Pioche
Understand
Pioche (pronounced pee-oach) is a former mining town with a population around 1,000 people. The town is the county seat of Lincoln County and is named after François Louis Alfred Pioche, a San Francisco financier and land speculator originally from France. The word pioche is French for pickaxe.
Climate
Due to the town's higher altitude (about 6,060 feet (1,850 m) above sea level), the temperatures are cooler with more snow and rainfall.
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Get in
The only viable method to get Pioche is to drive. The U.S. highway 93 comes from the Las Vegas area to the south and from Ely, Nevada to the north. A substantial drive through unpopulated desert is required so plan to have water and a full gas tank before heading out, especially during the summer.
The nearest airports are in Las Vegas or Salt Lake City.
Get around
The town is very small and mostly walkable for the downtown area. A personal car is required outside of the downtown area as there is no public transit.
See
- 🌍 Lincoln County Museum, 63 Main St, ☎ +1 775-962-5207. free, but accepts donations.
- 🌍 Boot Hill Cemetery. This cemetery was created in the 1870s specifically for criminals of that era.
Pioche has several historic buildings.
- 🌍 Million Dollar Courthouse (Old Lincoln County Courthouse), 69 Lacour St. An old courthouse with a turbulent history. Its million dollar name comes from the final cost paid out in 1937 after years of overspending and mismanagement.
- 🌍 Old Mountain View Hotel. An old hotel built in 1895, that apparently once hosted President Herbert Hoover in 1930.
- 🌍 Brown's Hall-Thompson's Opera House (Gem Theater).
Do
- 🌍 Echo Canyon State Park, ☎ +1 775 962-5895. $5/vehicle, Boat launch $10.
- 🌍 Spring Valley State Park, ☎ +1 775 962-5103. 24 hrs. Parking $5/vehicle, Boat launch $10, Camping $15/night, Camp and Boat $20/night.
Gambling
If you win... Chances are that, if you win it big in Pioche and you are not a U.S. citizen your winnings will be subject to a 30% withholding tax from the Internal Revenue Service. That $10,000 slot winning can dwindle quite quickly if that is taken off the top. Not to worry though you can reclaim your gambling winnings tax through a 1042-S form. You should get this from the casino so don't lose it: it is your starting ticket to getting your gambling winnings back. |
As with most Nevadan towns, Pioche offers a few gambling opportunities.
- Bank Club (formerly Alamo Club), 723 Main St, ☎ +1 775-962-5116.
- Overland Hotel & Saloon, 662 Main St., ☎ +1 775 962-5895.
Buy
- 🌍 A & B Services, 27 Lacour St, ☎ +1 775-962-5822. The town's gas station.
Eat
- 🌍 Ghost Town Art & Coffee Co., 597 Main St, ☎ +1 775-962-5229. 11AM-7PM, W: Closed. A small art gallery and cafe run by rockstar Kelly Garni. A great place to stop for lunch.
- 🌍 Historic Silver Cafe, 673 Main St, ☎ +1 775-962-5124. M-Sa: 8AM-8PM, Su & Tu: Closed.
Drink
- 🌍 Nevada Club, 738 Main St, ☎ +1 775-962-5170.
- 🌍 Bank Club (formerly Alamo Club), 723 Main St, ☎ +1 775-962-5116.
Sleep
- 🌍 Overland Hotel & Saloon, 662 Main St., ☎ +1 775 962-5895.
Connect
Go next
- Panaca – Located approximately 12 mi (19 km) south of Pioche on the SR-321, US-93 (Great Basin Highway), then SR-319 is Panaca. Panaca is a Mormon settlement and one of two places in Nevada that forbids gambling (the other being Boulder City).
- Rachel – Located approximately 108 mi (174 km) west of Pioche on the SR-321, US-93 (Great Basin Highway), then SR-375 (Extraterrestrial Highway) is the little village of Rachel. The town is notable for its proximity to Area 51 and the Nellis Air Force base.
- Ely – Located approximately 108 mi (174 km) north of Pioche on the SR-321, US-93 (Great Basin Highway), then US-50 is the fellow ghost town Ely. The town has several museums, one of which focusses on its railway heritage.
Routes through Pioche |
Twin Falls ← Ely ← | N |
→ Panaca → Las Vegas |