After visiting the plane crash, I made a u-turn to go south on HWY 95 then onto HWY 374 for Rhyolite, known for it's ghost town and lesser known for its open-air folk art. As I was leaving the boundaries of Beatty I saw 3 burros walking by and had to pull into a random lot to take photos of them.
Upon turning on the road that leads to the ghost town, you'll see some strange art work on your left such as a ghostly rendition of the Last Supper and a tall naked lady made of cinder blocks. By late afternoon I finally arrived in Death Valley National Park and set up camp at Furnace Creek Campground. After setting up I drove out to the Mesquite Sand Dunes to enjoy what was left of the sun. The Sand Dunes are my favorite part of Death Valley. I love how the winds leave their footprints on the soft sand. I ended my night eating chips and bean dip under the stars while downing cheap rose wine.Next morning my next door neighbors from San Diego offered me hot coffee. I couldn't refuse. I ran into my car to grab my coffee thermo and chatted with the 2 older couples who were in the next campsite. After breaking down camp, I stopped by the Death Valley Junction which houses the Amargosa Hotel and Opera House. Across the street is a run down, fenced off, old automobile shop.
Last, but not least, I stopped at a small town called Mountain Springs to admire the trees with turning yellow leaves. It more like a mountain village with a saloon popularly frequented by bikers.
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| Mountain Springs, NV |
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| Amargosa Hotel, Death Valley Juction |
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| Rhyolite, NV |
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| Area 51 Travel Center, near Pahrump |
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| Furnace Creek Campground, Death Valley |
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| Burros! |
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| A: Bullhead City - B: Area 51 Travel Center - C: Beatty/ plane crash - D: Death Valley - E: Mountain Springs |
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