Today, Warm Springs, NV, is a ghost town. First settled in 1866 as a stopover for stagecoaches, it never grew very large. It’s biggest attraction was a gushing hot spring. I like to imagine what that might have looked like–steaming water piped into tubs where travellers could soak in a hot bath after days of travel on dusty desert roads. Such luxury! The town is gone, but the water remains.
Somebody’s shattered dream: The Warm Springs Bar & Cafe, now boarded up and falling down.A corral built entirely out of rocks. Maybe the stagecoach horses were kept here.Desert Bighorn on the hill behind the hot spring.Warm Springs sits at the junction of U.S. Route 6 and State Route 375–the Extraterrestrial Highway. The ET Highway runs 98 miles through mostly uninhabited Nevada desert and borders the Nellis Air Force Range with its top-secret Area 51 experimental aircraft and weapons testing site. Over the years travelers on Route 375 have reported UFO sightings, and Nevada officially named the road the “Extraterrestrial Highway” in 1996. In this photo, Larry examines the ditch carrying hot water from its source on a rocky hillside a few hundred yards down to the soaking pool. U.S. Route 6 runs parallel to the ditch. The ET Highway is in the distant upper left-hand corner of the photo, stretching off into the flat Nevada desert. Watch out for aliens!Larry checks the temperature. Hot! An oasis in the desert. The only remaining soaking pool is fenced and surrounded by a few scrappy trees. Not exactly a 5 star kind of place.Keep Out! The pool is still full, but the ambiance is less than welcoming.The bottom and sides of the cement pool are covered in a soft, gooey mineral build-up. Others had obviously come before us (and swam) but we decided to obey the signs and keep out.
Looks pretty exciting. I’m always amazed that someone rich or some corporation hasn’t managed to build a hotel at places like this. Make it some fancy spa hotel for the rich and famous. Jeez, I would be happy if they just made a Mom & Pop style hotel with a hot spring spa! Thanks for posting and sharing the images!
Moby Goes 
Looks pretty exciting. I’m always amazed that someone rich or some corporation hasn’t managed to build a hotel at places like this. Make it some fancy spa hotel for the rich and famous. Jeez, I would be happy if they just made a Mom & Pop style hotel with a hot spring spa! Thanks for posting and sharing the images!
I agree– Looks like someone tried to make a go of it. Maybe they just didn’t get enough traffic (customers) out there to keep the place afloat.
very interesting– Gary
Ohhhh…you stayed out? Where is that adventurous hamburger-eating girl I used to know?
Tom– Not eating many hamburgers these days. Somehow they taste better in Oregon and best of all in your kitchen!
Thanks: email moby goes ghost hunting. Interesting history and area. I can see why u two enjoy seeing the west with Moby. Take care. Love, Dad and Mom