Sagebrush Saloons

Colorful characters invite you to pull up a bar stool, listen to a tale, and wet your whistle with a frosty brew or curated cocktail. As you wind through the state’s backroads, keep an eye out for this issue’s featured bar, Dirty Dick’s Belmont Saloon.

At three hours from Las Vegas and just slightly longer from Reno, this thirst parlor lies pretty darn close to the geographic center of the state—making it one of the most sequestered saloons around. Get ready for a road trip to reach this secluded slice of old Nevada: you’ll be enjoying your cold beverage at a historic bar in a living ghost town. For a house specialty, order up a Picon Punch—a popular Nevada Basque drink, now regarded as the unofficial State Drink—or their famous Bloody Mary made from a recipe passed down by the saloon’s original owner. If you’re lucky, you might enjoy your libation during some live music or a shuffleboard tournament.

Once you finish chatting up fellow travelers and friendly locals, head outside and tour the ruins of this once-glorious mining town. Belmont came alive in 1865 after a major silver strike. By 1870, the town had boomed to 2,000 residents and boasted the title of county seat. Today, the town has a bit less bustle than 150 years ago, but echoes of the past are still found in its mystifying ruins. The can’t-miss Belmont Courthouse is the pride of the town and stands as a wellpreserved historic site.

You won’t find a phone number for Dirty Dick’s, but it’s usually open Friday and Saturday. Belmont has two other businesses open during the summer that are well worth stopping by: Sticks and Stones (jewelry) and Susie’s

Attic (antiques).