Panaca

"Conveniently located smack-dab in the middle of nowhere."

Anthony and I went to visit his family in Panaca (for the second time this summer). Panaca is a small town about 30 minutes south of the Nevada/Utah border and currently has about 800 occupants. It was settled by some of Anthony's ancestors in the mid 1800s. There are two nearby towns of similar size, Caliente (prounced Calientee) and Pioche, an old mining town. Las Vegas is 2.5 hours south and Cedar City is 1 hour north. Far from civilization.

They have a grocery store (which is more like a large convenience store), a gas station, a car wash, and a diner. That's it. Talk about a lack of civilization. No movie theater, fast food, shopping mall, barber shop... nada. I love it.

Panaca is full of gems, such as the underground spring that is always warm (even midwinter) and the sand dunes where you can play "jump the bush." Cathedral Gorges, a nearby state park, is also a fun place to visit. The town is full of trails to go four-wheeling too. (Anthony and I definitely took advantage of them. Too bad I am not too good at driving those things...)

Everyone knows everyone and everything that goes on. It is heart-warming and loving... yet frequently awkward. One of Anthony's cousins fell off the zipline and had to call an ambulance. Everyone and their dog came when they heard the sirens and saw the commotion.

The town is full of horses, fields, and old rusty cars. The town has quite the rustic feel. No cookie-cutter homes here. I wish I had a photographer's eye and could capture it in some photographs. I took a few landmark pics but failed to capture the essence of this lovely town.

You can't help but love Panaca. You always leave with a smile.