Elko Rural Roundup Passport
Expiration: Apr 26th 2026
Welcome to Elko! We hope your experience this week is filled with new ideas, old friends, and a bright outlook. In-between meetings, seminars, and glasses of Picon Punch, we hope you find the opportunity to explore this community.
Elko is proud of its artistic expression, cultural heritage, and civic institutions, so we’ve put together a short list of highlights we think everyone should see. Happy trails!
Included Venues
See locations on an interactive map.
What’s the California Trail? Today, much of it is I-80, but in the 1800s, it was an important migration route that carried more than 250,000 settlers into the West. This Bureau of Land Management facility—built pretty much on the trail—follows the lives, tragedies, and triumphs along this 2,000-mile route. This immersive center takes travelers along the entire route, from stocking up provisions in Missouri to surviving the haunting 40 Mile Desert (look for the box that shows you what it smelled like).
Welcome to Centennial Park! Formerly Greenbelt Park, also known as Railroad Park. Head over to the water tower to learn more. This is a great starting point for your downtown wanderings. And if you were wondering, you can absolutely climb the train. P.S., if you want to start your Elko mural hunt, the alley between Idaho and Railroad Streets is worth a peek.
An iconic Elko location. It’s old, it’s haunted, and it’s…closed. At least, the casino is. Today, the bottom floor is the Commercial Fun Center, which does allow visitors to book ghost tours of the upper stories. Outside, you’ll spot the famous polar bear outside: White King, shot in 1957 and apparently the world’s largest dead polar bear at 2,200 lbs
This Elko must-see honors the artisanal traditions practiced in Western communities. To see that put into practice, head next door to J.M. Capriola’s. Admission is free, and even if time is short, stop in to check out the impressive hat collection.
Elko County was created in 1869. At its heart was Elko, which was destined to be a regional shipping, ranching, and (later) mining hub. The original, smaller courthouse lasted from 1869-1910 before it was demolished to make room for the structure you see today.
From the building’s National Register of Historic Places description:
It remains as one of the most imposing buildings in Elko and it is also the community's best example of Neo-Classical architecture. The building, which dominates the center of Elko, is a well-designed governmental structure reflecting the county's goal of becoming a progressive regional center for the Great Basin.
Ok, this was an easy one. You were already here!
It’s not all cowboys and Basque cuisine: Elko is engaged with youth culture! They’ve got all you can eat sushi. They’ve got frozen yogurt. They have a board game shop and comic book shop. But seriously, Elko takes its community facilities seriously, and this skate park sits at the heart of a complex of playgrounds, green spaces, and sports arenas.
This impressive—and locally beloved—campus looks like it could be from a city ten times the size of Elko. Feel free to go walk around! Did you know Elko used to house the University of Nevada? It was later moved to Reno, and the grounds became Elko High School (today, the only original building is the gymnasium).
Antique firearms, locally sourced mammoth bones, a 1930s living room. What’s not to love about Nevada’s biggest little museum? Check out the Ansel Adams prints in the upstairs galleries and stop by what used to be an actual Pony Express station—located outside near the front entrance. Also, go walk around the city’s main park, which is basically the museum’s back yard.
This late 1800s structure originated from Huntington Valley, located 60 miles north, where it was a private residence, stage shop, and post office. In 1997, it was transported here and became Elko’s visitor center. Feel free to head inside, but you should also go wander the historic outbuildings.
Built in 1910 as a Basque boarding house, today The Star is one of the West’s most famous small-town restaurants: It’s part of practically every Elko-first-timer’s itinerary, executives in the tri-state area fly in just to get a steak sandwich, and people pass down the salad dressing recipe like it’s a family heirloom. If you haven’t had the pleasure of a Basque-style meal, this is the place to start
Best known as the headquarters for the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, this center is open year-round and features a permanent art gallery, historic saloon, and gift shop. Check their calendar before your trip to see if you can attend one of their bimonthly folk-music concerts.