Here we are in Pioche, a small town with rustic charm and a rich history.

While I'm here, I'm going to learn about the history, chat with some locals, and take in the sights.

All this and more today on Outdoor Nevada.

♪♪♪ I'm Connor Fields, and this is Outdoor Nevada.

♪♪♪ Whenever I drive through a town, my curiosity gets the best of me.

And Pioche has always done that to me.

Whether it's the historical buildings, the mining relics, or the nearby state parks, it's been on my list for a while now, and finally, here we are.

First things first: a tour of the town and a lesson in its history.

♪♪♪ The day started with meeting Megan Robinson, the Pioche Chamber president.

She walked me through uptown Pioche before we sat down for some caffeine.

Megan, thanks for showing me around today.

What makes Pioche special to you?

(Megan Robinson) Pioche is special to me because it's home.

I love the peacefulness.

I love the small-town lifestyle.

-What do you like to do for fun in Pioche?

-I love to hunt.

I love to fish.

I like to hike.

I love to go take our side-by-side out on the OHV trails.

-Sounds like there's a ton to do.

And as we walked through town, it looked like some really cool historic buildings.

-There's a lot of cool historic buildings here.

One of the places I recommend is the museum uptown.

There's a lot of history in there about Pioche.

The Thompson Opera House, the Gem Theater, the Million Dollar Courthouse, they're all great to check out.

-You can see a performance in the same theater that they were performing in hundreds of years ago?

-You sure can.

-That's a really unique thing that Pioche can say.

-Oh, yeah.

-Why should somebody come visit Pioche instead of just driving through?

-You know what?

Surprisingly, we have a lot of really cool small businesses and great places to eat for such a small town.

The OHV trails, the mountain bike trails, the state parks, hunting, fishing, great places to stay, the weather is beautiful-- the list goes on.

-Sounds like there is a ton of stuff, and like I've got a lot more I need to go and check out, so I'm gonna go do that.

-Come back and see me again.

-My next stop was the famous Million Dollar Courthouse.

Here, I caught up with a really interesting guy.

His name is Louis.

He works here at the Million Dollar Courthouse and has been wandering around this area since he was a little kid.

Why do they call it the Million Dollar Courthouse?

(Louis Benezit) Well, it originally cost about $25,000; but they didn't pay it off, because the mines were going.

They figured the money would keep coming in.

But the mines slowed down, the money didn't come in, and they started issuing basically county script, bonds and so forth, and they never actually paid those off.

So the debt just accumulated over the years.

-Interest.

-Interest brought it up to about $800,000.

And about 1930 or so, they finally got it paid off, and they said, Far out.

They moved down the hill and built a new courthouse.

The building had been used for a while, and it was perhaps showing a bit of its age.

So the courthouse was empty for 40 years after the new one was built, and nothing was done with the building until about 1975.

And at that point, they decided, rather than tear it down, they would make a museum out of it.

So they actually put the money into fixing it up, repairing the old jail, which is upstairs, and it's been a museum since then.

And I've worked here in the summertime when I'm not painting houses.

-What kind of things do they have in the museum?

-Well, we got various relics that were brought in from the county offices, old books, for example.

There's lots of mining equipment in one of the rooms.

We have the furniture from the old post office in Caliente.

There are various pictures, some of which were donated by the Nevada Historical Society, pictures of the old town and various-- during the period when the courthouse was used.

-If someone was coming to Pioche, what do you suggest they see?

-Well, I would say, come to the old courthouse, visit the museum up on Main Street, and then wander around.

Go down to the old Boot Hill Cemetery, for example.

And if you like, you can climb up the hills and see the relics of the old mines.

There's a road that takes off up here and goes above us.

And from there, you get a beautiful view of the town.

I think people come here to wander around and see the place and have the experience of being in the old mining town.

-Thank you for taking some time with me today.

-Yep, you bet.

-This historic building is fascinating.

You can see how, back in the day, it was a symbol of the growing prosperity of Pioche from the booming silver mining.

Walking around and seeing the collection of artifacts is incredible.

There is no shortage of interesting and historic eye candy.

♪♪♪ You not only see the mining history, you also see the lawless history of Pioche, especially when you make your way into the courthouse on the way to the jail.

This court setting is a remarkably well-preserved example of 19th century judicial architecture.

The courtroom reflects the simplicity and functionality typical of the era.

Its wooden furnishings, including the judge's bench, witness stand, and jury box are original to the building.

The whole thing gives off an air of authority.

You can just feel it.

And with its current residents presiding, you can almost hear a trial taking place.

(Male Voice No.

1) Order, order!

I'll have order in this courtroom!

Mr. Baker, proceed with your argument, but keep it brief.

(Male Voice No.

2) Thank you, Your Honor.

The evidence is clear.

This man, Jed Harper, shot and killed Tom Ellison in cold blood outside the saloon last Thursday night.

Witnesses saw him draw first.

And don't let him fool you with that smirk; this wasn't self-defense.

This was murder.

(Male Voice No.

3) That's a load of horse.

-Mr. Harper, you will remain silent unless spoken to.

One more outburst and you'll be removed from this courtroom.

Do you hear me?

(Woman's Voice) He killed my Tom!

He killed him!

-Mrs. Ellison, I understand your grief, but please keep your composure.

-Tom Ellison was a good man, a husband, a father, and he didn't deserve to die because Mr. Harper couldn't control his temper.

The accused has shown no remorse.

Look at him.

He sits there mocking this court.

-You're real good at spinning tales, Mr. Baker.

Got any proof, or just hot air?

[sound of a gavel] -Mr. Harper, if you disrupt these proceedings again, you'll spend the night in jail before this trial continues.

Mr. Baker, wrap it up.

-The people of this town demand justice.

Don't let this man walk free to harm another innocent soul.

-Very well.

Jury, you have heard the case as presented.

Your responsibility is now to make a decision of guilty or not guilty.

Do you understand?

(in unison) Yes, Judge.

-Good.

Court is adjourned.

[sound of a gavel] -The setting evokes the historic atmosphere of the Wild West, where justice was often swift and sometimes contentious.

And I'm sure this jail has seen its share of interesting characters.

[door slams] -From here, I decided to continue wandering, and I headed over to the Gem.

The Gem Theater is a historic venue that once served as a hub of entertainment for this once bustling mining town.

Next door is the Thompson Opera House.

This is a beautifully restored building that dates back to 1873.

Originally built by Aleck Brown, it served as a cultural hub, hosting plays, concerts, and community events during the mining town's heyday.

From the outside, you can see the opera house's classic architecture.

It's when you step inside, you can see and feel the history.

The details in the Thompson Opera House are really interesting, especially what I thought was a mining shaft was actually a natural refrigerator.

Perishable items and liquor were put on a cart and sent down the shaft where it was much, much cooler.

Hey, you gotta love the ingenuity.

The opera house features a charming wooden stage and classic Victorian design elements, reflecting the sophistication of its time.

Today, it stands as a testament to the town's rich history and continues to host performances and events.

Visitors can tour the building and experience a piece of Nevada's vibrant frontier heritage.

Everywhere you go here is a reminder of Pioche's past.

The Lincoln County Museum is a great place to see, well, everything.

♪♪♪ -Hey, how's it going?

-Welcome!

-Would you mind if I looked around?

-Go right ahead.

-This place is packed full of so much history.

It is really something to see.

It is a showcase of artifacts and exhibits that highlight the area's rich mining and frontier history.

Visitors can explore displays featuring tools, photographs, and stories from the region's silver build, offering a glimpse into life during the Wild West era and beyond.

It might not be the biggest museum, but you'll want to spend some time here.

The best way to describe the collection is eclectic.

It covers the early days straight through more modern times.

You really do need to spend time, time just looking around at everything.

While you are here, you're reminded of the rough and tough times and the less than savory individuals who also wandered this town.

This led me to Boot Hill Cemetery, a definite reminder of the tougher times.

There is a saying here: Boot Hill Cemetery, where the bad men sleep.

This reflection of the town's reputation is one of the wildest in the Old West, where violent disputes often ended in deadly shootouts.

Many of the graves belonged to those who met untimely and often violent deaths, reinforcing the lawless and rough nature of Pioche during its mining boom.

I wanted to lighten the mood a little bit and meet some more of the good people of Pioche, so I headed over to the Overland Hotel & Saloon.

Here I met up with some locals to learn more about today's Pioche.

Cydney, I understand that you were born and raised here in Pioche.

-Yep.

-What was that like?

-I loved it.

I had a great childhood.

It was great.

I mean, my best friend lived not even a quarter mile away from my house.

I could yell at him.

-Across town.

-Yeah, literally.

We had property, so my dad, he built the house they still live in, back in 1991.

I was pretty much born and raised in that house.

I was three when we moved into it.

My best friend lived right up the street.

My family's here.

I've got cousins here.

It was a great childhood, and I just love it here.

-And were your parents from here, as well, and their parents?

How long have your family been in Pioche?

-We've been here at least-- I can at least go back four to five generations.

-Four to five generations?

-Yep.

-Back when the mining boom was going on?

-Yep.

-And were your family miners?

-Um, not mostly.

My dad's side of the family was into ranching and stuff like that, farming.

They actually used to own Flatnose Ranch, which is about 10 miles outside of town here.

But my mom's side, she had a grandpa, it was her grandpa that actually did work in the mines up here.

-So your great-grandfather mined up here in Pioche, and you're still living in Pioche today?

-Yeah.

-How would you describe Pioche to somebody who's never been here before?

-It really is kind of like a paradise.

We're so close to four different national-- or not national, but state parks.

We have got, like I said, the biking trails.

We've got the old history of the mines.

The mines are cool.

You can walk up to the No.

1 Mine after you're done at the Million Dollar Courthouse and go and see what the Million Dollar Courthouse is talking about.

We have a lot of that neat history, and I just love it.

People should come and visit and stay if they want.

We've got a free RV park down here by the park.

-If you had to describe Pioche in one word, what would you choose?

-Peaceful.

We have our own sense of vibrancy here, which I absolutely love, but it's still really peaceful.

-I hear we call you Coach.

Why is that?

(Michael Collins) I'm a high school teacher.

This is my 30th year teaching, and so I coach football and basketball and track.

And so the Coach name has just stuck.

-So we call you Coach?

-Everybody just calls me Coach.

-All right, Coach, why do you love Pioche?

-The atmosphere, the slow pace, from the front porch is a million dollar view.

Life is really.

To be able to go out to look at deer, elk, wild horses just out your back door.

I mean, you get in a truck or you get on your motorcycle or your quad or your side-by-side, and you're in a whole different era.

-Somebody driving through this area, why should they choose to stop in Pioche rather than keep on driving through?

-The history.

You know, from Boot Hill to the Overland where we're at, you can see, you can go back in time just by looking at some of these buildings here.

And then if you just get a little bit of the stories that has happened-- I mean, every time you walk, you learn something new about this town.

It's still-- you're going back into the Old West.

-If these walls could talk... -Oh, man, if the walls could talk, we'd get some good stories.

-If someone is driving through this area, why should they stop here instead of just driving on through?

(Kristal Romans) Oh, we got ghosts, and we've got old mining, Wild West.

I mean, we've got a Boot Hill Cemetery that was the Wild West of Nevada.

We got state parks, all kinds of recreation.

The two state parks that are actually Pioche-based are our reservoirs.

So we can-- you can fish, you can kayak, you can hike around those areas, too.

There's hiking trails.

-I've done a couple of those, and they were fantastic.

-Yeah.

So that's, I mean, those two, Spring Valley and Eagle are, like I said, Pioche-based, Pioche address.

-So you get a little bit of everything up here.

You can get some history, some mining, some Wild West, some ghosts.

I'm hoping I don't get any of those.

You get some ghosts.

You can get some state parks.

It's like, it's like a charcuterie board of activity.

-And you get-- you can see the stars at night.

It's peaceful.

It's quiet, and you can see the stars.

As long as clouds are not covering it, it's great.

It's great.

Great place to be.

-If you could describe Pioche in one word, what would that be?

-Peaceful for me, very peaceful.

Rural, peaceful.

Those are two words.

-It was great to meet everyone.

Now I wanted to explore more of Pioche, do some more wandering, maybe this time not on foot.

After sitting down with Coach, he invited me on a side-by-side tour of the OHV trails and a look at some of the abandoned mines.

No way I was passing that up.

I'm meeting up with Coach today for an adventure.

We're gonna jump in the side-by-side, hit the trails, check out some old mines.

It's gonna be a blast.

What's up, Coach?

-Ready to go for a ride?

-I am absolutely ready.

Let's do it.

And off we went.

♪♪♪ It wasn't long before the pavement was dirt and we were on the trails.

I couldn't have asked for a better tour guide.

Coach kept pointing out landmarks and telling me about the history and some other colorful tidbits.

This guy can really tell a story.

The trail system is huge.

You really could ride and just explore it for days.

I definitely suggest getting maps or a GPS to help navigate the area.

I was really looking forward to this.

Everywhere I've been in Nevada, there have been side-by-sides.

These are used for getting around town, working the ranches, on hunting and fishing trips, and for general recreation.

Nevada has a massive network of trails for side-by-sides.

Today we are headed up to Pioche's No.

1 Mine.

The No.

1 Mine was one of the town's most productive silver mines during its peak in the late 19th century.

It played a crucial role in Pioche's reputation as a thriving mining hub, contributing to the extraction of millions of dollars worth of ore.

The mine was known for its extensive underground network and the dangerous working conditions that were typical in the era.

Today, remnants of the mine can still be seen, offering visitors a glimpse into the challenging yet prosperous days of Pioche's mining history.

This is amazing.

Where are we?

-Welcome to Pioche No.

1 Mine.

-What do they mine here?

-In the early days, it was silver, then lead, and then gold were the primary three.

-If I was gonna go in there and explore, what is important that I know?

(Duaine Cowley) Well, a little bit of history to take that a little bit.

You have this, being the No.

1 Mine, this is the most famous mine, iconic mine of Pioche.

But in the surrounding hills, there are thousands and thousands of patented mining claims around here.

They are dangerous.

As you can see by the signs that are on the fences, please respect those, because even though it is a very neat place to visit, and there are spots that you can walk in and look, please be very careful while you're here.

It is-- it is a dangerous place, although very picturesque.

It's a great place to sightsee.

-When you say "mine," that means there's a deep hole, so you have to be careful not to fall in the hole.

-Correct.

Any place that is fenced out, please respect those fences and do not come inside the fence to get a better look, because there are mine shafts within a stone's throw where we're standing that are over 1,000 feet straight down.

And they're still, the tops are still open today.

And the only thing that stops something from going in are the fences.

So please respect those.

-As locals, do you come up here often?

(Ravyn Cowley) Yeah, we do frequent it quite a bit.

Our group, with side-by-sides, we like to come right up here.

There's another place we like.

It's Caselton Mine, which I think we should show you that place next.

-I'd love to see it.

♪♪♪ -The No.

1 Mine is super impressive to see up close.

It's also a place to respect.

I will repeat what Duaine said, Do not go where you do not belong.

1,000 feet is a long way down, and that's not a fall you come back from.

Please respect the mine.

♪♪♪ This ride was great for a couple different reasons: First, hanging out with Coach, Duaine, and Ravyn was a blast.

They took me on some amazing trails with wide open landscapes and incredible views.

It was great to take in all the sights and hang with some fun people, and I learned a lot about a town that, up until now, honestly, I had only driven through.

We continued on our way, and I was really surprised with the landscape.

You just don't know what you're missing out on if you don't get off the main roads and do some exploring.

It's always an eye opener in a great way.

Just make sure you remember a map or do what I do, make friends with the local.

The Capitan mine was a significant mining operation during the early 20th century.

It contributed to the region's economic growth and helped solidify Lincoln County's reputation as a mining powerhouse.

Though long and active, the site remains a reminder of the area's rich mining heritage and its role in Nevada's history.

♪♪♪ -Look at that.

Where are we now?

-The Caselton Mine.

-It looks like it could still be operational.

-That'd be nice if we could open it back up.

-When's the last time it was open?

-In the late '60s.

-Do you know what they were mining?

-They were mining silver, lead, and gold.

-And they just got up and walked away one day?

-On a Friday, got your pink slip, and nobody came back to work.

-And if you went inside there, would you be able to find things?

-Tools still sitting on the table.

-How they left it?

-Just how they left it.

-Crazy.

Well, hey, Coach, this has been amazing, driving around, seeing the beautiful sights and the historic mines.

It's been really great.

Thank you very much.

-My pleasure, my pleasure.

-Let's head back to town.

-Let's hit it.

♪♪♪ -It is crazy to see two different abandoned mines from two different eras, but both with similar results.

-There are a ton of abandoned mines in Pioche.

Some you can see and others are a bit more hidden, but they are all an important part of Nevada's history.

♪♪♪ I have to say, for everything I've heard about how bad the people of Pioche were, that is so not the case now.

Everyone here has been so friendly, inviting, and proud of Pioche.

I love seeing people take pride in their community.

We need more of that.

And if you're a history buff, an outdoors enthusiast, a photographer, or a weekend explorer, you will love Pioche.

I've been met with nothing but smiles and great conversations since I got here.

Pioche is an amazing place.

And, yes, it has a colorful history, but more than that, it has a bright future.

Make a trip here.

You will not be disappointed.

And like Louis said, Do some wandering.

Pioche has been great.

Whether it's exploring the natural beauty of the area, learning about the town's history, or talking with some of the kindest people, it has been fantastic.

Make sure you check it out for yourself.

You won't regret it.

Till next time, I'm Connor Fields, and this is Outdoor Nevada.

♪♪♪