Columnist Susan Snyder: U.S. 95 can be a real trip

Friday, April 29, 2005 | 5:24 a.m.

Susan Snyder's column appears Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays. Reach her at snyder@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4082.

WEEKEND EDITION

April 30 - May 1, 2005

When the auction hammer dropped Tuesday, Palisade was sold to a buyer back East for $150,000.

The 160-acre Northern Nevada ghost town, which was owned for most of the 20th century by the Sexton family, was purchased by someone who wanted to be identified as only "the Ghost from the East Coast," according to a spokesman for the auctioneer.

No word on the buyer's plans. But who can blame him for wanting a piece of Nevada? It's beautiful and odd. A recent straight-through drive to Carson City reminded me of that.

For example, Beatty's Amargosa Toad shop is more worthy of the time, but the tour buses stop at the Death Valley Nut & Candy company.

Maybe it's the only parking lot in town big enough. Or maybe it's because the hulking structure is the only place in 450 miles to buy a chunk of dark chocolate the size of one's face.

"We had two tour buses in here earlier. Oh, it was only about 300 people," the sales clerk said, eyeing a co-worker who was just arriving.

"They just showed up at a quarter to 7 (a.m.) -- a quarter to 7, they were here!" she said. "They were from 'Dutchland' " or something."

Probably "Deutschland" -- German for Germany.

"Hey, you in?" the clerk said to the newly arrived co-worker. "I have to go out and have a smoke before I kill somebody."

She barely had the thing lit before two more buses rolled in.

Of course, no trip up U.S. 95 would be complete without visiting Bob Eddy in Mina. As owner of Desert Lobster, Eddy for years raised Australian crayfish in the hot springs on his ranch and sold them to passers-by.

State Division of Wildlife officials deemed such sales illegal and shut him down in 2003. Eddy wasn't home either time I stopped last week. But the signs he posted make his views pretty clear:

"NEVADA: Liquor legal 24 hr. Gambling legal 24 hr. Prostitution legal 24 hr. LOBSTERS NOT LEGAL." And, "NV Division of Wildlife and Washoe County District Court killed the lobster!"

Eddy has been restoring a cabin-cruiser and has moved it up the road to the corner of Front Street (U.S. 95) and 9th. The foundation under construction shows the plan for using it for the entrance to a new cafe remains afloat.

As travelers cruise into Yerington awhile later, banners emerge in honor of "Jessie Brinkley. The Contender." The hometown reality show star's name is in lights on the Casino West sign and posted in the windows of Winkel Motors, Maverick Finance and Head Games hair salon.

Don't laugh. It's hardly as ridiculous as Las Vegas hosting the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich. At least Brinkley has a pulse.

But do giggle about the handsome, towering clock that stands on the plaza in front of the Nevada Legislature headquarters in Carson City. The generous gift was purchased by Nevada Rotary Clubs to commemorate Rotary's 2005 centennial.

Its polished base of black granite is engraved on all four sides. And on the one facing the building where our elected officials make their decisions is the Rotary's "Four-Way Test," asking:

"Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships?"

Was it placed this way on purpose?

We can only hope.