Fallon, Nevada

Our next stop was Fallon where we stayed at the Fallon RV Park, which, even though it was on a busy road was pretty quiet.

From Fallon we drove along Highway 50 ‘The Loneliest Road’ to the Grimes Point Archaeological site, unfortunately for us we chose to visit on a grey, windy day.   We followed the trail around the petroglyphs; luckily it was only a short trail as the wind was really cold.

From there we followed a dirt road out to the Hidden Cave section of the park.   The cave is only open on certain days, needless to say not the day we visited.   Still we followed the trail around and discovered that we were walking on the shores of ancient Lake Lahonten which once covered nearly all of present day Nevada.   Looking across the huge flat expanse in front of us, it was hard to imagine that prehistoric man would’ve had sandy beaches and waves lapping at his feet.

After finishing the trail we rejoined Highway 50 and headed east to explore the remains of Sand Springs Pony Express Station and visit Sand Mountain a huge sand dune created from the sands of ancient Lake Lahonten.

The Stillwater Northern Paiute tribe believe the huge dune is Panitogogwa, a giant rattlesnake travelling north east with the wind at its back and can be heard ‘singing’ as it moves towards its hole.   Part of the dune is used by ATV enthusiasts and we saw lots of them racing up and down the steep sides.

The Sand Springs Pony Express Station was buried under the sand until it was exposed after a storm in 1976.   The walls of the station were made of what looked like lava rock and surrounded by sand, apparently the water was warm, disgusting and tasted of sulphur.   It was an interesting place to visit, but must’ve been a dreadful place to live.

In the other direction is Fort Churchill which was established in 1860 to help combat Indian raids on the Overland Trail to California.   The Fort is near the Carson River, Buckland Station Pony Express Station and an Overland Trail stop.  Surrounded by mountains Fort Churchill adobe ruins have been stabilised but aren’t safe to enter.

Fort Churchill.

Buckland Station is a Nevada State Park and has been partly renovated.

One of the things that amused us were the ‘courting candles’, apparently they were used by fathers to limit the amount of time daughters spent with their suitors, so the more the father approved of the suitor the more time you were able to spend together. 

Have fun, we are!