At the Bullfrog's height, some 50 mines were in operation in the district, their activities recounted in the Beatty Bullfrog Miner newspaper. Three railroads, carrying passengers and goods, once passed through the town of Beatty. After living for years in the shadow of its more romantic neighbor, Rhyolite, Beatty by the 1930s was the largest community within 100 miles.

Billing itself as the most prosperous mining camp in the Bullfrog District, Beatty used flyers like this to attract new residents and investors (Beatty Museum and Historical Society).

Surrounded by spectacular scenery, Beatty is the closest community to Death Valley National Park and serves as the Nevada gateway to the popular attraction, just a few minutes’ drive away. But the town itself offers many attractions as well, including the Beatty Museum at 401 Main Street, which showcases memorabilia from the Amargosa River Valley's remarkable past. Hospitable dining and lodging may be found at establishments including the Exchange Club, the Burro Inn, the El Portal Motel, the Stagecoach Hotel and Casino and the Phoenix Inn. RV facilities also are available.

The Exchange Club still does business in the same building where it opened in 1906. Tourism officials advise that the club's old bar likely made many stops on its way from San Francisco to Beatty, and "could tell stories of boom or bust from its travels."

The Beatty area also is ideal for hikers, four-wheelers and lovers of desert adventure. Rock hunting and burro-watching are just two of the activities both locals and visitors enjoy.

Its location 115 miles north of Las Vegas makes Beatty a superb day trip for those visiting the gaming mecca, a friendly town where echoes of a boisterous history still resonate.

Beatty at sundown