Beatty, Nevada

I like Beatty. Whenever I plan a trip to Death Valley, if I'm not camping, I'll stay overnight in Beatty. The town was named after "Old Man" Montillus Murray Beatty, a Civil War veteran who bought a ranch along the Amargosa River just north of the future townsite. Over the years, it's had its share of ups and downs, seen several railroads, had its own newspaper (the Beatty Bullfrog Miner), several fancy hotels and casinos. Today its main claim to fame is its close proximity to Death Valley, only a 30-minute drive away. The nearby ghost town of Rhyolite is also a reason I like to stay in Beatty. Plus, the Subway sandwich shop makes great cookies.

Here's a few pictures I took on my last visit.