LOVELOCK
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You've come a long way, baby – a long, long way – and you're almost home!
You may be parched, famished, and you might be sick of driving. Salt Lake City lies about 500 miles to the east; and Black Rock City is another 150 miles to the west. Yes, you’re almost there, but you still got a ways to go.
Set on the western edge of “Cowboy Country,” Lovelock is one of your last pit stops on I-80 for another 60 miles before you hit Fernley, so you may want to fill up on some gas, maybe grab a bed, a shower, and some food, and even load up on many of the supplies to be found here at the local enterprises who enjoy our company and know our needs.
Why Stop in Lovelock
Well, the few reasons to stop are obvious—you need gas, food, Lock Love, or one last shower before hitting Burning Man.
But another, really good reason is that the City of Lovelock is Black Rock City’s close neighbor. If you can, please do your part to spread the Burning Man culture and love to Pershing County. Stop in Lovelock, visit the sights thereby or nearby, enjoy some of the local restaurants, and when you pay the bill, make sure you tell them that you’re on your way to Burning Man. We are all Black Rock City diplomats each time we visit the somewhat conservative town of Lovelock. So, please be respectful of our close neighbors.
Navigating Lovelock
There are three exits into Lovelock off of I-80: Exit 107 is on the east side of town, Exit 106 goes to downtown, and Exit 105 leads to the west end.
In terms of bearings, Sturgeon’s Casino is on the east side of town. Two Stiffs Selling Gas is on the west side. And Safeway is in the town’s center. Most of the businesses in the town can be found along the main thoroughfare through town, Cornell Avenue; on Dartmouth and Broadway Streets, parallel to and on either side of Cornell; and on Main Street, which straddles all three of these streets, and forms the town center.
In terms of context, Lovelock is the county seat of Pershing County (the Burning Man event is held in Pershing County-ahem), and where approximately one-third of the county’s multi-cultural population of 2400 people live. Nearly everyone knows about Burning Man, and many appreciate the event, the art and culture, and us participants. And of special note to Lovelock’s and Burning Man’s growing relationship, a 70kW solar array installed was recently installed at the Lovelock Elementary School by Black Rock Solar.
Worth Checking Out
Lovelock's historic round courthouse (401 Main Street) is said to be the only one of its kind in the nation still functioning as a courthouse, built in 1920-21 by Frederic Joseph DeLongchamps. Now there is also a really kind of cool activity to be found here for people in partnerships or just married. You can "Lock your Love" in the park next to the courthouse. A nice ritual for those so inclined, you just bring/buy a lock and "Lock Your Love" onto a fence designated for such purposes. It’s free, beyond the price you pay for the lock, and the price you pay for your love.
You also might want to check out the Marzen House Pershing County Museum: formerly the showplace home of a wealthy rancher, now restored and chock full of nifty artifacts from Lovelock's early days.
And, finally, …oh, the name?! Lovelock is named for George Lovelock, a Welsh immigrant who, in 1867, donated eighty-five acres for a townsite and right-of-way for the soon-to-arrive transcontinental railroad and a railway depot. And a lot of love stories have gathered there ever since…
For further information on Lovelock and the environs, here are some helpful links:
Lovelock/Pershing County Chamber of Commerce
Nevada Rock Art
Lovelock Frontier Days
Nevada's Cowboy Country
Groceries
Safeway Supermarket
400 Dartmouth Avenue – 775-273-2418 – map
Open daily 7am-10pm. The best place to stock up on groceries.
Hardware/Camping
ACE Hardware
1210 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2687 – map
Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. Best place in town to get many of your hardware/camping needs. Tools, pvc, conduit, wood, some camping gear, coolers, lanterns, tarps, water containers, and even bikes and bike repair kits, are just some of what you can find here.
Random Curiosities
Heart of Nevada / Lovelock Trading Post
485 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-0771 – map
Open Tues-Sat 9:30am-4pm. Thrift store and pawnshop, carrying new and used tools, some camping gear, tarps, duct tape, kitechenware.
Bargain Corner
655 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-7453 – map
Open 9am-5pm daily. Thrift store owned and operated by burners, carrying various knick-knacks, hats, jewelry, some bikes, and some items for gifting.
Lovin Scents
395 7th Street – 775-273-7045 – map
Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm. The Lovins carry hats, beads, jewerlry, candles, lotions, incense, and ear candling (read: clean the playa dust out of your ears) materials.
A Little Something
395 Main Street, Suite 100 – 775-273-1800 – map
Open Weekdays 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-3pm. Gifts ideas, craft beers, and nice wines.
Gas Stations
Lovelock Chevron
150 Main Street – 775-273-7272 – map
Open 24/7.
Two Stiffs Selling Gas
1090 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2911 – map
Open 24/7. Ice, beer, glasses.
Lovelock Beacon Shell / Java Joe's Mustang Corral
415 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2031 – map
Open daily 5am-8pm.
PJ's Food and Gas
1455 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-1222 – map
Open daily 4:30am-11pm. Also has sandwiches and salads.
Restaurants
La Casita
410 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-7773 – map
Mexican and American Faire.
Cowpoke Cafe
995 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2444 – map
Open Mon-Tue 6am-5pm, Wed-Thur 6am-3pm, Fri 6am-8pm, Sat 6:30am-3pm, Sun 7am-3pm. Burgers, fresh curly fries, and homemade baked goods.
Ricardo's BBQ Bar and Grill
1005 West Broadway Avenue – 775-273-7733 – map
Open Wed-Mon 11am-9pm.
Temptations
395 Main Street, Suite 700 – 775-273-1921 – map
Open Mon-Sat 11am-8pm. Ice cream, candy, fudge. Also will be carrying lots of bulk water for during Burning Man.
The Oasis at Rye Patch
2210 Rye Patch Reservoir Road – 775-538-7499 – map
Open 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-8pm. Pizzeria & saloon with a tropical touch. Eat in or take out.
Pizza Factory
260 Main Street – 775-273-3232 – map
Open Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-8pm. Pizza and deli.
Sturgeon's Ramada Inn – Restaurant, Casino & Motel
1420 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2971 – map
Open daily 6am-9pm.
Bars
Crazy Corners Saloon
1605 Upper Valley Road – 775-273-2405 – map
Open 24/7.
Pershing Pub
250 Main Street – 775-273-5553 – map
Open Mon-Sat 11am-1am, Sun noon-midnight.
Hotels/Motels
Sturgeon's Ramada Inn – Restaurant, Casino & Motel
1420 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2971 – map
Motel, restaurant, casino, bar, lounge and nightclub.
The Cadillac Inn
1395 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2798 – map
The Royal Inn
1435 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2500 – map
The Old Pioneer Garden Bed & Breakfast
2805 Unionville Road – 775-538-7585, 800-538-7556 – map
RV Parks and Campgrounds
Brookwood Motel & Mobile Home RV Park
205 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2300 – map
$28/night for RV campers, $20/night for tent camping. Laundry facility and showers.
Auto Repairs
Jim's Tire Factory and Auto Service
395 West Broadway – 775-273-2731, 775-273-7217 – map
Also provides 24-hour towing/roadside service.
City Auto Parts & Supply, Inc
340 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2634 – map
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-3pm. Auto parts & supplies store.
Storage
Cache Mini-Storage
105 Upper Valley Road – 775-273-2733 – map
Banks
Nevada State Bank
1150 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2657 – map
Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm.
Wells Fargo Bank
920 Cornell Avenue – 775-273-2942 – map
Open Mon-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-6pm.
Hospital
Pershing General Hospital
855 Sixth Street – 775-273-2621 – map
Explorations in the Area
Tufa rock formations are a sight to behold. These intricately textured shapes of towers, ledges, pillars and archways were geologically formed by algae in nearby prehistoric Lake Lahontan in the same way that blue-algae forms coral reefs. From downtown Lovelock drive north on Central Ave. Turn left on to Pitt Rd. and travel two and a half miles to an unmarked gravel road and then turn right. Drive slightly over a mile until you see the Tufa formations.
Lovelock Indian Cave, aka Bat Cave or Sunset Guano Cave is a limestone cavern, created by the waters of prehistoric Lake Lahontan. Home to indigenous peoples as far back as 2000 B.C., the oldest dated duck decoys in North America (1,250 to 1,980 years ago) were discovered here. It's 160 feet wide by 40 feet deep. From Main St. in Lovelock go south on Amherst Ave., which turns into S.R. 397. Continue south until 397 dead ends into Derby Rd. Turn left and go east on Derby Rd. Eventually the road will turn right and go south. Shortly thereafter turn right on East Rd. Continue until this road dead ends at the cave.
A great place to stay is Rye Patch State Recreation Area: camping, picnic areas, hiking and water sports. Located 22 miles east of Lovelock off I-80, (775) 538-7321. Also in Rye Patch is the Oasis Saloon and Pizza restaurant. Burner friendly, the Saloon sports a very good selection of beers and a photo gallery on the wall. 2210 Rye Patch reservoir Road, Exit 129, 22 miles east of Lovelock, (775) 538-7499.
Chief Rolling Mountain Thunder Memorial: Feast your eyes on another fine roadside example of radical self-expression replete with statues of naked women and concrete totems. Created by Chief Thunder over a period of twenty years beginning in 1968, it is considered Nevada's equivalent to the Watts Towers. He meant it as a tribute to Native Americans. Its main feature is a three-story house, composed of concrete, bottles, and assorted treasures retrieved from a nearby junkyard.
Located across the freeway from Imlay, about halfway between Lovelock and Winnemucca. Access is free, donations accepted for a volunteer effort to save the site from crumbling away.
Check out the Ghost town of Unionville, a mining boomtown in the 1860's with upwards of 1500 fortune seekers including reputedly, Mark Twain. Nestled in a region of mesmerizing high desert mountain ranges and remote valleys is a B&B—the Old Pioneer Garden Country Inn. 2805 Unionville Rd, Unionville, NV 89418 (775) 538-7585 or (800) 538-7556. Located on State highway 400, off I-80 about halfway between Lovelock and Winnemucca.
Need more info? Try: Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, Reno News and Review, Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno Magazine, Reno Tahoe Tonight, National Traffic and Road Closure Information, PlayReno, NevadaNet, goTahoe.com, Tahoe.com, Fernleynews.com. 
