Middlegate, Nevada
Middlegate is an unincorporated community along "The Loneliest Road In America," U.S. Route 50, in Churchill County, Nevada, United States.[1] The community consists of a rest stop and some ranches and other private properties.
Middlegate, Nevada | |
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![]() ![]() Middlegate, Nevada | |
Coordinates: 39°17′16″N 118°01′35″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Nevada |
County | ![]() |
Elevation | 4,610 ft (1,410 m) |
Population (2016) | |
• Total | 17 |
Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Area code(s) | 775 |
GNIS feature ID | 856080[1] |
Nearby highways | US 50, NV 361 |
Middlegate Station
Middlegate Station is a rest stop/commercial area with a motel, bar and restaurant, gas station, and RV park.
Stephen King stayed at the Middlegate Station motel for seven days and wrote a portion of Desperation.[2]
Middlegate Station was the location for Black Road, Gregory Hutton's award-winning 2002 short film starring William Nilon.[3][4]
Transportation
Middlegate is served by intersecting U.S. Route 50 (Austin Highway/"The Loneliest Road In America") and Nevada State Route 361 (Gabbs Valley Road) along with multiple unpaved roads giving access to the surrounding ranches.
A former portion of the Lincoln Highway intersects with Gabbs Valley Road at Middlegate Station.
Shoe Tree
Immediately to the east of Middlegate on the northern side of Route 50 is a notable tree, known locally as the "Shoe Tree," with several dozen pairs of shoes hanging from its branches. The original Shoe Tree was cut down by vandals in 2011.[5] Since that time, a nearby tree has been decorated with shoes.[6]

References
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Middlegate
- "A little slice of nowhere - Notes from the Neon Babylon - Opinions - July 5, 2001". News & Review.
- "Black Road". Spike.com.
- "Black Road" – via www.imdb.com.
- Powers, Ashley (February 17, 2011). "Tree was like an Old Friend". Los Angeles Times. p. 12. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- "The Shoe Tree of Middlegate". travelnevada.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.