Alkali Spring, Nevada

Alkali Springs has been a popular resting place for visitors for over one hundred years. In the early 1900s, it was a trendy resort, restaurant, and dance hall. In the 1940s, soldiers from nearby Tonopah Army Airfield got “rowdy” at the resort, taking a much-needed break during WWII. Today, travelers enjoy the warm waters and ruins of the resort and power substation.

I was in Tonopah and visited the amazing Central Nevada Museum. I met the founder, Allen Metscher, who lived at Alkali Springs. He gave me a book with a chapter on Alkali Springs, including historical photos of the resort. A very special thank you to Allen for permitting me to share these photos for the first time online.

A dream is born

Emigrants from all over the world flocked to booming Nevada to pursue a dream. Most sought out mining claims, while others provided services and supplies to miners. Joe Guisti immigrated in 1901 along with his father. They opened a general store in Delmar, White Pine County. On a return visit in 1905 to his hometown of Lucca, Italy, Joe met Geny, his bride-to-be, at a restaurant. The following year he sent for Geny, and she traveled to the United States to join him.

As mining in White Pine County declined, the couple moved to follow miners and new strikes. As a result, the Guistis moved over ten times around the state, including towns such as Caliente, Rhyolite and Bullfrog. The couple eventually settled in Tonopah, where they had two sons and a daughter, Lilian. Geny did her best to make a lovely home, repurposing burlap sacks to cover the dirt floors.

Alkali Springs Resort

In 1904, The Combination Mill at Goldfield piped water to Alkali Spring. The Guistis saw a new opportunity with the warm water and opened Alkali Hot Springs, one of the first resorts in the area, between Tonopah and Goldfield.

Through the 1930s, they provided guests with an indoor wooden pool, children’s area and picnic grounds set against the tamarisk trees. Later, they added a second building with a restaurant, bar, dance floor and attached residence. Alkali Springs held popular dances and social events on Friday and Saturday evenings. The signature drink was grape juice over ice.

During holidays, Alkali Springs held special events. They offered both American and European plans. American plans were all-inclusive, with activities and meals, while the European plan visitors paid for each item individually.

Alkali Springs was popular with soldiers from the Tonopah Army Airfield in Tonopah. Soldiers would bring their food and drink and then visit the bar when supplies ran out. The resort got “rowdy” and was placed off-limits-few paid heed.

Alkali Sprigns Ruins

A rectangular concrete pool remains and is filled with small fish. Above the pool are several small soaking hot springs. We did not explore that area as campers used it and Alkali Hot Springs is a “clothing optional” location. There are some things I don’t want to see and I didn’t think au natural bathers would appreciate me taking photos.

A powerhouse was constructed by the spring but is now defunct. The abandoned building has been covered in graffiti. I am never a fan of destroying a historical site, but the artist who drew the man in a headdress is talented.

The locals

Humans are not the only ones drawn to Alkali Springs. Burros enjoy the water and shade provided by the trees. We were fortunate to see twenty burros, including an adorable baby and momma.

I visited Alkali Springs on my Girl Ghost Town Trip to Tonopah. That day we visited Blair, Silver Peak and Nivloc.

WANT MORE GHOST TOWNS?

For information on more than five hundred ghost towns in Nevada & California, visit the Nevada Ghost Towns Map or a list of Nevada ghost towns.

Nevada Ghost Towns Map

Visited 5-1-2021

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References

• Carlson, Helen. S. Nevada Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary. University of Nevada Press, 1996. Page 35.
• Gamett, James and Stan Paher. Nevada Post Offices: An Illustrated History. Nevada Publications, 1863.
• Myhrer, Deith and Allen Metcher. Historic Places in Central Nevada Adjacent to Nellis Air Force Base. Air Force Civil Engineer Center, 2013. Pages 7-11.
• Nevada Bureau Mines and Geology: Alkali Hot Springs
• Newspapers.com: Geny and Joe Guisti operated the Alkali Hot Springs resort
• Paher, Stanley. Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps. Nevada Publications, 1970. Page 385.
• Wikipedia: Alkali, Nevada
• Ultimate Hot Springs Guide: Alkali Hot Springs
• USGS: Alkali
• USGS: Alkali Hot Springs
• World Hot Springs: Alkali Hot Springs

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