WHAT THE HELL IS A JARBIDGE?

Posted: June 11, 2018 by admin

Comment

Is it:

A. A Sasquatch like creature that the Shoshone believed could capture and eat people?

B. The most remote town in the lower 48?

C. A law breaking Nevada town, openly defying Nevada law as a PST zone state and operating totally on Mountain time?

D. The place to be for 4^th of July, Halloween, and other opportunities to party?

E. The scene of the last stage coach robbery in US history?

F. A bumper sticker that you can get there?

The answer: all of the above!

I am not quite sure how I found this town and its hotel, and, 6 hours into the drive up from Elko, I was not quite sure if I ever would find it, but I did. As you will see below, the population is about 16 or so, but they have a store, two bars, a hotel, and a gift shop. And, as of this week, a freshly graded dirt main street!

If you want to go to the county seat, Elko, it is 6-7 hours, of which 4-5 hours are dirt roads up and down the mountains. If you want a quick trip to the store, then it is Twin Falls, Idaho, a mere 3+ hours to go 100 miles, with only 20 or so of the miles being on dirt. There are NO other options. Yes, the most remote town in the 48 states.

But, the restaurant is open until 10 every night! And the bar until everyone is done. I was there on a Tuesday, and it was busy! And the stories they tell of the holiday parties? Amazing, all night events. Granted, all participants interviewed seemed to have limited memory of the details……

Why does this all happen here in this extraordinarily remote old mining town? I think they all WANT to be there and like the life. Everyone seems happy.

Lots of shots below, which I hope you enjoy and the stories with them.

A road “blockage” to work though. I am about 45 minutes into the dirt road part here.

I loved this shot of the clouds and meadows. Around here I came across a herd of about 20 antelope. They were going the same direction I was and as I got up to 35 mph, they were now far ahead of me. They must have been running at close to 50 mph!

About 2 hours into this road, I had seen no one, and then a 53′ tractor trailer rig comes around the bend. What he was doing here I will never know, but it sure woke me up!

Beautiful scenery along the way, hour 4 or so of rutted dirt roads by now. Understand I had no maps, most intersections were without signs (I guess people around here steal the signs?) so I was sort of guessing from the navigation. I tried entering in Jarbidge, but it had no knowledge of the town. My car was making weird scary noises, it was late in the day and I was feeling lost.

And then, finally a sign that they could not steal! it was still an hour from this sign, but I felt like I would eventually get to Jarbidge!

I have arrived! The Outdoor Inn. Booze, grub and rooms. What more could you want after about 7 hours from Elko?

Of course, if the hotel was full, I could always stay here. It is open 24/7 and free.

A gift shop for your shopping convenience.

Questionable combination of things here! But it and what follows show the quirkiness of the town

Yes, that is what it says. Hey, this is not Seattle for sure! But, although I think they are kidding, I chose to not park there.

Have you ever heard of a Mormon cricket? I had not and after taking this shot went back into the bar to talk about it. (Brave of me, I thought, being in Mormon country and all.) Well, it is a cricket that seems to periodically infest places sort of like a cicada. Nasty creatures and they do try to drive over them. I later saw some and they were not pretty. And not small.