Rural Nevada plans New Year’s Eve celebrations

Monday, Dec. 20, 1999 | 2:55 a.m.

Las Vegas may be having trouble selling its $2,000- a-night hotel rooms and $200-per-person dinners, but rural Nevada is packing them in with less expensive New Year's Eve celebrations.

At the Little A'Le'Inn Cafe in Rachel, about 95 miles north of Las Vegas, all seven of its rooms sold for $31.50. Manager Ann Morgan said the tavern will hold a traditional party with champagne, hors d'oeuvres and dancing. She says the most popular menu item is the $2.75 Alien Burger.

"It still amazes me that we get all these people from around the world," said Morgan, who runs the extraterrestrial themed-restaurant.

All 125 rooms have been sold at a rate around $40 at the Winners Hotel-Casino in Winnemucca, 466 miles north of Las Vegas.

And all 29 rooms have been booked at Denys Koyle's Border Inn in the town of Baker, near the Utah border 300 miles north of Las Vegas.

Koyle said some visitors are coming from as far away as Las Vegas.

"We're really isolated. We have a lot of sheepherders out here, and a lot of truck drivers stop by," she said.

In Searchlight, 55 miles southeast of Las Vegas, casino operator Verlie Doing has hired a one-man band and will be serving black-eyed peas, and of course they'll still have their trademark 10-cent cup of coffee.

A recent fire at The Outdoor Inn in Jarbridge, 10 miles south of the Idaho border, has forced the community's 30 residents to move their celebration to McCoy's Tsawhawbitts Ranch. Ten couples are expected to pay $65 for rooms at the ranch.

Sandy Valley, about 50 miles south of the Strip, comes in a bit on the expensive side of the rural celebrations. Sandy Valley Ranch is offering a two-day package including horse rides - $300 if you provide you own horse, $500 for those who have to rent one.

Ranch owner Marilyn Gubler expects about 40 riders for a cowboy supper and party around a bonfire. The event comes with a promise:

"All our horses are Y2K compliant."