Visiting Goldwell Open Air Museum

Goldwell Open Air Museum is a free admission facility open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Parking is available onsite. There are seven outdoor sculptures to enjoy. An on-site visitor center with exhibits and a gift shop is open some weekends, September through May. You are welcome to visit the Museum anytime, whether the visitor center is open or not.


July 26-27, 2008 Gallery Closed Sunday, July 27 Return to Desert Island Exhibit Red Barn Art Center Gallery Open from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Sculpture Park Visitor Center Closed for the Summer Self-Guided Tour Brochure Available
Exhibits & Events	Visit Virtually!	Check local weather
Click for Schedule	Download "Ghost Docent" (Quicktime, 6.8 MB)

Nearby Rhyolite, a mining community, once was a booming town of 10,000. The town was founded in 1904 and by 1907 even had electricity. The financial panic of 1907 took its toll on the town and businesses started to shut down. Then, the mines started to play out and by 1916 the power and light company had shut down and the people had moved on.

Today, it is one of the West's most spectacular ghost towns with magnificent stone ruins well worth the visit. A mission-style railroad station still stands, as does the remains of the three-story Cook's Bank building and a bottle house constructed from 50,000 liquor and beer bottles by a miner, Tom Kelly.

Beatty is the closest town to Goldwell, Rhyolite and Death Valley National Park and is only a half-hour's drive from the valley floor. Beatty's history is related to that of the Bullfrog Mining District. Today it is a charming small community with all visitor services, shopping, and a public swimming pool and park.

Getting there
The Gold Well Open Air Museum is located in the State of Nevada near the ghost town of Rhyolite and the mining town of Beatty. It is approximately 4 miles west of Beatty off of State Highway 374, the road that leads to Death Valley, California. Beatty Nevada is 115 miles north of Las Vegas on Highway 95.

Film/Photo Info:
The Goldwell Open Air Museum is private property and its artworks on display are protected by copyright. Non-commercial photography for personal use is permitted at any time. Commercial photography, film and video recording requires permission from the property owners. Download our Permission to Publish Form (in PDF) or call (702) 870-9946 for more information.

The Goldwell Open Air Museum offers spectacular, south-facing views across the Mojave Desert; seven monumental sculptures; a historic early 1900's house; and is surrounded by varied desert terrains (mountains, flats, and washes). There is a graded access road and plenty of level space for parking production vehicles.

Where to Stay

Exchange Club Motel P.O. Box 97, Beatty NV 89003 (775) 553-2333 Easily found on U.S. Highway 95, this historic motel has 44 units (one with whirlpool bath), High-Speed Internet Access. Awesome coupons for sister prooerty the Stagecoach. Highly recommended ($ to $$).	Happy Burro Hostel & Inn 100 W Main Beatty, NV 89003 (775) 553-9130 An authentic original Rhyolite building with an interesting past. Private and family rooms, shared baths. Recently remodeled and under new management. Recommended. ($)
Stagecoach Hotel & Casino 900 E Highway 95 N, Beatty, NV 89003, (775) 553-2419 It has a nice casino, great cafe, small lounge and a pool. It's located on the eastern edge of town. High speed internet. ($ to $$).	Motel 6-Beatty 550 Highway 95 North (775) 553-9090 A fairly new Motel 6 located next to the Stagecoach Hotel & Casino. High Speed Internet. ($$)
El Portal Motel-Beatty 301 Main St, Beatty, NV 89003 (702) 553-2912 The El Portal Motel is a family style 25-unit motel. Of the 25 rooms, nineteen are modern and spacious with one or two queen size beds. The other six are from another time. They were built in the forties when auto courts were the newest accommodations for the weary traveler. They retain the flavor of that period and are very much a part of Beatty's history. ($ to $$)	Phoenix Inn Highway 95 and 1st Street. Beatty, NV 89003 (775) 553-2250 or 888-845-7401 With 54 air-conditioned rooms, featuring king-size beds, telephones, cable-TV, and free continental breakfast, the inn has inexpensive rates plus AARP and other discounts. The motel is actually a series of renovated trailers along the mostly underground Amargosa River. ($)
Amargosa Hotel in Death Valley Junction P.O. Box 8, Death Valley Junction, CA 92328 (762) 852-4441 Rooms are available year-round in the historic Amargosa Hotel. In keeping with the historic character of the hotel there are no telephones or televisions, just peacock calls, wild horses and desert serenity. ( $$).	Longstreet Inn and Casino Amargosa Valley, Nevada at the Stateline (775) 372-1777 Modern, recently remodeled facilities, great cafe, casino, lounge. Only 7 miles from Death Valley Junction ($$$)
Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park Highway 190, Death Valley, CA (760) 786-2345 (800) 236-7916 Deluxe resort accomodations, golf, restaurants. ($$$$)	Camping The town has several private RV parks, including our favoite at Bailey's Hot Springs, 6 miles north of Beatty, has 14 sites with hookups as well as swimming. (702) 553-2395. The largest RV park in the area is the Rio Rancho RV Park, with 58 sites (with hookups), laundry, and playground. For reservations, call (775) 553-2238 or 800-448-4423.
Where to Eat, Shop, and Visit
Ensenada Grill 600 Highway 95 South Best breakfast in town and wonderful Mexican/American lunch and dinner. Go for the amazing shrimp tacos. Highly recommended. Sourdough Saloon 106 W Main Street Awesome pizza and atmosphere, full bar & gaming, children welcomed in the back room with jukebox and pool tables. Happy Burro Chili Parlor Main Street, next to Soutdough Saloon Cold Beer and Patti's award-winning chili. Grab a bowl and plop down on their western-themed patio to enjoy! Rita’s Cafe 900 E Hwy 95 N at the Stagecoach Hotel & Casino	Lost River Trading Company 201 Watson & Highway 95 Books, antiques, souvenirs and hardware--they have everything including produce and some groceries. Ann's Past & Present Main and Highway 95 Antiques, gifts, and Red Hat Ladies' gear. Valley Video Stellar Smokeshop 217 W Amargosa Street Video rentals, clothing and smoking accessories. Death Valley Nut & Candy 900 E Hwy 95 N Every kind of dried fruit and candy you can imagine, homemade ice cream and Beatty souvenirs.
Beatty Museum & Historical Society 417 Main Street (775) 553-2967 Local history exhibits & gift shop	Death Valley National Park Information Center 401 Main Street (775) 553-2200 Featuring exhibits about Death Valley natural history, cultural history, and scenic highlights.