JANE ANN MORRISON: As 'dreams' pop up in Lincoln County, so do hopes for jobs - News

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Sep. 24, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JANE ANN MORRISON: As 'dreams' pop up in Lincoln County, so do hopes for jobs

JANE ANN MORRISON
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Savvy Nevadans know to slow down outside Alamo because of the notorious speed trap awaiting the unsavvy.

As I slowed, I almost ran off the road, catching sight to my left of a looming building that certainly hadn't been there the last time I headed north up U.S. 93.

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The sign said: "A Cowboy's Dream Bed and Breakfast." But this was no gingerbread Victorian house; it was a large manly building with a Western flair perched atop a hill with a spectacular view of the Pahranagat Valley.

Cheap, it's not. Rooms, including breakfast and dinner, run $500 a night.

Seemed a little pricey for Alamo. (The last time I slept in Alamo, it was at the Meadow Lane Motel for $47, and the bed had history: The late Janet Leigh of "Psycho" fame slept and showered there.)

But this B&B sleeps 18 and is not for random travelers. It's being marketed as a destination spot for those looking for privacy for small-business meetings, corporate retreats or a small wedding. The Web site at www.cowboysdream.com/ shows what $500 gets you.

Most of all, A Cowboy's Dream is Phyllis Frias' loving tribute honoring her late husband, Charlie Frias. "It's a project of the heart," said Mark James, chief executive officer of the Frias taxicab and limo companies.

This B&B opened in July and marked an investment of millions of dollars and created new jobs. Jobs are the missing link in Lincoln County, one of Nevada's poorest counties, but also one of the prettiest.

Having business executives in Alamo may sound odd, but they've been trekking to Alamo since 1999 when Rapport Leadership International began leadership-training conferences there at a site that employs 18 people full time.

Alamo is the first town you reach coming from Las Vegas. But first you blow by Coyote Springs, not a town, but a master-planned community for 159,000 homes, which could be called "The Lobbyist's Dream" in honor of its mastermind, famed lobbyist and Reno attorney Harvey Whittemore. The model homes still aren't up yet, but you do see an impressive entrance and a glimpse of the golf course.

So far Lincoln County hasn't benefited much from Coyote Springs, which straddles Lincoln and Clark counties. However, on Tuesday, BrightSource Energy announced it is expanding by more than one-third a solar power project to be located on the Lincoln County side of Coyote Springs. Best of all, it will create jobs when construction begins next year.

Realtor Janet Leedham explained why there seems to be growth in Lincoln County, yet the population remains flat. There's growth because retirees are moving to Lincoln County. But the population doesn't increase because the younger people leave, especially if they get college degrees, because of the lack of jobs.

"Lincoln County is repopulating itself with a new generation of retirees," said Leedham, who has handled property sales in Lincoln County for 30 years. Well over half of the new residents are from Las Vegas.

Alamo, population 464, just 100 miles from Las Vegas, is popular with people commuting either to Las Vegas or perhaps the Nevada Test Site and is turning into a bedroom community.

Caliente, the railroad town with 1,132 people, has more diversity, is more of a melting pot with better shopping, more places to eat, four distinct seasons and more job opportunities.

Pioche, the mining town with 785 people, offers new subdivisions and 21/2-acre lots, which appeal to those wanting more space.

Panaca, the Mormon pioneer town of 645 people, appeals to those who really want to get out of the rat race or are coming home.

Rachel, population 98, known as a good place to search for aliens, hasn't benefited from the real estate boom.

But all five towns are short on one thing -- job opportunities.

"The best thing for Lincoln County would be the development of small businesses there," Leedham said. "People are looking for jobs that would allow their children to stay in the area. They usually go away to college, but there are not a lot of college-level jobs in Lincoln County. The kids are more likely to come back when they are retired."

Without jobs to keep younger people there, Lincoln County will become more like a free-wheeling retirement community as retirees from Las Vegas migrate north in search of less crime and more peace.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. J Hastings wrote on September 24, 2009 10:50 PM: Enjoyed the article very much! We look forward to your columns. We know we are bias but have to say it anyway - Lincoln County the best place to live! Claud Dallas wrote on September 24, 2009 10:19 PM: Seems like you were sniffing a little to much cyanide MANDINGO Dreamer.What about all the Heroin you did in NAM.We r all working on perfection by the way thanks for fighting and keep up the fight and keeping thse white woman happy Sincerely Wilfred Benoit skinwalker Dallas LCDR Mandingo, NAM vet wrote on September 24, 2009 09:29 PM: Zack, snow-boarders, ATV'ers, snow-mobilers, and skiers are environmental "RAPERS" and "RAZERS"! Everytime I drive through Vail and Aspen, I want to power-hurl. Worse yet, are those mountain-top golf courses, which leach toxic fertilizers into our groundwater. Wanna talk about 100 year-old gold and silver mining tailings, that drain into local creeks? BTW, back in the day, I worked in gold mines located in Battle Mountain, Elko, Round Mountain, and Reno. zack wrote on September 24, 2009 12:25 PM: Lincoln County is a great place to live and Jay Ann is right most of the young people leave to find jobs but move back when they retire. No crime and a great educational system. One issue that is taking away from the small town life all over the west is constant closing of public land access to sportsman and OHV enthusiasts. Most people that live in small communities own jeeps and 4-wheelers and enjoy using their existing roads,trails and washes to access the public land, but now thanks to Nevada legislators Harry Reid, Shelly Berkely and Dina Titus supporting and helping write legislation like the Omnibus Lands Bill and H.R. 1925(will close 9 million acres in Utah) the small town way of life is under attack by these legislators. For all you Nevadans that want public land access please think twice about voting for these 3 representatives, they support closing your public lands by looking at their voting record on land closure issues. I really hope everyone that enjoys America's public lands by motorized, horse or bicycle, even wheelchair will take a stand and vote to replace legislators that vote to shut American's out of public lands. There is no reason to close existing roads to the public, they are established and Americans have a right to access their public lands. I think a great RJ article would be to investigate how much money the Center for Biological Diversty and Serria Club donate to the 3 Nevada democratic legislators and how that compares to their voting record. noname wrote on September 24, 2009 09:18 AM: The comment from "Bud Sander's Nephew" sounds a tad far fetched!! But most of Caliente's clientele is far fetched!! Ms. Leedham is a tad far fetched, also. I have dealt with her, in the past and wanted to look at property.All she would show me, was HERS and not what I wanted to see.I ebnded that, fast! I built a "Over Built' house, which I am so sorry I ever did and now , to sell it is very hard in this VERY rural hole in the desert!!! Bud Sander's Nephew wrote on September 24, 2009 05:28 AM: Always nice to read about places that remind me of my childhood.You didnt mention Sunnyside it probably has around 10 full time people living there.Nevada has so much to offer but most Las Vegans know little about it since most r from somewhere else.If you need Land go see Wild Wiley Bradshaw.He has some social Problems but is a good guy with some great lots.Ive also been told Kenneth (Corndog)Davis will soon be running for Mayor of Caliente and has plans to remodel Carl's Burger Joint.Rumor has it the menu will consist of the Famous carl's burger.Plus over 22 different types of CORN DOG"S.Just a few. Chucker corndogs,Rattlesnake Corndogs,Buck Dog's,skeeter dog's,The Knotty dog after too many 7 digit's,The Softball 4th dog,The Kenny Davis for Mayor dog,Bud Sanders Nephew's Wilderbeast Dog,Wiley Bradshaw wreckless driving dog .The Shady dog that comes with a quarter for the bed's And so on to many to name but definately worth the drive.By the way Alamo r you ever going to open up ASH Springs?It's been way to long.,