2012 Winnemucca Visitor Guide

S GUIDE 2012 R O T I S VI

INNEMUCC W A NEVADA

PHOTO COURTESY JESS SMITH

Brought to you by The Humboldt Sun in conjunction with the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority and the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

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The heart of Humboldt County and the hub of the West Welcome to Winnemucca!

Nevadans are proud of their wideopen spaces, beautiful mountain and valley vistas and fascinating history, but sharing these things with visitors makes us even prouder.

Here in Winnemucca, you’ll find a little bit of everything, from off-road adventures and western cowboy fun to unique museums and shopping. Hiking and biking trails snake through the surrounding mountains and the untamed terrain is perfect for an ATV excursion or camping trip. I highly recommend dinner at one of the local eateries, including fine family-style Basque restaurants, where visitors

Brian K. Krolicki can share in a meal experience that is centuries old.

And of course, what would a visit to

Nevada be without a dance with Lady Luck?

The friendly atmosphere of Winnemucca’s casinos invites beginner and experienced gamers alike to sit down and enjoy a casual evening of slots, table games or poker. Feel free to ask the dealer for help and learn a new game or try your luck at your favorite slot machine. You’ll find a friendly face around every corner as you enjoy a night of Nevada-style gaming.

I hope you enjoy your visit and take full advantage of everything Winnemucca and Northern Nevada have to offer.

Best regards, Brian K. Krolicki, Lieutenant Governor

Winnemucca is the only town in Nevada named after a Native American The City of Winnemucca was named after the famous Northern Paiute Indian Chief Old Winnemucca by one of Chief President Lincoln’s map makers.

Winnemucca When Winnemucca was young, before the discovery of gold in California, several white prospectors came into the area of the Humboldt Sink from the Boise River country.

When they first saw Winnemucca, he was wearing only one moccasin and his other foot was bare. In the Paiute dialect, “mu-cha” means moccasin and the white men referred to him as “wan-na-muc-cha” — or “one moccasin.” This name, part English and part Paiute, pleased Winnemucca, and he adopted it as his new name, being referred to thereafter as Wan-ne-muc-cha by his tribe.

The chief spent a lot of time in the region of the town of Winnemucca, attending “fandangoes,” ritual gatherings of several hundred people.

Chief Winnemucca and his daughter, Sarah, traveled across the country, bringing attention to the plight of their people. In 1880, they presented their case in Washington, D.C. A statue of Sarah Winnemucca is housed in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. As a spokesperson for her people, Sarah gave over 300 speeches to win support for them, and she met with President Rutherford B. Hayes The Sarah and Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz Winnemucca in 1880. Her 1883 autobiography, “Life statue in Washington, D.C. among the Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims,” was the first book written by a Native American woman.

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Winnemucca Fast Facts

Photo courtesy J. Carmen Kofoed

The Humboldt County Courthouse.

• There are about 7,500 people in Winnemucca.

• The population of Humboldt County is roughly 18,000.

• Humboldt County receives 8 inches of precipitation annually.

• The average summer temperature is 98, while the average winter temperature is 20 degrees.

Welcome to Winnemucca!

Winnemucca Municipal Golf Course

The City of Winnemucca welcomes you to our community!

Our city has four well-maintained parks with sheltered picnic areas, playground equipment, restrooms and other amenities that are perfect for a leisurely picnic or your next family gathering.

Vesco Park is located on Mizpah Street, and contains playground equipment, sheltered picnic areas, restrooms, three softball diamonds and two tennis courts.

Also at Vesco Park you can find the Winnemucca Skate Park, offering plenty of dips and dives for skateboarders of all ages. The park plus the nearby golf course cover 65 lush acres.

Winnemucca has two swimming pools — Bode Howard Memorial Pool is an indoor facility offering both lap swim and open swim hours six days a week. Memorial Pool, located next to Vesco Park, also has a weight room and pickleball nearby. Sage Heights Pool, located north of Winnemucca just off US Hwy. 95, is open during warm weather.

Perhaps the feather in Winnemucca’s cap is the beautiful nine-hole municipal golf course.

The course features well-maintainted greens and two pond fountain features. Tee times are available during warm weather months.

Located on the south end of Winnemucca is the Sports Complex, boasting four regulation-size softball diamonds. During the summer, the area is busy with both softball and soccer, with ice skating offered during the coldest days of winter.

Memorial Pool

Vesco Park

Sage Heights Pool

City of Winnemucca

City Hall

Proud of it!

Call Winnemucca City Hall at (775) 623-6338 for more information or to reserve one of the parks; or stop by and see us at 90 West Fourth St. in downtown Winnemucca.

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Winnemucca Visitors Center combines past and present Winnemucca has long been a stopover for weary travelers winding their way through the treacherous routes of the Great Basin.

Today, due to its central location between San Francisco and Salt Lake City, it continues to offer a long list of lodging, dining and entertainment amenities that lure travelers off the interstate.

Venture through the antique wooden doors of the newly-improved Humboldt County Visitors Center and you will find a wealth of infor-

The displays at the Buckaroo Hall of Fame trace the rich history of the cowboy life in northern Nevada.

mation about the area, and you’ll The Humboldt County be welcomed by the Humboldt Visitors Center is open for self-guided tours six days per week; County Chamber of Commerce.

Sundays seasonal. For Winter This group has mastered the “art hours and other information, of the welcome,” and the staff call the Humboldt County Chamber of Commerce, there is a treasure-trove of knowl(775) 623-2225, or log onto edge about Winnemucca and the www.humboldtcountychamber.com surrounding areas.

A major display in the Visitors Center is the William Humphreys Big Game Collection. This is a collection of more than 53 big game specimens representing more than four continents.

Visitors are also treated to the Buckaroo Hall of Fame, a display of authentic buckaroo life from those who helped tame the Great Basin. Other exhibits in the Visitors Center include those representing the mining and other local industries, as well as historical representations of the Great Basin, the pioneer trail, local Native American heritage and Basque heritage.

The Humboldt County Visitors Center is full of local history and information and should be on the “must-see” list for any traveler.

William Humphreys’ Big Game Collection

Buckaroo Hall of Fame The Buckaroo Hall of Fame is located inside the East Hall of the Winnemucca Convention Center. The display pays tribute to the cowboys who helped tame the wilds of Nevada, and includes memorabilia from several area cowpokes. Each year, a new addition is added to the fold, the display yields new insight into the lives of those who worked with cattle and horses so many decades ago.

The well-displayed array of artifacts gives visitors a glimpse into the hard life that many of these range riders faced. Worn saddles, boots and spurs attest to the many hours of labor they've seen, while photographs of weathered faces - proud of a life welllived - gaze back at visitors. The Buckaroo Hall of Fame is open 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Saturday (Sundays seasonal). The exhibit is free and open to the public.

BLM Rock and Mineral Display The rock and mineral display inside the Visitors Center showcases the many types of materials that are found in the northern Nevada desert. Each display is labeled by type, and also notes the location of discovery. Also on hand are antique bottles, and even the model of an Agustasaurus skull, found locally.

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William Humphreys’ Big Game Collection is a display of 53 large animals collected over many years.

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PROUD TRADITIONS Most of the people who make their home in Winnemucca have their livelihood tied to the land in one form or another.

Agricultural pursuits and mining for gold, silver and other precious minerals are what bring many families to our small city, and love of the rolling hills and deserts are what make many of them stay.

Winnemucca is located 167 miles east of Reno and 265 miles southwest of Boise, Idaho.

The city covers 5.4 square miles and has about 7,500 people. The city of Winnemucca is the seat of Humboldt County, and, since much of the county is rural, nearly half of

Photo by Michael Michaelsen, Winnemucca Publishing

Heavy equipment pairs with high-tech processes in the modern gold industry. the population lives inside the city limits.

Winnemucca sits at a geographic crossroads — Interstate 80 takes travellers east and west through Winnemucca while U.S. Highway 95 brings drivers from Oregon and Idaho into the middle of town. Jungo Road takes adventurous drivers into the heart of the Black Rock Desert. Finally, a rail line with daily Amtrak service runs parallel to many of the town’s major streets.

The city is also a cultural crossroads. There is a large Basque population who speak their native language, Euskera, and practice the customs of their homeland on a daily basis. In addition, there is a large and active Hispanic population in the community. The Cinco de Mayo celebration and the festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe are not to be missed!

Finally, northern Nevada is enriched by the presence of several Native American tribes, one of which, the Western Band of the Western Shoshone, have a colony within the city limits of Winnemucca.

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Ready for a stroll through history?

Though a first glance may not reveal it, Winnemucca has more than its fair share of old and interesting architecture.

From the 137-year-old Winnemucca Hotel to the merely 77-year-old Humboldt County Courthouse, the early residents of the city took pride in the quality and style of their homes, businesses and public buildings.

Four Winnemucca buildings — Winnemucca Grammar School, the W.C. Records House, the old Winnemucca Post Office and the Humboldt County Courthouse — are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Here is a quick introduction to some notable representatives of Winnemucca’s living architectural history.

1. The Winnemucca Hotel The Winnemucca Hotel, 95 Bridge Street. This hotel is the city’s oldest building, though the exact date of its construction is difficult to substantiate. It is believed that the building was constructed in 1863 by Louis Lay and Co.

4. W.C. Record House, W.C. Record House is located at 146 West Second Street. This house was built in 1874 and is one of the city’s oldest structures. It features gingerbread gables and other Gothic Victorian touches.

5. The Gables Guest House The Gables Guest House, 124 Lay Street. This structure, built in 1903, was originally called the Winnemucca Sanatorium and was the town’s first medical building built specifically for that purpose.

6. Brown House Brown House, 322 W. Second Street. This is the former home of Merwyn Brown, whose distinguished career included 18 years as a Humboldt County District Attorney and 21 years as Sixth Judicial District Court judge. The bungalow-style home was built in 1913.

7. Reinhart House Reinhart House, 343 West Second Street. This home may be the most architecturally interesting home in Winnemucca. It was built in 1909 by Guy Sisson and is a fine example of the Greek revival style.

For more information about the Winnemucca Walking Tour, stop by the Humboldt County Visitors Center, 30 W. Winnemucca Blvd. and pick up your free brochure and map!

9. Winnemucca City Hall Winnemucca City Hall, 90 W. Fourth Street. This building served as Winnemucca’s Post Office for 70 years (1921 to 1991), and has been extensively renovated for use by the City.

12. Humboldt County Courthouse Humboldt County Courthouse, Fifth and Bridge Streets. When the old courthouse burned down in 1919, this building was constructed, and opened with much fanfare in 1921.

14. Kluncy’s Apartments Kluncy’s Apartments, 583 Lay Street. Finished in 1912, this home was built by Bert Kluncy, a native of Germany who was one of the county’s most prosperous ranchers.

10. First National Bank First National Bank, 352 Bridge Street. This building is best known as George Nixon’s First National Bank, which was reputed to have been held up by fabled outlaw Butch Cassidy and his gang on Sept. 9, 1900.

15. The Martin Hotel The Martin Hotel corner of Railroad and Melarkey Streets. This rooming house and restaurant was built in 1913-14 and was constructed to serve the heavy railroad traffic of the day.

11. Winnemucca Mercantile Winnemucca Mercantile, 355 Bridge Street. This building was constructed in 1898 by the Browns, the First Family of hardware and home furnishings in Winnemucca’s early history.

16. Shone House Shone House, 602 Bridge Street.

Built in 1901 by hotelier Thomas Shone, the structure was nearly destroyed by fire in 1980, but today has been restored and serves as a boarding house.

2. Humboldt River Bridge Spanning the river at the north foot of Bridge Street, the bridge was constructed in 1910.

3. Lamb House The Lamb House, located at 108 Melarkey Street was built in 1914 by young Winnemucca architect Frederick DeLongchamps for Graham and Nellie Lamb.

8. St. Paul’s Catholic Church St. Paul’s Catholic Church, corner of Fourth and Melarkey Streets. This church was built on the site of an 1883 mission and is the only example of Spanish Colonial-style ecclesiastical architecture in the area.

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13. Winnemucca Grammar School Winnemucca Grammar School, 522 Lay Street. With its pleasant red brick and white trim exterior, the grammar school is arguably the most impressive in the city. Built in 1927-28 at a cost of $100,000, the school has been going strong ever since.

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The Humboldt Museum is located adjacent to Pioneer Park.

The Museum is open weekdays from 9-4 and Saturdays from 1-4. For more information, visit the Museum’s website: www.humboldtmuseum.org

The Humboldt Museum can truly boast a “mammoth” display! Castings of bones found in the Black Rock Desert now have a permanent home on the second story of the museum. Visitors can take a step back in time and imagine a landscape populated by these enormous beasts.

——— Below, these wooden indians were originally used by local casinos for promotions. Now they’re indoors at the museum, and restorations are planned.

A LOOK AT OUR PAST Ever wonder what became of old Winnemucca, the town where brave pioneers sought their fortune and weary cowboys hitched up their steeds after a day on the range?

Those days live on at the Humboldt Museum, along with the Great Depression, the Roaring Twenties, and even the Ice Age. The museum offers a compendium of area history through its many artifacts. Visitors can see a turn-ofthe-century parlor, early model horseless carriages, a set of bones from a local mammoth, and much more.

The collection encompasses all of Humboldt County, with artifacts from Paradise Valley, rural areas, and Winnemucca.

The museum itself is a piece of old Winnemucca. Built in 1907, it was a downtown church — until it was picked up and hauled across the Humboldt River to its present site, at Jungo Road and Maple Avenue.

Winnemucca Fine Arts Gallery The Winnemucca Fine Arts Gallery features a different local artist every month, in addition to their permanent collection of paintings, watercolors and drawings. The Gallery is located at 534 Bridge Street, and is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 p.m.

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A second, larger building was added on when the museum’s collection outgrew its humble home. Also on the museum grounds is the Cumley- Richardson House, currently undergoing restoration, a historic store (used by the Museum as “The Trunk” Thrift Stop, and the newest addition — a 1950’s bus that formerly belonged to the Humboldt Hotel.

Inside the museum, every artifact at the museum comes with two supplements — a story, and someone who loves telling it. The staff of the museum will gladly take you back in time with an introduction to the treasures of Humboldt County’s history.

The Humboldt Museum is located adjacent to Pioneer Park and is open weekdays from 9-4, and Saturdays from 1-4. Admission is free, and donations are accepted.

This is the gold mining center of the U.S., but it is home to almost every mineral mined by man.

Beauty and nature are as near to town as Water Canyon, just a few minutes’ drive into the Sonoma Mountains. This is a great place to picnic, hike or mountain bike.

A longer excursion, but every bit worth the drive, is a ride north to Hinkey Summit in the gorgeous Santa Rosas.

From May to mid-June, the vast panoramas of Hinkey Summit are awe-inspiring.

On your way back to Winnemucca, stop and visit the picturesque town of Paradise Valley. Just a short visit and you’ll know why it got its name.

Like to fish? Humboldt County boasts some amazing high country trout water. Check out our reservoirs, streams and creeks. If you're the exploring type, there are numerous old mining ghost towns hidden, almost gone, throughout the area.

If you like the outdoors you'll never be bored in and around Winnemucca!

DRIVE A LITTLE, DO A LOT! The northern Nevada back country offers freedom to anyone who enjoys being able to pitch a tent, hike or bike the hills, fish the streams, pursue quality big game or pit themselves against the rugged terrain that supports the ultimate upland game bird, the chukar.

Springtime arrays of wild flowers will delight photographers, and the scenic vistas they capture on film will leave a lasting memory of the area’s beauty.

Photo by J. Carmen Kofoed

Chimney Reservoir in northwestern Humboldt County is a haven for deer and geese — and offers a quiet respite for humans, too.

For more information about day trips from Winnemucca, drop by the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority, 50 West Winnemucca Blvd., or call (775) 623-5071 or (800) 962-2638.

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ENJOY MOUNTAIN BIKING ON GROOMED TRAILS — OR HEAD OUT ON YOUR OWN No matter what type of two-wheeled adventure you’re looking for, the hills and deserts around Winnemucca offer exciting terrain.

Nearly every weekend during the warmer months, riders take to the trails to eat a little Nevada dust.

The “Bloody Shins Trail,” a 12-mile trail that begins right on the edge of town, is a good place to start. This rolling single track course is divided into beginner and expert grades (the last five miles range from intermediate to expert level) and offers endless views of the distant mountain ranges.

In addition to the Bloody Shins Trail, the Sonoma Mountains (the range to the East of Winnemucca) offers old pack routes, cow trails, and Jeep trails crisscrossing the sagebrush strewn flanks of the hills.

The Sonomas also excel for back country excursions, whether accessed by bicycle, motorbike, horseback or hiking. Several of the deep V-shaped canyons offer spring-fed creeks and pleasant camping experiences.

The “Bloody Shins Trail,” a single-track course located east of Winnemucca, offers beginning riders a 12-mile course. The trail is fairly easy and climbs in elevation from 4,570 feet to 4,820.

Intermediate riders are invited to try their skills on the 12-mile track, a slightly more difficult course which rises 1,000 feet. Both courses are open March November.

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MILES OF TRACKS AND ROADS FOR OUTDOOR FUN Not everyone prefers to travel within the confines of a car — and astride a horse isn’t always the best way to spend a day in the desert. Sometimes, you just gotta take the bikes or ATVs out and eat some dust.

Humboldt County has hundreds of miles of back roads that are ready for you to ride. Most motorcycle enthusiasts begin their desert trek accessing trails behind Winnemucca Mountain (the big hill west of town with the “W” on it), or by driving their trucks and trailers up Water Canyon Road and parking at one of the campgrounds there.

A second good jumping-off point for motorcycles and ATVs is Sand Pass Road, located just 11 miles north of Winnemucca on U.S. Highway 95. This road travels almost due east into the desert, and affords some awesome views, as well as a terrific ride!

The Sonomas are excellent for back-country excursions, and are frequently accessed by riders both on motorcycle and mountain bike. Other options for riding include the Santa Rosa Mountains, above Paradise Valley; the Sand Dunes and Sand Pass Road north of Winnemucca and the Jungo area west of Winnemucca.

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CHAMPION GAME, RECORD FISH AND PREMIUM BIRD HUNTING Winnemucca: Home to the Elusive Chukar If you love bird hunting, then you should know this area is synonymous with good upland game hunting.

Northern Nevada claims legendary status as the “Chukar Capital of the Country.” There are a few reasons why. Long seasons and liberal bag limits make for more hunter recreation days than any other upland game bird. Plus, only the Great Basin can duplicate the original chukar habitat of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the birds’ native countries. Only here will you find the steep, rugged canyons with talus slopes and rocky outcrops that provide a perfect hideout for the birds. That makes a difference when it’s nearing sunset and you’ve already bagged your limit of six. That’s not to say the experience isn’t a humbling one. Hawkins says, “The chukar has bagged more hunters than hunters have bagged chukar.

Always remember that.” Still, there will always be a next time.

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Big Game Challenges Hunters Those who enjoy the sport of big game hunting will want to give Humboldt County a try!

From the steep hillsides of the Santa Rosa Mountains to the wide deserts found throughout the area, Humboldt County seems to be prime territory for big game animals.

The area is home to large herds of antelope and mule deer, as well as mountain goats and bighorn sheep, and their elusive predator, the mountain lion.

Hunters from outside of Nevada should visit the Nevada Department of Wildlife Web site, www.ndow.org for more information about obtaining an out-of-state hunting tag, or get in touch with Courtesy Photo one of the area’s many huntRick Manion brought down this ing guides, who can help large buck near Paradise Valley. with every detail.

Visit www.ndow.org for more information about hunting in Humboldt County and northern Nevada.

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There’s always a rodeo in the heart of Cowboy Country!

The heart of Cowboy Country is Winnemucca, so it’s only to be expected that much of the year’s entertainment is dedicated to the interplay of man, horse and cow.

Winnemucca does it up big, hosting the oldest continuous rodeo in Nevada.

Great riding, roping and steer wrestling talent is always on hand to take on equally talented bucking livestock at the annual TriCounty Fair and Stampede.

Equine events continue throughout the year as Humboldt County hosts competitions for working cowboys, high school rodeo, barrel racers, and more big roping events than you can shake a stick at.

WT BRUCE PHOTO

Ranch Hand Rodeos take the West by storm

WT BRUCE PHOTO

The American cowboy has been a worldwide icon since the early 1800s and the values, traditions, heritage and cowboy code are still alive and well, even today. There are ranch cowboys still out there calving, branding, gathering and doctoring, whether full time or part time.

Northern Nevada celebrates this tradition with three huge Ranch Hand Rodeos. The first, the Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo weekend, features not only competitive events for ranch teams, but a cowdog trials, working cowhorse competition (and sales of both later) as well as an invitational bull sale. The event also boasts one of the largest Western Trade Shows this area sees all year.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, the border town of McDermitt gets into the action with their own Ranch Hand Rodeo.

MICHAEL MICHAELSEN PHOTO

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The Western States Ranch Rodeo Association has come together to promote and preserve the heritage of the cowboy tradition through sanctioned ranch rodeo events designed for the full and part time ranch cowboy.

The WSRRA is dedicated to providing a showcase for the full and part time cowboy to compete in WSRRA sanctioned ranch rodeo events — and all qualifying teams and individual event contestants gather to compete at the WSRRA finals in Winnemucca in early November. For information about the WSRRA, visit their official website, www.wsrra.org.

To learn more about the Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo, vist the website: www.ranchrodeonv.com.

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Jake Owen concert the highlight of 2012 Tri-County Fair He’s a rising force in country music, and has already established himself as a chart-topping performer and world-class touring artist. Now, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” singer Jake Owen sets his sights on Winnemucca. He will perform Saturday, Sept. 1 during the Tri-County Fair at the Winnemucca Event Center.

Born in 1981 in Vero Beach, Fla., Jake taught himself to play guitar while in college. He went from performing in Florida bars to moving to Nashville and within months he had a Music Row song-publishing contract. Soon, he was working with top songwriters — which in turn got him his break with Sony Music.

He became a star so quickly that he didn’t have time to memorize any Country Music Rule Book – which made it that much easier to toss it out the window.

“I never wanted to be the guy that did everything the way you’re supposed to do it,” says the candid and outgoing music maker. “And that led me to make this record, which I think really represents who I am more than anything I've ever recorded. If nothing else happens after this, I can honestly say that I did the absolute best that I can do. I’ve never felt this good about music, or anything in my career, as I do right now.”

Jake’s first single, “Yee Haw” was an up-tempo party anthem which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot County chart in 2006. His “Startin’ With Me” album was released that same year, and he toured with Brooks and Dunn and Alan Jackson.

His 2009 album “Easy Does It” also found success with fans, as it debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 13 on the Billboard 200. The song “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” became his first top 5 country hit — with “Eight Second Ride” and “Tell Me” gaining

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play on airwaves as well.

Owen released his third album, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” in 2011. The lead-off single and title track to the album, "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" has become his first Number One single on the country chart. In 2011, he joined Keith Urban on his 2011 Get Closer world tour.

Tickets for this rare small-venue performance are $30 for general admission seating. Reserved seating is $45 or $75; all tickets are available online at www.winnemucca.com, or by calling the Winnemucca Convention Center toll free at (800) 962-2638.

This Jake Owen concert is just part of the Labor Day weekend fun you’ll find in Winnemucca! The Tri-County Fair features many family-friendly events such as pig wresting, exhibits of all kinds, large and small animal shows — and so much more. The weekend also includes the 91st Annal Labor Day Rodeo. For more information visit www.labordayfair.com.

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Gaming is the Nevada tradition Gambling was first legalized in Nevada in 1931 to help reduce the impact of the Great Depression. As a point of interest, that fateful bill was introduced by freshman Assemblyman Phil Tobin of Winnemucca.

There are many types of wagering available in Humboldt County, and depending on your mood, skill and your pocketbook, your choices vary. Below is a rundown of several different types of games available around the area, and how to get the most out of each.

Slot machines Slots are usually the first thing visible when one enters a casino, and they're typically a gamer's introduction to the gambling world. Slot machines, with their

blinking lights, themes and fast pace, can be among the most exciting of casino games — and they offer a chance to win huge sums of cash for a small investment. There are many different types of slot machines out there — from the traditional favorite single pay line slots to multiline video screen slots with bonus features and up to 20 pay lines.

Video poker Video poker is the modern rage. In a small amount of space inside a casino, players can indulge in Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Jokers Wild and bonus and progressive poker action.

This is a show most casinos would be hard-pressed to put on live, so the new computer video poker machines are a winner for both the house and the gamer.

Blackjack Though Blackjack originated in France, the casinos of Nevada have made it their own.

Casinos each offer slight variations on the game, but the basics remain the same: The dealer places two cards before you, deals themselves one face up and one face down, and then you have a decision to make: draw or stand.

Keno Easy to play, keno is one of those games that gamblers either love or hate. Many grumble that the game has a low payout percentage — the odds are that the house will make a good living off of keno players. Others love the game, because it is one of the few casino wagers that can yield big payoffs for a small investment. Pick the right numbers, and you could go home with your pockets stuffed with cash!

Craps How to play. Are you kidding? This article is far too short to teach you how to play craps.

This dice-throwing game is one of the most complex to learn, but also one of the most exciting. There are many different wagering options in a craps game, as well as many different outcomes depending on the roll of the dice.

Sports Betting A long time 'til the outcome. With sports betting, time is on your side. As far as entertainment values go, your $10 never stretched so far! For the cost of your wager, you've earned two or three hours of sports entertainment, at the end of which you might take home the prize.

Wagering on sporting events actively involves you in the game, since once your bet is placed you have some real interest in the outcome of the game.

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Experience the thrill of pari-mutuel betting Pari-mutuel betting is one of the most exciting of gaming options. Soon after placing your wager on an animal, the race is on and the thunder of their hooves echoes the pounding of your heart. This is Nevada gaming at it’s very best!

Though you can walk into many casinos and place bets on horse races taking place far away, there are Photo courtesy Jerry Teague only three places in Nevada And they’re off! The annual Winnemucca Mule Races are one of only three opportunities in Nevada that allow betting on live for patrons to bet on racing, then see the races live! races — and one of those the fun of the day. three finishers to take home the trifecta payout — events is held in Winnemucca!

The Winnemucca Mule Show and Races offer or bet on multiple races. No matter how you The annual Mule Show and Races is made all full pari-mutuel betting opportunities. You can choose to play, you’re sure to have a great day at the more exciting by pari-mutuel betting, and the enjoy choosing one mule to win, or name the top the races! fact that it is mules running, not horses, adds to

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Humboldt County Events

Visit www.shootthewest.org for more information

Feb. 29 - March 4, 2012 Ranch Hand Rodeo Weekend Nevada's largest and most exciting Ranch Hand Rodeo kicks off the weekend with the Cow Dog Trials featuring the Brace and Ranch class beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 29. Thursday sees the opening of the Western Trade Show, the Cow Dog Trials Open Pro Class, the Finals competition and the Cow Dog Sale. Friday's schedule features the Western Trade Show, Stock Horse Challenge and the Preview of Sale Horses. Saturday's schedule includes the Ranch Hand Rodeo Calcutta, Kids' Pee Wee Events, the Ranch, Rope and Performance Horse Sale, and the Main event, the Ranch Hand Rodeo. Sunday, March 4, get ready for Cowboy Church, the Invitational Bull Sale and the final performance of the 2012 Ranch Hand Rodeo.

For more information about the 2012 event, visit www.RanchRodeoNV.com

PHOTO COURTESY LARRY ANGIER

Shooting the West XXIV: The Nevada Photography Experience

Mar. 7 - 11, 2012

There’s a very special gathering that happens each March in Winnemucca. A group of the finest photographers in the west come to the heart of Cowboy Country to learn more about the art of snapping the shutter.

Symposium attendees have the chance to rub elbows with some of the biggest names in photography, to get tips from the professionals and to learn about making it to the photographic “big time,” — getting published. This year, the Shooting The West symposium will be held March 7 - 11 2012 at the Winnemucca Convention Center. The 2012 symposium will feature guest presenters Al Petteway and Amy White, extraordinary musicians and photographers from North Carolina, and Stacy Pearsall, former combat photographer, from South Carolina.

Stacy earned a Bronze Star and NPPA Military Photographer of the Year honors — twice!

For more information about joining 2012’s Shooting the West XXIV, contact Shooting the West at (877) 623-3501, by mail at P O Box 1766, Winnemucca, NV 89446 or visit them on-line at www.shootingthewest.org

Shooting the West XXIV Nevada’s premier photography conference. Enjoy a wide array of guest speakers, and have your portfolio critiqued. Bring your competitive spirit and enter the “Give It Your Best Shot” and “Outback Roundup.”

For more information about the 2012 event, visit www.shootingthewest.org

May 25 - 27, 2012 Run-A-Mucca Motorcycle Rally All motorcycles welcome! Enjoy free outdoor concerts, a memorial service, event cruises, games, bike show, vendors, poker run, and don’t miss the “Burning Bike!”

For more information about the 2012 event, visit www.runamucca.com

Run-A-Mucca rumbles into town over Memorial Day weekend Gorgeous skies, the wind in your face and the rumble of a huge engine — there’s little to compare to riding a motorcycle in Nevada. Now Winnemucca welcomes riders to stop and play awhile. On tap for the three-day event this year are a poker run, poker stagger, free music and concerts, bike games, bike show and vendors, a “burning bike” that lights up the night — plus the chance to win a beautiful raffle bike!

Buy the Run Package before April 30, 2012 and receive your Run Shirt, Run Pin, Poker Run and Poker Stagger hands plus the Run Bar-B-Que for only $35.00.

The 2012 event is set for Friday through Sunday, May 25 - 27, 2012. For more information hop online and visit www.runamucca.com.

Visit www.runamucca.com for more information Humboldt Sun Photo

The Run-A-Mucca event will bring bikers from around the country to Winnemucca over Memorial Day Weekend. For more information about the 2012 event, log on to www.runamucca.com

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June 1-3, 2012 Winnemucca Pari-mutuel Mule Races and Show Join in on some wild fun at Nevada’s only sanctioned mule event.

Bet your lucky dollar on your favorite animal during racing rounds.

Also don’t miss the 25-mile endurance race on Friday, June 1, and the mule show that is also an exciting part of these fun-filled days.

For more information about the 2012 event, visit www.muleshow.com

June 9 -10, 2012 Basque Festival Honor a unique heritage during this fun-filled, exciting event. Watch a colorful parade; cheer at games of strength and endurance; dance to Basque music; attend a Holy Mass; and, enjoy a traditional Basque family style picnic. Fun for everyone!

June 16, 2012 Koyote Cruiser’s Car Show Spend a nice summer day gathered around motorized vehicles. All types of cars and trucks will be on display for your viewing enjoyment. Prizes and trophies will be awarded.

June 17, 2012 Paradise Valley Father’s Day Barbecue and Craft Show The food would be incentive enough to make that 35-mile trip to Paradise Valley via Highway 290. But when you add a beautiful summer day and fantastic barbecue fare, this event is sure to be the best Father’s Day present he’ll ever get!

Celebrate the Basque heritage with us!

The Basques are a people like no other. Their homeland is the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France, but their language and culture are unique.

More than a century ago, a handful of Basque sheep herders settled in Winnemucca and Humboldt County.

Thanks to those pioneers and their descendants, the rich Basque heritage is inextricably woven into our local culture.

There are two Basque restaurants in Winnemucca.

Basque cuisine offers a combination of savory flavors, all served with a hearty infusion of garlic. Paella (a rice dish with chicken, seafood, vegetables, and spices) and chorizo (a spicy sausage) are as familiar to Win-

nemucca as burgers and fries.

For the true Basque dining experience, you can eat family style, sitting at a long table and sharing food and stories with other restaurant patrons.

This year, the Basque Festival will be held June 9 - 10, 2012. It is a glorious celebration of all things Basque — the Irrintzi dancers don their colorful costumes, traditional Pyrenees music fills the air, and the people of Winnemucca turn out for a lively parade.

Humboldt Sun Photo

June 30 and July 1, 2012 McDermitt Ranch Hand Rodeo Ranch hands from Nevada, Oregon and Idaho compete in Nevada’s longest continual-running ranch hand rodeo. Contestants compete for prize money in a number of working events. Street contests and dances add to the festivities set in McDermitt, 70 miles north of Winnemucca on Highway 95.

July 3 - 7, 2012 Silver State International Rodeo While the High School Finals Rodeo welcomes finalists who finish ranked 1-5 in their sport, the “runners-up” have their own rodeo.

The Silver State International Rodeo is for contestants who finish ranked 6-10 nationally, and is billed as a rodeo “where reserve champions become champions.”

For more information visit www.ssir.us

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July 4, 2012

Aug. 3 - 4, 2012

Family Fourth of July Celebration

Good Times Street Drags

This is Winnemucca’s best family event. The City Park is crammed with games, food, a petting farm, face painting, a dunk tank, displays and lots more. Fireworks cap off the Independence Day celebration just as the sun bids farewell to the day.

Drivers, start your engines! The drags are roarin’ into town with enough racing slicks, cherry paint jobs and shined up chrome to make you think you’re on some back country road in the heat of summer with James Dean. Rumor has it this is one of the few drag races in the world that still takes place (legally) on a public road.

July 20 - 22, 2012

Aug. 3 - 5, 2012

44-Hour Softball Tournament Called the “Mardis Gras of the West,’ this is 44 hours of non-stop softball action. Over 80 teams compete around the clock for honors.

For more information visit www.44hour.com

July 13 - 15, 2012

Fifties Fever The Fever’s rising and this summer is going to be hot! That’s right, Fifties Fever is this area’s very own celebration of those fabulous fifties. Enjoy parades, street dances, poker runs, a free concert on the Nixon Lawn, and of course, the ever-popular show ‘n shine with dozens of classic autos that make nostalgia buffs twist and shout!

For more information visit www.fifties-fever.com

Winnemucca Summer Cutting One of the world’s fastest growing sports, cutting offers tremendous excitement and drama for horse, rider and spectators alike. This cutting showcases the many hours of hard work and dollars spent by trainers and owners who are put to the test and rewarded, either with trophies or individual satisfaction.

Aug. 24 -26, 2012 USTRC Northwest Regional Team Roping Finals The best team ropers in the West gather for four days of tough competition. Over 2,000 teams vie for pride, prestige, awards and cash prizes. Don’t miss the little ones compete in dummy roping for

July 24 - 27, 2012

“giant” silver buckles.

Superior Livestock Auction Cattle buyers and sellers from across the nation come together via satellite and in person for this annual bid bonanza. Golf tournaments, great entertainment and plenty of food make this event a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Next door in the East Hall of the Convention Center, visit the Superior Western Art and Trade Show for fine art, jewelry and gift items galore!

Fast cars and good times

Labor Day Fun Aug. 30 - Sept. 2, 2012 Aug. 30 - Sept. 2 — Tri-County Fair & Carnival This family fun event serves up contests and dances, competitions, exhibits, prizes, food, a petting farm, art shows, a parade, and plenty of exciting stage peformers. Pig wrestling, a crowd-pleasing charity event also returns for 2012. There will be lots of free family entertainment, so join the fun!

Aug. 31 — Pig Wrestling Get dirty for a good cause as four-person teams compete for charity. Come out and cheer on your favorite locals — or the pig!

Aug. 31 - Sept. 2 Western Art Roundup The Roundup features artists, poets, craftspeople and inductees into the Buckaroo Hall of Fame as well as demonstrations and buckaroo poetry readings.

Sept. 1-2 — 91st Annual Rodeo This year’s rodeo promises a lot more than 8 seconds of excitement.

In fact, this year will feature more money, more cowboys and more action than one town has a right to see! Come see why this is Nevada’s oldest continuous rodeo.

Sept. 1 — Jake Owen Concert Visit fifties-fever.com for more information Humboldt Sun Photo

It’s a celebration of old cars and the good memories that go with them during the Fifties Fever festival.

You don’t have to go to the “big city” to find great classic car shows! Winnemucca boasts some of the friendliest classic car shows in the West! From the Koyote Kruisers Kar show beginning the season in June, to Fifties Fever ending it in August, there are plenty of opportunities to see classic cars polished to perfection.

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Country star Jake Owen performs at the Winnemucca Event Center.

He released his third studio album, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, in 2011. The lead-off single and title track to the album, "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" has become his first Number One single on the country chart. Don’t miss your chance to see this great country performer!Tickets start at $30 for general admission seating.

For more information visit www.labordayfair.com

Sept. 13 - 16, 2012 ACTRA NV & ID Finals Roping Lots of excitement at this bi-state roping event. Ropers compete not only for cash and prizes, but the best advance to the National Finals.

Oct. 12 - 13, 2012 America West 4D Barrel Racing Finals The best barrel racers from around the west come to the Winnemucca Events Complex for their national finals event.

Nov. 1 - 4, 2012 Western States Ranch Rodeo Finals Ranch Rodeo is an event that was re-created a number of years ago to return to the roots of rodeo — the duties and challenges of real working ranch hands.

Events simulate what the ranch cowboys do for work each day on the ranch.

These events involve plenty of friendly ranch-versusranch competition.

In today’s fast paced environment it is rare that one can go to a sporting event of any kind and see and feel the camaraderie and the friendliness that is apparent at a ranch rodeo. This is one PHOTO BY LEE RAINE event you don’t want to miss, as cowhands from around the west gather in Winnemucca to compete for cash and glory!

For more information visit www.wsrra.org.

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Winnemucca Area Lodging — Bed & Breakfast, Hotels, Motels and RV Parks Winners Hotel & Casino

BED AND BREAKFASTS

185 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

Old Pioneer Garden Bed & Breakfast 2805 Unionville Rd. 775-538-7585

775-623-2511

RV PARKS Hi-Desert RV Park 5575 E. Winnemucca Blvd.

Soldier Meadows Guest Ranch 150 Miles W. on Jungo Rd. 775-849-1666 www.soldiermeadows.com

775-623-4513 www.hidesertrv.net Model T Resort Casino RV Park 1130 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

Stonehouse Country Inn Paradise Valley 775-578-3530 www.stonehouse. freeservers.com

HOTELS AND MOTELS Best Western Holiday Motel 670 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-3684 Budget Inn of Winnemucca 251 E. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-2394 Cozy Motel 410 E. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-2615 Days Inn 511 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-3661

775-623-2588 Frontier Motel 410 E. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-2915 Holiday Inn Express 1987 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-625-3100 Model T Resort / Casino Quality Inn 1130 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-2588 Motel 6 1600 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-1180 Overland Hotel 215 S. Bridge St. 775-623-2865 Park Motel 740 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-2810

Economy Inn 635 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-5281

Pyrenees Motel 714 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-1116

Gold Country Inn 921 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-6999

Regency Inn & Suites 705 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-4898

Santa Fe Inn 1620 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-1119 Scottish Inn 333 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-3703 Scott Shady Court 400 First St. 775-623-3646 Super 8 Motel 1157 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-625-1818 Town House Motel 375 Monroe St. 775-623-3620 Val-U Motel 125 E. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-5248 Western Inn 17 N. Bridge St. 775-623-2500 Winnemucca Hotel 95 S. Bridge St. 775-623-2908

Paradise Valley RV Park Paradise Valley 775-578-3090 Westerner Trailer Lodge 800 E. Fourth St. 775-623-2907 Winnemucca RV Park 5255 E. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-4458 www.winnemuccarvpark.com

Orovada Rocky View Motel Restaurant & Bar US Hwy 95 Orovada 775-272-3337

McDermitt Diamond A Motel 25 US Hwy 95 S 775-532-8552 McDermitt Motel 55 US Hwy 95 775-532-8588

Denio

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Winnemucca Inn 741 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

775-623-2565

Denio Junction Sunset Drive, Denio 775-941-0171

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