A Visit to Bonnie Springs Nevada

Visiting Bonnie Springs

West of the valley near Las Vegas is a little spot known as Bonnie Springs. It hosts a small restaurant, a petting zoo, and a rustic town attraction called Old Nevada. Enjoy a melodrama in the town, a great breakfast or burger in the restaurant, or a horseback ride. Stay at the resort motel overnight or just make it a day trip. Unwind and relax around the duck pond and nature scenes. The view of nearby Red Rock from the west side is wonderful!

The ranch we know today was started in 1952 by Bonnie McGaugh who sadly passed away on January 29, 2016. It has been a favorite time out for locals and visitors alike. The attraction is a great way to wrap up a trip to Red Rock Canyon after a day hiking and touring. The area is serene and pleasant except for the occasional calls of the peacocks wandering the property. All in all it is a neat little hideaway.

Old Nevada

This rustic town's setup is host to a melodrama featuring old timey cowboys, a sheriff, and some bank robbers. There is a shootout, a capture, and a hanging. All of it is staged, of course, but the fun reflects the Old West right in the streets of a model western town. There are small shops inside that mimic life in the wild west. Common merchants found around the 1800's time period are represented. You will find a telegraph office, stables, mercantile shops, and a black smith.

Old Nevada

Virtual Tour and Train Ride - Bonnie Springs Ranch

The property has been featured on ghost hunts for paranormal activity!

The Duck Pond

My favorite part of a visit to Bonnie Springs is the small duck pond which is fed by a natural spring in the area. This water attraction features turtles ambling up to the rock formation in the center and a variety of waterfowl. Ducks wander aimlessly across the surface and dive into the murky depths of this shallow pond. The sound of the water is relaxing and a great place to enjoy an after dinner nature scene.

Duck Pond  - Bonnie Springs

Female Mallard Duck

Peacock Sanctuary

One of the best features of the Ranch are the peacocks waltzing around the property. Their screeches announce new visitors and invite their females to approve them for the mating season. Their lovely tails are a bright collage of teardrop marked feathers in lovely iridescent blues and greens. These lovely birds are all over the interior property. The one below is the guardian of the parking lot. 

Did you know: Peacocks or peafowl are not native to the States. They are imported from India or Sri Lanka. 

Peacock Guide - You will be greeted at the parking lot by one or more peacocks that live on the ranch.
This variety of bird is stunning. Please, do not collect tail feathers unless you ask permission. 

For hours of operation and information on motel reservations 

visit the website

http://bonniesprings.com/

The Majestic Peacock
by Maria Burgess

Sweet Surprises Exploring the Southern Nevada Mountain Ranges - part one

The deserts and hillsides around Las Vegas provide a welcome change to visitors who live in areas where the natural landscape is obscured by city buildings or multitudes of trees. 

What many visitors do not know is that there are many gems within a few minutes or hours of the city worthwhile for exploring. 

Peak at Red Rock Canyon 
[Zazzle Affiliate Link]

Red Rock Canyon

The mountain ranges in the Vegas Valley are often commented upon by my clients as we are able to see them. I make sure to point out the west end marker of Red Rock Canyon for its odd shaped slope and jagged peak. It is a great way for them to get their bearings for directions. Bright sun in the morning and a closer look reveal a colorful hillside. It is one of my favorite spots for nature walks or a quick and carefree drive out of town for a bit. 

There is a 13 mile, one way road loop here that is idea for cruising with car or motorbike, bicycle. Stops along the route provide day camp areas for lunch and exploring. One might catch a glimpse of a ground squirrel or two or a flying critter, one of many to inhabit the area. The ground squirrels look like chipmunks without the stripes and are a dusty, light brown in color. Foxes, road runners, burros, and long horn sheep are among the wildlife that may be spotted in the area.

Bonnie Springs Motel Sign

Bonnie Springs - Old Nevada

After the canyon tour is exhausted, slip on up about two miles further west and enjoy Bonnie Springs. The small ranch features a hotel, a rustic town named Old Nevada, and a horse riding facility. There is a small restaurant and a petting zoo which is ideal for small families looking for activities in the area. 

The animals are friendly, but be cautious of the deer. They are a bit skitterish at times. When my daughter Becca was a toddler, she bumped one of them and was knocked down. It stepped over her and we have sung "Becca got run over by a reindeer" to her ever since....

The peacocks will greet you in the parking lot. They are lovely with bright blue plumage and will perhaps annoy you with their screeching mating calls. If you are lucky they will do a full NBC presentation with their beautiful tail feathers. Let me leave you with a word of warning here. Do not attempt to collect feathers. They are carefully guarded. I believe they are said to be bad luck, anyhow.

For more about Bonnie Springs by this author - A Visit to Bonnie Springs
http://las-vegas-tourist-attractions.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-visit-to-bonnie-springs-nevada.html

Your Tour Guide of Bonnie Springs Ranch


Majestic Peacock Gifts and Prints on Zazzle 

Mount Charleston - Lodge, Resort, and Camping

Mount Charleston is about an hour from the heart of the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. The mountain peak sits at around 11,000 feet. This is a fact many do not know about our area. This elevation will carry and hold snow for a few months beginning in late Fall. It is a fabulous winter haven for recreation. Skiing, snowboarding, inner tubing, and snowball fights are just a few of the adventures one may partake of while visiting between mid November and late April. The snow is assisted by a machine designed to toss artificial flakes onto the mountain slopes if adequate snowfall does not occur. 

In and Around the Mt. Charleston Lodge. 

Reserve a cabin at the Lodge on Mount Charleston or stay in the rustic Resort. If roughing it is a familiar theme with family outings, Hilltop Campground is just a few minutes drive from the Resort. It features many sites for tents and trailers alike. There are trails and woods to explore and nature scenes to capture the attention. The valley view is stunning and the trees are simply nature at its finest. Visit the upper trails near the ski lift and learn about Bristlecone Pines, some of the oldest living trees in the country. Information boards and images line most of the walking trails and are instructional as well as entertaining. 

Two years ago our hills to the northwest were lit up with a devastating fire. The main tour area has remained unharmed, thankfully. Mt. Charleston Memories are among my favorite camping trips. The mountain is a spectacular get away for weekends and I enjoyed several years of girl's camp here when I was a teenager. 

I hope someday you can enjoy these areas the way we do. Take one day on your visiting schedule and experience the real Nevada. There is a lot to see outside of the Las Vegas Strip. 

Thank you for visiting!

For more about camping in and around Nevada see these posts on my sister blog Prep123

Camping on Mt Charleston with a Dog and a Dutch Oven

http://preparedness123.blogspot.com/2015/09/camping-on-mt-charleston-with-dog-and.html

Camping with a Dog and a Dutch Oven Part Two (Eagle Valley Reservoir near Pioche, Nevada)

http://preparedness123.blogspot.com/2015/09/camping-with-dog-and-dutch-oven-part-two.html