Hoover Dam and Ghost Town

     Before leaving Mead Lake RV park, we needed to see Hoover Dam. Now, one bit of trivia...I get terrible vertigo from heights over water. Eek! So, I didn't look, I took pictures, The thing that impressed me most was the power lines at a 45 degree angle and the infrastructure of the system.

     There were views of the roads below and we saw a coyote and a nice paint job on a motorcycle.

I took the obligatory pictures one should take at such a site but the ones above of the supporting structures are not the usual stuff folks picture. Instead, this is what is the norm.

     We decided to seek out the rail trail where a standard gauge railroad ran 24/7 getting the buiding material to the dam from the concrete plant. It is 4 miles out and 4 miles back. The path runs under one of the lookouts. This is the most pleasant rail trail I have ever had the pleasure of walking. There are 5 short tunnels, benches every mile (at least) and is perfectly level and excellently graded. It gives the walker the chance to have outstanding views with no traffic issues,

 The cruise ship was on the lake.

 Thirsty doggie!

 For my rockhound friends - this is what the rock looks like in addition to basaltic rock.

 On the way back it was hot and we were tired - never saw such a lovely pair of gates - the exit gates! The truck was just past the gates - we made the 8 miles heat and all. Wonderful walk,

Even the little dog made it!

Back at camp, on the way out I had seen an abandoned but obviously in good shape complex I wanted to explore. It used to be a resort and I would think in its day it was quite the place to be. I saw the old No Vacancy sign between the palm trees and imagined better times. There was a pile of red roof tiles as if someone was going to put them up - but never did or will,

The views from here were lovely and considering the way the rooms were left, we were thinking last used in the 70s. The pool is drained but stands fairly without issue. The rooms still have their welcome mats. The sprinkler system is still in the ground though not running - there are obvious signs plants needing more water have died - a stone ring existing with an irrigation head now dry and plant long gone.

It's a curious thing. The RV park we stayed in got to stay in business. This did not. Both provide lodging. There is no evidence of prior warning of shutting down or any sort of natural disaster - the people are simply gone. The electrical service is torn out of the service rooms. Yet the structure stands. Usually the park service demolishes structures when taking over, not this time. This one stands. I will add there is a No Trespassing sign on the road side of the property - we did not approach it from that direction and we did leave once we realized there was a posted sign. If you go beware of the massive anthills. There are jack rabbits and there were more singing birds here than any other place I have ever been - anywhere. Their songs filled the night sky and we lingered returning to the truck, Take a good look if you are ever there and enjoy the lovely views here.

This place that time has forgotten in the Lake Mead National Recreational Area.