West Wendover is a one-of-a-kind, gem-of-a-city Located roughly 90 minutes west of Salt Lake City on the Utah/Nevada border, it’s a place of unique contrasts balancing small-town charm with big city fun. A place to feast your eyes on its stunning natural beauty, quench your thirst for exciting outdoor adventure, learn a little history, and more than satisfy your desire for quality entertainment and adult recreation. What you may not know about West Wendover is that it has an interesting history all its own.
This desert oasis started out as a railroad town in 1906. Acting as a crossroads between Salt Lake City and San Francisco, Wendover had the first transcontinental telephone line, connecting the United States’ east and west coasts. Its first boom happened in the 1930s with the introduction of legalized gambling. By 1943, Wendover Field, the mainstay of the U.S. Military training mission for World War II bomber crews, hosted 23,000 full- time military personnel. Today, Wendover Field is the most complete remaining World War II Base in existence. The free museum hosts historical photographs, models and fascinating memorabilia.
Traveling to West Wendover is a breeze. Cruising along the smooth, open road of I-80 West at 80 mph makes for a fun, quick trip. But that’s nothing compared to how fast vehicles on the world famous Bonneville Speedway fly. Only ten miles from West Wendover, the Speedway is
home to the world land speed record and sits in the Bonneville Salt Flats which comprises 30,000 acres of densely packed, white salt on the desert floor. Every year, visitors from all over the globe gather to see how fast they can make their vehicles go. Those who don’t come to compete are excited to watch others try at one of the many events held throughout the year.
If racing is not up your alley, explore the salt flats, hike or mountain bike the many scenic trails, ride horses, play tennis, watch migrating birds in the Bluebell Wilderness area, go ATV riding, or play a round of golf surrounded by mountains at the Toana Vista Golf Club. West Wendover logs over 300 days a year of sunshine, so chances are good the weather will be fine for whatever outdoor recreation excursion you choose. However, Chris Melville, West Wendover City Manager, offers this advice, “Keep in mind that this is the high mountain desert. Climate and temperatures can change quickly, so plan your trip carefully, carry plenty of water, dress appropriately for the weather, and be mindful that you may run into a variety of wildlife such as deer, elk, mountain lions and big horn sheep.”
For indoor enthusiasts, West Wendover’s hotel casinos offer the full range of gaming, poker rooms, sports books, amenities and entertainment you would expect to find in larger cities not to mention luxury, relaxation, fun and live music nightly. Cabaret bars at the Rainbow or Peppermill Resort Casino are perfect for kicking back, enjoying a drink or watching a game. Big name stars come to dazzle audiences at Peppermill’s 1,000-seat Concert Hall where there’s not a bad seat in the house. Every seat is within 88 feet of the stage.
Deciding where to eat can get a little tricky, but only because of the wide range of fine dining, casual, buffet, grab-and-go or bar and lounge options to choose from.
Whether you decide to go for a day, a night, a weekend or a week, you’ll go wild for West Wendover!
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