# Panaca

Panaca is a city of a thousand people (2010) in Southern Nevada. It is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibits gambling, the other being Boulder City.

## Understand

It was founded as a Mormon settlement in 1864, making it the oldest settlement in Southern Nevada. The town has not changed much since.

### History

Coke ovens here once produced charcoal for the smelters in nearby Bullionville (now a ghost town), but the town's economy is predominantly agricultural.
The name "Panaca" comes from the Southern Paiute word Pan-nuk-ker, which means "metal, money, wealth". William Hamblin, a Mormon missionary to the Paiutes, established the Panacker Ledge (Panaca Claim) silver mine there in 1864.

## Get in

Panaca is in the remote desert of Nevada at the crossroads of US-53 and NV-319.
* From Cedar City, Utah – Panaca is 81 mi (130 km) (about an hour and a half) west of Cedar City on the UT-56 and then NV-319.
* From Las Vegas – Panaca is 166 mi (267 km) (about three hours) north of Las Vegas on the US-93 and then NV-319.

## See

* 37.79399-114.387481 Court Rock. A distinctive hill/rock formation that was used as a jail until 1871.
* 37.790583-114.3877822 Panaca Ward Chapel, 1065 Main St. Panaca Ward Chapel was constructed in 1867 or 1868 as a Mormon meetinghouse. The oldest building in Lincoln County and is Nevada's Historic Marker #182. (updated Jan 2018)

## Do

* Pioneer Day. Every July 24th. (updated Jan 2018)

### Further afield

* 37.51-114.0731 Beaver Dam State Park (south on U.S. 93, east on Beaver Dam Rd), ☏ +1 775-728-8101, cgsp@parks.nv.gov. 24 hr. Beaver Dam State Park is the most remote park in the Nevada system, located 34 miles southeast of Panaca. It is a wild area of forests, canyons, streams, and, of course, beaver dams. Activities include fishing, camping, and hiking. Day use: $5/vehicle; Camping: $15/night. (updated Jul 2020)
* 37.8222-114.4172 Cathedral Gorge State Park (1 mile north on U.S. 93, west on Cathedral Gorge State Park Road), ☏ +1 775-728-8101, cgsp@parks.nv.gov. 24 hrs. Cathedral Gorge is a fun gorge of benzonite clay that has been eroded into tall formation. Visitors can wander inside the benzonite formations, which change frequently due to the weather. The park offers a Dutch oven cook-off in September. $5 per vehicle, Camping $15/night, plus $10/night for utility hookups. (updated Jul 2020)

## Buy

* Panaca Market, 1105 Main St. A good place to pick up camping food supplies or just food supplies in general. Hours: M-Sa 8AM-6PM. Tel: +1 775-728-4454.

## Eat

* La Cosinita Goyis, 503 Main St (near SW corner of intersection of Main St and 2nd St), ☏ +1 435-592-6733. M-Sa noon-7PM. A Mexican food truck; it appears to be the only eatery in Panaca.
* Historic Silver Cafe, 673 Main St, Pioche, ☏ +1 775-962-5124. 8AM-8PM, daily. (updated Feb 2021)

## Drink

Gambling and alcohol are illegal.

## Sleep

* 37.796068-114.3891551 Pine Tree Inn, 412 N Third St, ☏ +1 775-728-4675. A bed and breakfast that also houses a bakery and offers horseback riding and ATV guided tours. $70-85.
* Swallow Cove Bed & Breakfast, 892 Blad St, ☏ +1 775-962-2418, info@swallowcove.com. Check-in: 3-9PM. (updated May 2021)

## Go next

* Pioche — 12 mi (19 km) north of Panaca on the US-319, US-93 (Great Basin Highway), then SR-321. The town whose name means pickaxe in French was built to mine silver and has plenty of historic buildings still standing.
* Rachel — 98 mi (158 km) west of Panaca on the SR-319, US-93 (Great Basin Highway), then SR-375 (Extraterrestrial Highway). A little village that is notable for its proximity to Area 51 and the Nellis Air Force base.
* Ely — 108 mi (174 km) north of Panaca on the US-319, US-93 (Great Basin Highway), then US-50. A ghost town that has several museums, one of which focuses on its railway heritage.