Nipton Offers Gateway to the Mojave National Preserve

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Just two miles past the Nevada state border off highway I-15 near Las Vegas sits the tiny California town of Nipton. Nipton is not a ghost town; it was never much bigger than it is today. Nipton’s roots date back to when it was established as a railhead in 1904 to serve the area’s early mining and cattle ranching and continues to retain its historic nature.

Today Nipton is recognized as the “Gateway to the Mojave National Preserve.” Rimmed with shadow spotted mountains, Nipton is located in the Ivanpah Valley, a federally protected sanctuary for the desert tortoise and a locale that is being discussed as a future location for a new Las Vegas airport.

When famed silent screen “IT” girl, Clara Bow married cowboy actor Rex Bell and retreated Hollywood, it was to settle on a nearby cattle ranch between Nipton and Searchlight, Nevada. The couple drove their cattle overland to Nipton for rail transport.

It is said. Clara often rode with the cowboys into Nipton where she would visit with the Nipton Mercantile Company (now Nipton’s General Store) owners and pick up her fan mail from the post office.

The Nipton Hotel was constructed between 1905 and 1910, during the area’s mining boom days. It was the cross point for two overland wagon trails that ran east-west and north-south.

The hotel’s front landscaping is done with an appealing cactus garden, designed “… from traditional patterns used by Native American artisans.” In Ms Bow’s honor, the present day Nipton Hotel bed and breakfast proprietor has named room #3 the Clara Bow room.

When Clara and Rex entertained friends at their Walking Box Ranch in the 1930’s and 1940’s, their guests often arrived by train, getting off in Nipton for the 16-mile auto ride to the ranch. The railroad is what kept Nipton alive, once the trains ceased to stop here, the town nearly died.

When the Mojave became recognized in the 1980’s as a sensitive and threatened environment area and with the establishment of the East Mojave National Scenic Area, Nipton took the title of “Gateway to the Mojave National Preserve” because of its northern boundary to the Mojave Desert.

If You Visit

You will find Nipton 20-miles west of Searchlight and 65-miles south of Las Vegas on I-15. The tiny community of Nipton sits along the secondary road, state route 164, connecting U.S. Highway 95 and Interstate 15. A portion of the area south of the highway has been established as a refuge for the threatened desert tortoise.

During my visit, I discovered the General Store a helpful place to stop. The shopkeeper offered information about the area and the store had supplies as well as gift items and books on the desert and the area’s history.

Services include the Spanish Territorial style Adobe hotel that was refurbished in the mid-2000’s and is used as an engaging bed and breakfast. There are RV hookups and an area for tent camping.

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