Lovelock has been a comfortable stopping place for travelers since the early days of wagon trains. Today, it is a community that still welcomes the adventurous visitor. Explore our historic sites, meet friendly people and revel in our wide open spaces where the sounds of the Old West still reverberate under a clear starlit night sky.
Discover the history, uniqueness and rugged beauty of "America's Outback" where there is something for everyone. Enjoy outdoor recreation including hiking, boating, hunting and fishing. Visit ghost towns, mining camps, the Lovelock Indian Caves, the Immigrant Trail, the 120 year old restored Depot, the Round Courthouse, the City Museum and much more.
We have a full range of amenities for a comfortable stay when visiting this historic area. Please visit the pages below for lodging, restaurant and detailed attraction information.
Lovelock was once a quiet stop for travelers on the Emigrant Trail.
Southwest of Lovelock is the 40-Mile Desert, a barren stretch of alkali flats that was the most difficult part of the wagon journey to California.
Pershing County Courthouse, 400 Main St.
Was designed by Nevada architect Fredrick J. DeLongchamps who used the Pantheon of Rome as his inspiration, resulting in a classical courthouse with a distinct round design. The courthouse was completed in 1921.
Lovers Lock Plaza, 400 Main St. (behind Courthouse) Couples, friends and family are invited to the Pershing County Courthouse Park to symbolically anchor their love by adding a lock to a chain and throwing away the key. It is a tradition adopted from an ancient Chinese custom that has caught on in other places around the world.
Marzen House Museum, 25 Marzen Lane, 775-273-4949
Built in 1874, the Marzen House is now a museum that features mining equipment from the area’s booming mining days, Native American artifacts and items belonging to former Lovelock resident Edna Purviance, who appeared in many early 20th century films with silent-film star Charlie Chaplin.
Lovelock Depot, 1005 West Broadway
The Union Pacific Railroad Depot, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a labor of love for Lovelock residents. In 1998, Union Pacific donated the depot to the town rather than demolish it, and it has been undergoing a transformation ever since.
Lovelock Caves
20 miles South of Lovelock, South Meridian Road, to
Derby Road, follow the signs (Lovelock Cave Backcountry byway booklet
available.) An archaeological site that has yielded 2,000-year-old tule duck decoys and other Native American artifacts. Contact Chamber (775-273-7213) or Museum (775-273-4949) for cave guide.
Unionville A few hours drive from Lovelock, Unionville is a historic mining town where people still live among the rustic, woodsy scenery and mining ruins. The town has a claim to fame with Mark Twain, who bought a mine in the 1860s but abandoned it after digging 12 feet. Other nearby mining ghost towns are Rochester and Seven Troughs.
Where to stay: The Old Pioneer Garden Bed & Breakfast (the inn dates back to 1861).
2805 Unionville Road
775-538-7585
800-538-7556 www.virtualcities.com/nv/oldpioneer.html Wedding packages available.
Rye Patch State Recreation Area, 775-538-7321
The Rye Patch Reservoir along the Humboldt River is a popular year-round destination for fishing, boating and camping. It is 22 miles north of Lovelock on Interstate 80, with 72 miles of shoreline and encompasses 11,000 acres of water surface when full.
Rye Patch has served as a haven for rest, refreshments, camping, fishing and hunting throughout ancient times. According to archeological discoveries, huge beasts – prehistoric camels, bison and elephants – were drawn to the region's freshwater springs some 23,000 years ago. About 8,000 years ago, ancient tribes camped along the river banks during hunting and gathering expeditions. Eventually, tribal communities settled in the region about 2,000 B.C.
When early trappers and explorers arrived in the 19th century, they named Rye Patch for its natural patch of wild rye. Following the Humboldt Trail, these emigrants sought Rye Patch to rest, and feed and water their livestock. Rye Patch Dam was constructed as part of the Humboldt Project in the 1930s to store water for irrigating fields in the Lovelock valley. In 1971, the reservoir and the river below the dam became a Nevada state recreation area.
Tufa rock formations Tufa formations are limestone remnants from the bottom of the long-dried Lahontan Sea, an ancient ocean that once covered most of the Great Basin. Tufa is common in and around desert lakes and the formations are links to Nevada’s ancient origins.
Royal Inn Courtyard Suites
1435 Cornell Ave
Lovelock, NV 89419
775-273-2500 www.royalinnlovelock.com
Lazy K RV Campground 1550 Cornell Ave.
775-273-0577
Lovelock Inn
980 East Broadway
Lovelock, NV 89419
775-273-7375
866-771-2153
The Old Pioneer Garden Bed & Breakfast For your unique country inn wedding or honeymoon – Wedding packages available.
2805 Unionville Rd.
775-538-7585, 800-538-7556
Visit ghost towns, mining camps, the Lovelock Indian Caves, the Immigrant Trail, the 120 year old restored Depot, the Round Courthouse, the City Museum and much more.