(Winnemucca RV park entrance) |
We have always said that “North America is a land of RV Adventures” and in every corner of the continent there is a gem just waiting to be discovered. Winnemucca, Nevada is one of those gems and it is beckoning to all RV‘ers to come and see what Winnemucca has to offer.
The City of Winnemucca was named after the famous Northern Paiute Indian Chief Old Winnemucca by one of Presidents Lincoln’s mapmakers. When Winnemucca was young, before the discovery of gold in California, several white prospectors came into the area of the Humboldt Sink from Boise River country. When they first saw Winnemucca, he was wearing only one moccasin and his other foot was bare.
In the Paiute dialect, “mu-cha” means moccasin and the white men referred to him as “wan-na-muccha” – or “one moccasin.” This name, part English and part Paiute, pleased Winnemucca, and he adopted it as his new name, being referred to thereafter as Win-ne-muc-cha by his tribe. Winnemucca is the only town in Nevada named after a Native American. Chief Winnemucca died on October 21, 1882.
Our Wild West Caravan stayed at the Winnemucca RV Park at 5255 E. Winnemucca Blvd. The RV Park is family friendly, open all year and offers 50 and 70 foot pull thru sites. 30 and 50 amp full hookups, free cable TV, free WIFI.
Our people found the pool on the day we arrived as it was 90 degrees and it was so nice to relax in and cool off. The ladies discovered the gift store and all the Navajo jewelry. The Winnemucca RV Park is also BIG RIG friendly and for those who like to gamble, there is a free shuttle to the casinos.
Winnemucca is located 167 miles east of Reno on I-80. The city is 5.4 square miles and has a population of 7,500. At first glance it may not reveal it, Winnemucca has more than its fair share of old and interesting architecture. From the 137-year-old Winnemucca Hotel to the merely 77-year-old Humboldt County Courthouse, the early residents of the city took pride in the quality and style of their homes, businesses and public buildings. Four Winnemucca buildings, Winnemucca Grammar School, the W.C. Records House, the old Winnemucca Post Office and the Humboldt County Courthouse are on the National Register of Historic Places. The First National Bank at 352 Bridge Street was first know as the George Nixon’s First National Bank and was reputed to have been held-up by the fabled outlaw Butch Cassidy and his gang on September 9, 1900.
Winnemucca has lots to offer. The end of May is the “Run-A-Mucca Motorcycle Rally”. Motorcycles from all over the United States and Canada come to enjoy this event. “Pari-mutuel Races, Mule Show and Draft Horse Challenge” is the first weekend in June and is the only sanctioned mule event in Nevada. In July you have the “Winnemucca Junior Rodeo” and the “NQHA Silver State Circuit Rodeo”, August has “Fifties Fever”, Remember the fifties and you can relive them in Winnemucca. On Labor Day Weekend it is the Annual Rodeo, you will see more cowboys, horses and action than one town has to see. This is Nevada’s oldest continuous rodeo.
Winnemucca is the heart of Cowboy Country, so it’s only to be expected that much of the year’s entertainment is dedicated to the interplay of man, horse and cow. Great riding, roping and steer wrestling talent is always on hand to take on equally talented bucking livestock at the annual Tri-County Fair and Stampede.
Equine events continue throughout the year as Humboldt County hosts competitions for working cowboys, high school rodeo, barrel racers, and more big roping events than you can shake it stick at. Your seats are so close to the action that the lightning quick reflexes of the cowboys and cowgirls send the mind reeling in excitement as they perform their tasks to win the competition. Rodeos start as early as March and continue right through to October.
Gaming is the Nevada tradition. Gambling was first legalized in Nevada in 1931 to help reduce the impact of the Great Depression. As a point of interest, that fateful bill was introduced by freshman Assemblyman Phil Tobin of Winnemucca. There are many different types of gaming action to be found in Winnemucca, from the slot machines to blackjack, Texas Hold’em poker, craps and roulette. Maybe you would like to try your hand with Lady Luck.
Just one more item, this item was found in the book “101 Things to do in Northern Nevada” - In 1906, in Chinatown, Winnemucca there were a series of strange events that caused quite an uproar. Constable Lavoy was on patrol in Chinatown one evening when suddenly he saw a figure running from him, the Constable was suspicious and gave chase. The Constable fell just as the figure disappeared from view.
The next morning the Sheriff made an investigation of the scene and found a rusty old and dangerous looking bowie knife. This knife was found exactly where the Constable had fallen. A few passing pedestrians saw the Sheriff holding the old rusty knife and the Sheriff asked if they had seen it before. They admitted that the knife in his hand was one that had been buried with its owner in the Chinatown graveyard many years before.
Who or what was the Constable chasing? Had the knife been lying on the street all this time or was it dropped by the figure he was chasing? Could Constable Lavoy been chasing a ghost? You will have to visit Winnemucca to find out.
Whether you stop in for a night or longer you will always be welcome at the Winnemucca RV Park. Tell John, Liz or Lou that the Wagon masters told you to drop by.
No doubt about it, there is something for everyone in Winnemucca, Nevada.
Take care & happy RVing
M.B. & Karen Wilson
Wagon Masters
e-mail wagontrains@msn.com
RV PARKS in the Area
Winnemucca RV Park
5255 East Winnemucca Blvd.
775-623-4458
Mode; T Resort Casino RV Park
1130 West Winnemucca Blvd.
775-623-2588
Hi-Desert RV Park
5575 East Winnemucca Blvd.
775-623-4513
Westerner Trailer Lodge
800 East Forth Street
775-623-2907
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