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The Accidental Wonder: The Fly Geyser of Las Vegas

Published on January 11, 2012 by Vanessa Boiser

Country: United States

The Experience

Fly Geyser is a small geothermal geyser located in Washoe County, Nevada, which is a combination of man-made wonder with nature’s own addition. Fly Geyser was accidentally dug by well-diggers in 1916 during a well construction. The well worked perfectly up until the 1960s when geothermally heated water, along with minerals, began pouring out and continued on ever since. With the combination of both water and minerals, the Fly Geyser was formed at approximately 5-feet tall. It is truly one of a kind in the area of Hualapai Flat, less than a mile from Route 34.

Fly Geyser is a wonderful Nevada tourist spot that only a few people know about. Even to the residents of Nevada, the Fly Geyser is not as big a tourist site as it should be because it is situated inside private property—known as the Fly Ranch. But even so, the Fly Geyser’s rather small features can be clearly seen from the road outside the private fencing. Just like the geysers of Yellow Stone National Park, one of Fly Geyser’s main attractions is its colourful structure that is the result of decades of overflowing minerals.

Despite being small, the Fly Geyser is still breathtaking to look at. You will need a camera zoom to really see it more closely from the roadside, but the experience is well worth it. The sound of it spouting water can be heard for more than half a mile, and it’s an unusual experience to see a colourful, miniature mountain-like geothermal fountain in the heart of the Nevada desert. The fence of the Fly Ranch is surrounded by wires, and the gate is locked. Even with security to keep trespassers out, there are still many people who try to get in just to have a closer look at this local geothermal wonder. Up close, the base of the Fly Geyser has small ponds also filled with water, which adds to the added mystique of Fly Geyser as a tourist attraction.


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Puzzle

When to Go to Fly Geyser

Nevada is a wonderful state to visit, with peak months of September to June, and low peak months of July to August. Nevada is host to a lot of wonderful places to visit. Once you have witnessed the wonders of Fly Geyser, Las Vegas is a road-trip away. If you want the best of both worlds—nature, mountains and night outs—then Reno, Nevada is the place to be. Lake Tahoe offers a different type of refuge with trees and cabins for a more tranquil destination.

Haulapai Flat valley is located in northwestern Nevada, surrounded by a granite range. The land around Fly Ranch is mostly used as pasturage by cattle ranchers.

Odds n' Ends

The Fly Geyser is on private property of Fly Ranch, which borders Black Rock Desert. Currently you can see it only from the road, but organizers of the Burning Man Festival are in talks to purchase the land, and aims to preserve and grant access to it if all goes well.

More Experiences Nearby

Artistic Awakening at the Burning Man Festival
Despite a rather ominous name, the 8 day long Burning Man festival is an extremely peaceful gathering of artistically open individuals. The Burning Man festivities take place in Black Rock City, a temporary community on an ancient lake bed also known as the playa of the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Regardless of Burning Man Festival's temporary status it boasts a remarkable population, with over 47,366 dwellers in 2007, making it the third largest city in Nevada. Burning Man Festival is described by organizers as an experiment in community, radical self expression, and radical self reliance. Each year founder Larry ...9 miles away.

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Top 10 Las Vegas Eyewitness Travel Guide
Off the Beaten Path: A Travel Guide to More Than 1000 Scenic and Interesting Places Still Uncrowded and Inviting

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