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 a 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

• 1 Court Rock. A distinctive hill/rock formation that was used as a jail until 1871. 
• 2 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

• 1 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)
• 2 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

• 1 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.

Routes through Panaca

Ely ← Pioche ←	N  S	→ Caliente → Las Vegas
END ←	W  E	→ becomes → Cedar City