Understand
[edit]It was founded as a Mormon settlement in 1864, making it the oldest settlement in Southern Nevada. The town has not changed much since.
History
[edit]Coke ovens here once produced charcoal for the smelters in nearby Bullionville (now a ghost town), but the town's economy is predominantly agricultural.
The name "Panaca" comes from the Southern Paiute word Pan-nuk-ker, which means "metal, money, wealth". William Hamblin, a Mormon missionary to the Paiutes, established the Panacker Ledge (Panaca Claim) silver mine there in 1864.
Get in
[edit]Panaca is in the remote desert of Nevada at the crossroads of US-53 and NV-319.
- From Cedar City, Utah – Panaca is 81 mi (130 km) (about a hour and a half) west of Cedar City on the UT-56 and then NV-319.
- From Las Vegas – Panaca is 166 mi (267 km) (about three hours) north of Las Vegas on the US-93 and then NV-319.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Panaca
See
[edit]- 1 Court Rock. A distinctive hill/rock formation that was used as a jail until 1871.
- 2 Panaca Ward Chapel, 1065 Main St. Panaca Ward Chapel was constructed in 1867 or 1868 as a Mormon meetinghouse. The oldest building in Lincoln County and is Nevada's Historic Marker #182.
Do
[edit]- Pioneer Day. Every July 24th.
Further afield
[edit]- 1 Beaver Dam State Park (south on U.S. 93, east on Beaver Dam Rd), ☏ +1 775-728-8101, [email protected]. 24 hr. Beaver Dam State Park is the most remote park in the Nevada system, located 34 miles southeast of Panaca. It is a wild area of forests, canyons, streams, and, of course, beaver dams. Activities include fishing, camping, and hiking. Day use: $5/vehicle; Camping: $15/night.
- 2 Cathedral Gorge State Park (1 mile north on U.S. 93, west on Cathedral Gorge State Park Road), ☏ +1 775-728-8101, [email protected]. 24 hrs. Cathedral Gorge is a fun gorge of benzonite clay that has been eroded into tall formation. Visitors can wander inside the benzonite formations, which change frequently due to the weather. The park offers a Dutch oven cook-off in September. $5 per vehicle, Camping $15/night, plus $10/night for utility hookups.
Buy
[edit]- Panaca Market, 1105 Main St. A good place to pick up camping food supplies or just food supplies in general. Hours: M-Sa 8AM-6PM. Tel: +1 775-728-4454.
Eat
[edit]- La Cosinita Goyis, 503 Main St (near SW corner of intersection of Main St and 2nd St), ☏ +1 435-592-6733. M-Sa noon-7PM. A Mexican food truck; it appears to be the only eatery in Panaca.
- Historic Silver Cafe, 673 Main St, Pioche, ☏ +1 775-962-5124. 8AM-8PM, daily.
Drink
[edit]Gambling and alcohol are illegal.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Pine Tree Inn, 412 N Third St, ☏ +1 775-728-4675. A bed and breakfast that also houses a bakery and offers horseback riding and ATV guided tours. $70-85.
- Swallow Cove Bed & Breakfast, 892 Blad St, ☏ +1 775-962-2418, [email protected]. Check-in: 3-9PM.
Go next
[edit]- Pioche — 12 mi (19 km) north of Panaca on the US-319, US-93 (Great Basin Highway), then SR-321. The town whose name means pickaxe in French was built to mine silver and has plenty of historic buildings still standing.
- Rachel — 98 mi (158 km) west of Panaca on the SR-319, US-93 (Great Basin Highway), then SR-375 (Extraterrestrial Highway). A little village that is notable for its proximity to Area 51 and the Nellis Air Force base.
- Ely — 108 mi (174 km) north of Panaca on the US-319, US-93 (Great Basin Highway), then US-50. A ghost town that has several museums, one of which focuses on its railway heritage.
| Routes through Panaca |
| Ely ← Pioche ← | N  S
|
→ Caliente → Las Vegas |
| END ← | W  E
|
→ becomes  → Cedar City
|