Mesquite
Mesquite Nevada offers visitors the rare chance to blend small-town charm with big-city attractions, such as master-designed golf courses and full-service casino-resorts, spas, and hotels. Visitors to this desert paradise in the picturesque Virgin River Valley won’t soon forget the can't-believe-it's-real sunsets, down-home atmosphere, and warm, friendly residents.
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Mesquite Nevada: Escape to the Virgin River Valley
There aren’t too many cities in Nevada that can boast multiple championship golf courses designed by legends Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, or famed golf course architect Gary Panks. However, Mesquite Nevada, about 80 miles north of Las Vegas, offers much more than world-class championship golf experiences. Golf vacations to the picturesque Virgin River Valley may rank among Mesquite Nevada’s top attractions, but countless others come to Mesquite to enjoy its upscale casino resorts and spas that are more wallet-friendly than comparable experiences in larger cities.
Mesquite also serves as a gateway to incredible outdoor adventures, from the unrivaled sandstone formations and petrified wood at Valley of Fire State Park to the vastness of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Visitors to Mesquite Nevada often navigate the Neon to Nature road trip’s Fire & Water Loop, which offers the chance to explore prehistoric archeology at Lost City Museum, spy bighorn sheep, roll a seven on the craps table at a Mesquite casino, enjoy fine dining, and then go completely off the grid at Gold Butte National Monument—all within the same day’s drive of a comfy Mesquite base camp.
Region
Southern
History of Mesquite, Nevada
The fertile Virgin River Valley has drawn people to the Mesquite area since prehistoric times — Ancestral Puebloans used wood from the common desert mesquite shrub for basketry and weaving, while its sticky sap was used to make adhesive, gum and candy.
Early pioneers arrived to settle in the Virgin River Valley in the late 1870s and early 1880s. Two attempts to establish a permanent settlement at Mesquite Flats failed due to flooding from burst irrigation canals. However, in 1894 pioneers finally established a permanent foothold on the banks of the Virgin River. The town was renamed Mesquite in 1894.
Stop in to the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum to learn more about this truly unique portion of southeastern Nevada. The museum building itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was constructed primarily through the efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Things to Do in Mesquite
Vacations spent on championship golf courses that wind among picturesque washes and the stunning Virgin Mountain foothills are a top attraction for many visitors to Mesquite. However, non-golfers have plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure in Mesquite NV, as well.
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Visitors can find welcome respite from southern Nevada’s scorching summer days with a spa or swim day at one of the town’s premier resort getaways. Other fun things to do in Mesquite include visiting the exquisite Mesquite Fine Arts Center & Gallery or examining petroglyphs and otherworldly rock formations at rugged and remote Gold Butte National Monument.
The truly adventurous can find plenty of adrenaline at Skydive Mesquite, or you can rent a fully-equipped off-road vehicle from Adventure Time Tours & Rentals for some rugged backcountry exploration (guided tours also available). Less-adventurous travelers, meanwhile, can enjoy a glamping retreat at Desert Ranch Experience, an authentic safari experience set in the Mojave Desert.
Restaurants in Mesquite
Mesquite, NV offers a variety of elevated culinary experiences. Katherine’s Steakhouse at the CasaBlanca Resort serves only USDA Prime beef from stockyards of Chicago complemented fresh crab flown in from the Florida Keys. The Mesa Buffet and Casa Café, also at the CasaBlanca, are favorites among locals and visitors alike.
Sierra’s Buffet at the Virgin River Hotel, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner at modest prices. The 1880 Grill at Conestoga Golf Club, meanwhile, serves its signature 1880 burger and wings that are sure to please the hungriest golfer or visitor. The Golden West Restaurant & Casino has earned Mesquite’s “Best Burger” distinction many times, while the champagne brunch at Town Square Buffet is the town’s premier Sunday morning brunch destination.
Mesquite, Nevada Hotels
Virgin River hotels are well-known for providing luxurious accommodations and exceptional amenities at prices that are often far more inviting than their Las Vegas counterparts. CasaBlanca Resort & Casino is a favorite for its extensive pool complex, bowling alley, lively bingo parlor, schmancy spa, and arcade for the kiddos. Eureka Resort & Casino brings in the sports fans with its popular sports book, and the R&R crowd with its pretty views. Meanwhile, the Virgin River Hotel and Casino is the go-to for travelers with pets and is known for its can’t-believe-it’s-so-affordable room deals.
For non-gamers (at least of the gambling variety), the sports-themed Rising Star Sport Ranch Resort caters to entire traveling youth sports teams and sports fans alike, and offers space-age robot room service. Other casino-free properties include the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, located minutes from many of Mesquite’s most popular golf courses, and the Best Western Mesquite Inn, another pet-friendly property that is located minutes from the fascinating Virgin Valley Heritage Museum.
Lodging Options for Mesquite
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Places to Stay in Mesquite
Events in Mesquite
Mesquite offers a packed lineup of fun special events. The 54-hole Nevada Open Golf Championship is held in November at the Palms and CasaBlanca golf clubs, attracting competitors with its prize purse of $150,000. The CasaBlanca Rib Fest, meanwhile, takes place each September and features award-winning ribs from many of the nation’s top competitive cooking teams.
Each January, thousands of classic car enthusiasts descend on the town for Mesquite Motor Mania, while many return in September for the equally impressive Super Run Classic Car Show. Mesquite’s temperate winter weather and stunning Virgin River Valley backdrop make the colors of the Mesquite Hot Air Balloon Festival, held the last week of January, simply pop all over the sky. Other popular events in Mesquite include the annual Lights Fest—during which guests send their concerns, dreams, and goals skyward in candle-lit lanterns—and the animal lovers’ Donkey Jamboree, a celebration (and adoption extravaganza) of Nevada’s beloved burros.
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