Elko

I was just here staying overnight while driving back to SF. Last summer and this summer I tended to stay in hotel chains that I knew already, but the next time I pass through Elko I will stay at one of the many non-chain old fashioned motels that are in town. They are usually cheaper and provide you what you need, even if they don’t have free internet or weight rooms.

But I will try to avoid getting too close to the Casinos.

The place we stopped our third night of cross-country trip. We had to stay in a casino. I wasn’t particularly impressed with anything we saw in northern Nevada.

If you’re going to eat in Elko at all then go to The Star restaurant. It’s about the only place in town even worth stepping into.

I lived in the Elko/Carlin area during my 6th-10th grade years and while I have great memmories of both places…they are definately armpit craptastic towns.

If you’re smart you will not worry about blinking and missing this place but instead close your eyes and hope like hell you don’t open them too soon! ;)

BTW- There are actually FOUR brothels last time I was there (Elko, not a brothel mind you…in 2000) and they all sit on four corners of two crossing streets behind one of the casinos.

It’s bad enough that I have to have the evils of capitalism shoved in my face in the big cities of the United States, but when I get into a sleepy little town in the desert I expected something like the rest of the sleepy towns in the US.

Instead, there’s all these attempts to suckle off of the gambling industry … in every hotel and gas station. The folks there seemed nice enough, but I think Nevada is a good example of a good idea gone bad.

According to the cabbie who took me from the dinky airport to my cruddy hotel, there are three brothels and one topless bar in Elko.

I’d gladly trade all four of those places for one decent restaurant.

I lived there when I was young, and there wasn’t much to do, but now that I am older I can say that I would go back for the Cowboy Poetry Gathering and to hike in Lamoile Canyon again.

Hated it, hated it, hated it! Although, I did enjoy cowboy poetry the first time and it is kind of beautiful, but the shine quickly wears off.

Lamoille Canyon and the Cowboy Poetry Festival. I would go back in a minute!!!

The hills and mountains around Elko contain some of the most beautiful scenery you will ever see. There are deer and wild mustangs raoming. God’s county for sure.

There is some absolutely fabulous hiking opportunities a short drive away from Elko—that’s the reason you might find yourself in Elko (not for the city on its own).

You might be surprised to find the wildflower meadows and cool forests and streams on the mountainsides that you would never guess were there from looking up from the scrub at the bottom.

Lamoille Canyon is particularly impressive… check it out!