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 Bonnie Springs Ranch was originally built
in 1843 as a stopover for the wagon trains going to California down the Old Spanish Trail.
In 1846, General Fremont, on his way to California,
stopped at what is now Bonnie Springs Ranch to gear up for his trip through
Death Valley. Since 1952, the ranch has
been used as a tourist attraction. Often called "an oasis in the
desert", where you can stop for a cool drink of spring water.
Bonnie
Springs Ranch got its start back in the early 1950's when Al Levinson, a
recently arrived New Yorker, met and married Las Vegas dancer and showgirl, Bonnie McGaugh. Bonnie passed her strong love for the West and
its historic past onto her husband, and together they ambitiously decided
to recreate and preserve as much of the wild and woolly old Nevada as they
could. Levinson began building the little mining town of Old Nevada back in the early 1970's after
doing extensive historical research and slowly gathering artifacts from the
1880's. Bit by bit, and piece by piece, Old Nevada grew, built really upon
the curiosity and energy of Al and Bonnie.
Today the
grounds are a delight for locals and tourists alike. There is a fine dinner
house and a quaint cocktail lounge. We have a wide variety of animals for you
to see in our zoo. Both native and non-native, including Simba the Canadian Lynx and
our beautiful wolves. We have a large
stable of horses for your riding pleasure, pony rides for the kids and an adorable
motel with fireplace rooms and Jacuzzi tubs.
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