Desert Station is situated between Buckland’s and Carson Sink Pony Express Stations. It has also been referred to as Coates Well and Brooklyn.
Desert Station was one of the original Pony Express Stations. Personal diaries from travelers in 1860’s mention Desert Station had good grass and water.
The Pony Express route was moved to nearby Hooten Well the last few months of service. Many references list Desert Station and Hooten Well as the same site but they are distinct locations 1.5 miles apart.
The main station is a rectangular room and appears to have a smaller room on the back wall. Across the modern road is a long wall, maybe a corral.
Desert Station may have been used as a stage and freight stop, by the Overland Mail Company and later for telegraph activities.
We visited Desert Station with friend Stephen. We combined with trip with Hooten Well, Buckland’s Station, Dayton and Empire City.
Visited 5-31-2020
References
- Basso, Dave. Nevada Historical Marker Guidebook. Nevada Publications, 1986. Page 192.
- History.com: 10 Things you may not know about the Pony Express
- National Park Service: Pony Express
- Nevada State Parks: Buckland Station
- Nevada State Parks: Fort Churchill
- Notes from the Frontier: The Pony Express: Rugged Riders on Fleet-footed Horses
- Paher, Stanley. Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps. Nevada Publications, 1970. Page 79.
- Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection: Buckland Family
- Wikipedia: Fort Churchill State Historic Park
- Wikipedia: Pony Express
John B says
I’ve been trying to map out the original C.P. RR route through the 40 mile desert. I noticed you visited a “Desert Station” Around Ft Churchill (I guess that’s a Pony Express station). Did you know there was a “Desert Railroad Station” between Wadsworth and Brady Hot Springs, NE of Fernley. The old station names were (as far as I can gleen) west to east Wadsworth, Desert, Hot Springs, Mirage, and White Plains. I’m still compiling the names of stations east of these.
Tami says
Have you checked on Nevada Expeditions? He does many railroad stops, which is his area of focus. I’ll check with him and see if he has a page on this.