Middlegate Station sits in the proverbial middle of nowhere, off of Austin Hwy and barely a few hundred yards from its intersection with Lincoln Hwy. This location was fully intentional, with the site originally designed as a rest stop and the horseman’s equivalent of a refueling station for desert riders. The Overland Stage ; Freight Company had the building constructed in the 19th century, while Nevada was still virgin territory for the also still young United States of America. The famed Pony Express made extensive use of this station, using it to swap out horses tired from long galloping with fresher substitutes so that they can continue their journey at the highest possible speed.
The Pony Express’ fate was sealed with the invention of the telegram, which meant that letters could be delivered without the need of a living person physically carrying them from the sender to the recipient. Nonetheless, the site’s location remained advantageous for travelers across the sparse and barren region, and so it continued to operate. Predictably, in modern times, it operates a gas station and had so for much of the 20th century. The site also currently has a motel for travelers to spend a night or two in, a café to grab a bite to eat, and a bar so that visitors can enjoy that truly southwestern roadhouse feel. It is also famous for its own gigantic Monster Burger. Big mounds of juicy patties are not the only thing that the roadhouse boasts to bring curious travelers in. The Middlegate Station is believed to still house some spirits from its raw and untamed past. If you are staying the night, do not be surprised when you stick your head out of your room to see where the footsteps are coming from, only to find no one.
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