Wells is a small town in Elko County in Northern Nevada, with a population in 2010 of just under 1300. It grew up in the 19th century because it offered a water supply on the trail (and later the railroad) to California. It's nowadays a casino town and rest stop on the long highway from Salt Lake City to Reno and Sacramento.
Like other north Nevada towns, Wells is at mile-high altitude with a semi-arid climate.
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Get in
As a rural junction town, Wells is easiest to get to by car. From points east and west, Interstate 80 runs right to Wells at exits 351 and 352. From the north and south, U.S. Highway 93 runs through Wells and meets I-80 at exit 352.
There is a speed trap just outside of town on I-80, so when you see the speed limit drop, follow it strictly until it rises again.
Get around
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6th Street intersects Highway 93 a block north of the freeway and can be used to access nearly every hotel in Wells.
See
Do
If you win... Chances are that, if you win it big in Wells and you are not a U.S. citizen your winnings will be subject to a 30% withholding tax from the Internal Revenue Service. That $10,000 slot winning can dwindle quite quickly if that is taken off the top. Not to worry though you can reclaim your gambling winnings tax through a 1042-S form. You should get this from the casino so don't lose it: it is your starting ticket to getting your gambling winnings back. |
- 1 Angel Lake.
Gamble
Gambling opportunities are easy to find in any Nevada town, though table games such as blackjack can be harder to come by in some of the smaller ones. At the very least, many truck stops and convenience stores offer slot machines, video poker, and other automated betting. Some of the larger casino space in Wells can be found at the 4-Way Bar/Cafe and the Old West Inn.
Brothels
Rural Nevada is the only part of the United States with legal, licensed brothels. Wells is home to two of them, both relegated to the other side of the train tracks from the main part of town, with a dedicated access road between 10th Street and the highway to keep them somewhat secluded and out of sight.
Buy
Eat
- 1 [dead link]Bella's Espresso House, 143 Highway 93 (between 6th Street and the freeway at exit 352), ☏ 1 775 752-2226, ✉[email protected]. 7AM–9PM daily. Full service restaurant despite the coffee shop name.
- 2 Four Way Bar Cafe and Casino, 1440 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-3344.
- 3 Wells ChinaTown Restaurant, 755 Humboldt Ave (just north of exit 351), ☏ 1 775 752-2888. Deliberately American-style Chinese food; entrées generally in the $8–12 range. Part of a complex that includes motel space, an RV park, and a plug-in station for electric cars.
Drink
- 1 [formerly dead link]Luthers Bar & Grill, 479 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-3700. 11AM–midnight daily. Set up as a bar, but offers a full menu of grill-friendly food. Frog legs available. $5–15.
Sleep
- 1 Big Pillow Motel, 778 4th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-3296.
- 2 Griff's Wagon Wheel Motel, 340 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-2151.
- 3 Lonestar Motel, 676 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-3633.
- 4 Motel 6, 1561 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-2116, fax: 1 775 752-3192.
- 5 Rest Inn Suites Motel, 1509 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-2277.
- 6 Sharon Motel, 635 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-3232.
- 7 Shellcrest Motel, 573 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-2030.
- 8 Super 8, 930 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 401-6636, fax: 1 775 401-6635. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 9 Old West Inn, 455 6th Street, ☏ 1 775 752-3888.
Connect
- 1 Wells Branch Library, 208 Baker St, ☏ 1 775 752-3856.
Go next
- Jackpot and Wendover are both about an hour's drive away from Wells—Jackpot on northbound Highway 93 and Wendover on eastbound Interstate 80. These towns have amenities comparable to Wells in most regards, except with much larger and more extravagant casinos thanks to their locations on the Idaho and Utah borders, respectively.
| Routes through Wells |
| Reno ← Elko ← | W  E | → Wendover → Salt Lake City |
| Twin Falls ← Jackpot ← | N  S | → Ely → Las Vegas |