Destination Database: June 2009 Archives

Goodsprings, Nevada - Pioneer Saloon : 39 Miles (one way)

By
RideSinCity.com
on June 22, 2009 1:00 AM
Goodsprings, Nevada - Pioneer Saloon

Distance from Las Vegas : 39 Miles
Time of year to visit : All Year
Gasoline Available : No
Tips for the ride : Goodsprings experiences Mild Winters and temperatures over 110 degrees during the summer months.

Tourist Information : Nevada Commission on Tourism
Pioneer Saloon Website : Pioneer Saloon

Goodsprings History:
The Pioneer Saloon was built in 1913, and other than a short period from 1954 to 1960, the bar has been open for the last 95 years. Recently the Saloon has been added to the State Register of Historic Places and is under consideration in the National Register.

The bar itself was made in 1860 out of Cherry Wood and was shipped in three pieces from Brunswick, Maine. The trip took the bar around Cape Horn and into San Fransico. One section of the bar never arrived and another section was lost to a fire. The third section is what still stands in the bar today.

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Directions: 
•Take I-15 South out of Las Vegas towards Los Angeles for 30 Miles
•Take the NV-161 exit (Exit 12) toward Jean / Goodsprings for 0.3 Miles
•Turn Right on NV-161 to Goodsprings, NV, 6.7 Miles

Map to Goodsprings, NV

Kelso / Cima, CA : 95 Miles (One Way)

By
RideSinCity.com
on June 15, 2009 6:00 AM
Kelso / Cima, CA

Distance from Las Vegas : 95 Miles
Time of year to visit : All Year
Gasoline Available : No (available at 'State Line')




Kelso / Cima, CA History:
Located inside the Mojave National Preserve, Kelso developed as a railroad stop from Los Angeles to Salt Lake in 1905 where it served as a water stop for the steam engines of the time. Boiler water was needed for the locomotives pulling rail cars up the 18 mile, 2,000 foot grade to Cima, CA. In 1924, the line was sold to the Union Pacific railroad, which built a Spanish Style depot for the people of the town which at one point numbered 2,000 residents.

The Spanish style depot is one of only two depots in this still that are still in existence, the two story building had overnight accommodations upstairs for railroad employees, a telegraph office and a waiting room for passengers. Later, a restaurant nicknamed the "Beanery," served home-style meals and large rooms in the basement served as a community center for local residents. The Kelso Depot now serves as the principal information center for the Mojave National Preserve with museum exhibits, historically furnished rooms, a theater, and bookstore.
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Further up the road lies the town of Cima, CA., the climb from Kelso to Cima still remains as one of the steepest climbs that the Union Pacific has. There isn't much to see in Cima except a few old buildings and the town's post office.

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Directions:
• I-15 S via EXIT 76A toward LOS ANGELES (Crossing into CALIFORNIA)
• LEFT onto NIPTON RD
• RIGHT onto IVANPAH RD
• RIGHT onto MORNING STAR MINE RD
• MORNING STAR MINE RD becomes BRANT CIMA RD
• BRANT CIMA RD becomes KELSO CIMA RD

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Mt. Charleston, NV : 39 Miles (One Way)

By
RideSinCity.com
on June 7, 2009 11:00 PM
Mt. Charleston, NV

Distance from Las Vegas via NV-157 : 39 Miles
Distance from Las Vegas via NV-156 : 58 Miles
Time of Year to Visit : Spring, Summer, Fall
Gasoline Available : No


Mt. Charleston History:
As the summer takes over Las Vegas with temperatures in the triple digits, the local motorcyclists go to Mt. Charleston were the weather averages in the 80's during the hottest months of July through August.

Mt. Charleston is located within the Spring Mountain Range that runs along the west side of Las Vegas to the California border. The tallest peak, Peak Charleston is 11,918 feet.

When riding your motorcycle up the hill be sure to take NV-157 to the very end. This is where the Mt. Charleston Lodge is located at 7,700 feet. When at the lodge you can enjoy a nice lunch and grab something to drink. Take caution and make sure you follow the posted speed limits.

During your time on Mt. Charleston, be sure to take the NV-158 (Deer Creek Hwy) road across to Kyle Canyon. The road is full of twists, turns and views. Take caution as there is usually at least one corner with gravel / fallen rocks that will you will need to avoid. At the end of NV-158, turn left and go up the hill to the Ski Resort for more spectacular views. To come back to Las Vegas, you can either take NV-158 all the way down to I-95 or our suggestion would be to take the reverse route of the way you came, back through Deer Creek to NV-157 and then back down to I-95.

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Directions:
  • Take US-95 N towards Ely/Reno
  • Turn Left on NV-157 to end.
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Mountain Springs Saloon, NV : 32 Miles (One Way)

By
RideSinCity.com
on June 7, 2009 8:00 PM
Mountain Springs Saloon, NV

Distance from Las Vegas : 32 Miles
Time of the Year to Visit : Most of the year
Gasoline Available : No



Mountain Springs Saloon History:
There is alcohol now and there was alcohol then. The parcel of land that the bar sits on now started life in 1938 when Paul Warner along with two other associates that went by Buster and Tweed setup a still to make moonshine using water from a nearby spring. Today the tradition continues as local motorcyclists head up the hump to quench their thirsts.

The Mountain Springs Saloon is somewhat special as you will see a number of Motorcycle clubs and a wide range of bikes all mixed up. Mountain Springs really does have a low key, no attitude atmosphere about it. They have a big outdoor sitting area that is dog friendly and whether by car or motorcycle, it's a great place to go and people watch. There is food and drink service, live bands on weekends, pool tables, horse shoe pits and one pink elephant available for your entertainment.

Just like Mt. Charleston, Mountain Springs see's allot of activity during the summer months as local riders go up to escape the triple digit temperatures of Las Vegas. The ride is fairly boring except for the last 8 miles as you enter the canyon with gentle sweepers at a decent speed limit. Two items of caution, be wary of the speed limits, the Nevada Highway Patrol has a high presence in the area, and the turn off to Mountain Springs kind of sneaks up on you. On your way up and as you pass the Fire Station at the top of the hill start slowing down, the first turn on your right that you need to take to the saloon will come up on you fast and it's not uncommon for the turn to be full of sand and gravel.


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Directions:
  • I-15 South towards Los Angeles
  • Blue Diamond exit (Exit 33) towards Pahrump
  • Take NV-160 North about 20 miles
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