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Mountain
City and Surrounding
Elko County, Nevada
The location pictured above is several miles north of Mountain City in an area known as the Big Table. After leaving the Mink Ranch on the Bruneau we traveled north, crossing the Idaho line and then turning south again into Nevada. We drove through the Big Table and took in some astounding scenery along the way, not really knowing how close (or far) Mountain City actually was. We had planned to replenish our supplies there. You will see photos from the Big Table, followed by photos from the town of Mountain City below.
We suspect this
place is called the Jones Ranch. It is a well marked and well protected
private home that likely is used occasionally--but we didn't enter
to see if that was actually the case.
Mountain City is located in the northeastern region of Nevada near the headwaters of the mighty Owyhee River, the Independence Mountains, the Bruneau River, and the Jarbidge Wilderness area. Water from this area drains to the north into the Columbia River drainage system and, therefore, is technically not part of the Great Basin. Maps of the Great Basin often exclude this tiny chunk of Nevada for that reason--but that's just a small technicality. The terrain around Mountain City is breathtaking in every direction with verdant pastures and farmland, quaint ranches, cattle, forests, mountains, and vast desert scenery. There is likely no place in the lower 48 states more pristine in terms of air quality, recreation, wildlife and scenery. Within just a few miles of Mountain City are ample fishing and hunting opportunities. The Maggie Summit Trail, the Big Table, and the Bruneau River are just a few of the sightseeing opportunities available to travelers, not to mention the south fork of the Owyhee River which flows right through town.
Time and distance become a blur when traveling...but Mountain City was the next [inhabited] town along our route. We were pleased to find the businesses open and the people extremely accommodating, friendly and informative.
Mel and Lou Basanez, the owners of Tremewan's Store in Mountain City, are prime examples of the genuine good nature of rural Nevadans. I could have stayed and chatted with them all day, but they had lots of other customers to serve. Their store is a wonderful little market selling everything from work boots and jeans to bananas and canned olives. People from miles around depend on the store for their daily provisions.
UPDATE
2002
Mel and Lou closed their store at
the end of the year, 2001. After 40 years of faithfully providing
service to their neighbors, they retired. It is difficult to find
people who are interested in investing in small stores like this,
particularly in a place like Mountain City, so far from any other
communities. After years of searching for someone to carry on the
tradition of Tremewan's Store, Mel and Lou were left with no alternative
but to close its doors. It is sad to see it go, but the Basanez' are
now enjoying a hard-earned break. Below are photos of Mountain City
taken in January, 2002.
Mountain
City, winter 2002.
Tremewan's
Store Front, WInter 2002... now vacant.
Farewell,
Mel and Lou!
Tremewan's Store
in Mountain City
The Mountain City Volunteer Fire Department and a classic Studebaker
pickup.
Tremewan's Store is neighbored by the local Chevron Station where
we observed a large group of weekend bikers on some of the most beautiful
Harleys we've ever seen.
Jim hanging with the bikers
We decided not to cross this bridge--it didn't look like it went anywhere.
By Gregory Martin.
Available from Amazon.com
Elko, Nevada; The Crown Jewel of the Great Basin.
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