Travel Nevada: Petroglyphs, historic architecture, and miles of trail make Austin, Nev. a must-see Highway 50 destination

AUSTIN, Nev. — It’s not often you’ll find a classic historic mining town full of options for the more active traveler. Austin, Nevada is not only a living ghost town and a cultural heritage get-away but it has a multitude of adventurous options including hiking, mountain bike trails and more. Founded in 1862 during the silver rush, the town is located exactly in the center of the state along the Pony Express route on Highway 50 on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at elevation 6,605 feet.

Austin features 11 sites on the National Register of Historic Registry.

Traveling from Fallon to Austin, wild horses are roaming the land and upon arrival there is a historic graveyard on the right. At that point, look up the hill to see the Stokes castle. Continue into town to the welcoming rock walls from 1860 quarry throughout the town.

Small quantities of high quality turquoise, gold and silver are still mined in Austin and visitors say it’s the small town atmosphere of Austin that is one favorite reason to visit.

 “Our shopkeepers enjoy helping visitors find their way around town,” said Dee Helming, Austin Chamber of Commerce.  “Austin was a very prosperous mining town in the1800s and Main Street is still the place to stroll.”

And, for those looking to do more than stroll, Helming points active travelers to places nearby such as Toquima Cave and Hickison National Recreation Site. “One of the most unique things about our town is that it has adventure for many types of people,” stated Helming. “In addition to touring historical landmarks and enjoying the pristine scenery, people can take-on technical mountain bike and hiking trails, ATVs, fly-fishing, and more.”

Fourteen miles east of Austin on U.S. 50 is Toquima Cave, an archaeological site that contains prehistoric pictographs and petroglyphs. Visitors can park at Toquima Caves Campground and then hike about a quarter of a mile on a marked trail to the cave. On the way to Toquima Cave is Spencer Hot Springs, a cluster of natural springs on unimproved public land and the largest pool has water of about 140 degrees flowing into a concrete tub. There are no amenities but a relaxing soak can soothe traveling bodies.

On this same outing, visitors can continue approximately 16 miles further to Hickison National Recreation Site where new trails await and caves with petroglyphs for viewing. There is also a campground but no water.

The Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park is 60 miles south with 700-year-old fossil remains and the well-preserved turn-of-the-century ghost town, Berlin, is part of the park.

For both the technical rider and site seer, mountain bike trails are intertwined along the rocky, brush-covered hillsides surrounding the historic mining town along the famous Pony Express Trail. Some of the rides around Austin include the Castle Loop, Cahill Canyon Run, Bob Scott Slide, Gold Venture Loop, Crest Cut-off, and the Pony Canyon Down Hill Trail.

For spectacular scenery, the nearby Toiyabe Mountain Range begins in northwestern Nye County north of Tonopah and runs approximately 120 miles northeast through eastern Lander County, making it the second longest range in the state at 100 miles long ranging up to almost 12,000 feet in elevation. Toiyabe is a Shoshone word meaning "big mountains."

For backpackers and horseback riders, the Toiyabe Crest Trail is designated a National Recreation Trail with its 72 miles. Above 8,000 feet and with slopes of 30 to 80 percent, the north end of the trail starts one-half mile south of Kingston guard station and ends on the South Twin River. Kingston is also known for fly-fishing. Alta Toquima Wilderness lies in the central portion of the Toquima Range and includes Central Nevada’s highest peak, Mt. Jefferson, (11,949 feet). There are approximately 50 miles of maintained trail within this area.

The highest point near its southern end is Arc Dome at 11,788 feet. The Arc Dome Wilderness is the largest in Nevada compromising the heart of the Toiyabe range from Ophir Summit to the North end of Peavine Canyton to the south.

Austin has three of the oldest remaining churches in Nevada and each are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. First is St. Augustine's which is being restored as a cultural center for Central Nevada (services are no longer held). Built in 1866, it is the last remaining structure of the first four Catholic churches built in Nevada, giving it the honor of being the oldest Catholic Church in Nevada, it features a nine rank Henry Kilgen pipe organ, and murals by Jolly Brothers painted on the church’s walls during the mid 1930’s.

Second, St. George’s Episcopal Church was built in 1878 and is still in regular use with its display of intricate brickwork and impressive Gothic order of architecture standing tall and surrounded by shade trees. It also features an Alexander Mills pipe organ, 1 of 6 known in existence. This church is well maintained and is in the best shape of any of Austin’s historical churches. Services are held weekly.

Third is the Methodist Church which has been converted into the Town Hall. Erected in 1866, it played a leading part in the affairs of the community as a church and as a lecture and entertainment hall. Famous opera star and Austin resident Emma (Wixom) Nevada started her singing career here and came back on numerous occasions to perform throughout her life. Her piano is still inside the building. Its construction was financed largely through the efforts of the “Methodist Mining Company,” which accepted many large donations of stock in local mines and sold it in the east. In 1980, restoration of the exterior and in 1983, it now serves as Austin’s town hall.

The International Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Nevada and no longer a hotel, it now operates as a bar and café.  A portion of the bar and east side of the building was the original International Hotel in Virginia City, built in 1859. Taken down in early 1863 to make room for Virginia City’s new and larger International Hotel, sections of the original building were loaded on the wagons and brought to Austin. The sides were rebuilt and given their original name. Other sections were added and the completed hotel was famous for its dining room and upstairs ballroom. Many concerts and large balls were held upstairs in the Grand Ball Room. Emma (Wixom) Nevada, world famous European opera singer, as a girl made her debut appearance here.

Stokes Castle is a unique three-story stone tower located just outside of town with a spectacular view of up to 60 miles south and 32 miles north. Completed in June, 1897, it was built by Anson Phelps Stokes, mine developer, railroad magnate and member of a prominent eastern family as a summer home for his sons.

Made of native granite, the huge stones were raised with a hand-winch and held in position by rock wedging and clay mortar. The architectural model for the castle was a medieval tower Anson Stokes had seen and admired near Rome. It originally had two floors, a third one added later, each with a fireplace, plate glass view windows, balconies on the second and third floors, and a battlemented terrace on the roof. It had plumbing, electricity and was sumptuously furnished. It was built of 800 tons hand-hewn native granite and 17,000 ft of lumber. A hand-operated windlass was used to raise the huge slabs of granite into place.  Each floor had a fireplace on the north side, and the second and third floors each had a wooden balcony on the south side.

Within 60 miles of Austin are a state park and 4 national recreation areas. Eleven sites are on the National Register. The landscape includes Reese River Valley extending 41 miles south at 10 miles wide with the highest elevation at 8777 ft. and Smoky Valley which is 65 Miles long with an average of 13½ miles wide and elevations up to 6275 feet.

For authentic "tastes" of the town, visitors can check out this blog and the Toyaibe Café is a favorite. The Austin Museum in Austin offers a wealth of authentic details. The 1860 Courthouse is still in use.  Now  through Aug. 28, the museum will feature an art show called ‘Honest Horses' about the area mustangs, sponsored by the Nevada Arts Council.

For more information and lodging, visit www.austinnevada.com or call the Austin Chamber of Commerce (775) 964-2200.  Austin is one of six friendly communities along Nevada’s Pony Express Trail Hwy 50. For more information on the Pony Express Territory, please visit www.ponyexpressnevada.com or call (888) 359-9449.

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Nevada's Pony Express Territory: Set on 17 million acres of wide open space, Nevada’s Pony Express Territory reveals rugged beauty, rich history, undisturbed nature and black night skies. As the Pony Express celebrates its 150th year, the spectacular Nevada territory is where the Pony Express Trail is connected by Highway 50 now coined "The Loneliest Road in America."
Pony Express riders once galloped along this road where now the friendly towns of Dayton, Fallon, Fernley, Austin, Eureka, and Ely welcome visitors. Discover unique charm, ample dining, historic lodging, boutique shopping and Nevada-style gaming. Explore ghost towns, old mines, rock art sites and nature preserves for Old West adventure. There are no waiting lines in Pony Express Territory. Visit www.ponyexpressnevada.com or call 1-888-359-9449.