Camp Success
Out in the far reaches of Eastern
Nevada there is a special place. It lays nestled high in the alpine
meadows and forests of the Schell Creek Mountains, somewhere east of
Ely, Nevada.
It’s called Camp Success.
Photos & Story by
William Ott |
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photo to zoom in...
The historic main lodge at Camp Success. |
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Camp Success with a beautiful mountain
backdrop. |
THE PAST
Built in the late 1940’s by the Nevada
Mines Division of Kennecott Corporation, the Camp served as
a Boy Scout summer camp for many years. I suspect there are
many former scouts across Nevada and elsewhere who have fond
memories of their adventure here. With the decline in copper
prices in the 1970’s came the eventual closing in 1978 of
Kennecott’s large open pit copper mine near Ely. Soon
thereafter the smelter in McGill shut down. With the
closings came a protracted period of economic decline, a
fate which sadly but inevitably took its toll on Camp
Success.
By the late 1990’s, White Pine County, which
had taken over Camp Success, found it increasingly difficult to fund
maintenance and administration of the now aging facility in face of
limited tax revenues.
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| Consideration was reluctantly given to turning the \camp
over to the US Forest Service, who administers the land
within Humboldt National Forest on which the Camp was built.
Were this to happen, there was a good likelihood the Forest
Service would have demolished the structures as a part of
their well intentioned program of restoring the land to its
originals state. Camp Success could be lost forever. The
future looked gloomy indeed.
But the hardy folk of White Pine
County had come to cherish this special place of so many
good times and memories, and weren’t about to give it up
without a fight. They organized, meetings were held,
commitments made, and slowly a plan took shape. There was
the promise of not only saving Camp Success, but of
improving the facility and putting it on a self sustaining
financial basis.
That was four year ago.
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CAMP SUCCESS TODAY
Today, Camp Success has emerged as
good as ever from its decline. It is now a well maintained
facility which during the summer season hosts a variety of
events including wedding, reunions, youth groups, outdoor
recreation groups, family gatherings, and retreats. Through
the joint efforts of White Pine County, the US Forest
Service, the Nevada Division of Forestry Honor Camp Program,
and many willing and tenacious volunteers, Camp Success is
alive and well. This is a particularly gratifying situation
where a number of diverse organizations and individuals have
come together in a spirit of caring cooperation and made
something good happen.
Camp Success is situated at the south
end of one of the most beautiful places in Nevada, the Duck
Creek Valley. The Camp lies at an elevation of nearly 9000
feet, and from November to April lies isolated and waiting
in the deep snows that cover this mountainous area in
winter. But by May, the snow is largely gone, the days long
and sunny, the aspen covered with summer foliage, the
wildflowers profuse, and Camp Success is ready for the
promise of another summer. Days are warm but never hot here,
with cool breezes and the occasional afternoon thunder
storm. The sky is an azure blue, and you can see forever in
the clear air. The evenings have a delicious chill which
invites a campfire and perhaps a sweater. There is the
lonesome song of the coyote to contemplate. The stars are
magnificent in their clarity.
For some the dawn is the best time,
with a hint of frost, the chance to glimpse a proud elk or
shy deer, and the deep silence so good for the soul but
sadly a distant memory to so many in our chaotic world. The
eagle and hawk still soar here. |
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Inside the main lodge at Camp Success.
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A sign at the top of Success Summit
showing the direction to Camp Success.
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Autumn is a very special time, with
campfire smoke, the golden red foliage of the aspen, the
bugle of the elk and that marvelous and mysterious smell in
the air telling us with certainty that winter is almost
here.
There are those who have a difficult
time believing such a place exists in Nevada’s vast deserts
of lore, but it does.
Truly a special place.
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Shower facility at Camp Success. |
THE CAMP ITSELF
Camp Success lies at the end of a
winding road high above Cave Lake State Park. It is not open
to the general public except by prior arrangement. This is
necessitated by the desire to maintain privacy and solitude
for those utilizing the Camp. More about this later. The
main building is the rustic and charming lodge nestled in
the trees. It features a large stone fireplace, a spacious
main hall for meetings, dining and socializing, and a well
equipped kitchen. There are modern shower and restroom
facilities, tent and RV sites, and a particularly appealing
campfire pit area. There is a very quiet generator for
limited electrical power. The area is green and well
forested with large white fir, pine, and aspen, or quakies
as they are known around here.
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| The Camp is very secluded
with a definite wilderness feel. This is high alpine country
at its best. |
THE AREA
While just savoring Camp Success is
enough for many, there are a lot of places to see and things
to do in White Pine County. Ward Mountain, the Schell Creek
Mountains, Mt. Moriah, Blue Mass and the magnificent Wheeler
Peak and Great Basin National Park offer untrampled outdoor
recreation of all kinds. In Ely, The Nevada Northern
Railroad and the Ghost Train of Old Ely offers steam and
diesel train experiences on one of the best preserved
historic railroads anywhere. Ely also had a very good 18
hole public golf course, and you really don’t need a tee
time most of the time.
Or have a look at the town of Ruth.
Wildlife viewing, including the areas Rocky Mountain Elk, is
often just around the next bend, and Comins Lake has some
mighty big trout.
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One of four existing tent sites. |
| No, it’s not Las Vegas, but
that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. And yes, Ely does have
several gambling establishments. And the like. |
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Small cabin used for sleeping and infirmary. |
WHAT NEXT?
While the future of Camp Success looks
bright, there are never any guarantees. A key component in
insuring the future of this special place is renting it to
responsible individuals, groups, and organizations for
worthwhile purpose. The main criterion is a commitment to
leave the Camp as good as or better than when you arrived.
The rental revenue provides the main financial basis for
administration and maintenance.
Administration of the Camp Success
Rental Program is carried out by the White Pine County
Department of Tourism, located at the Bristlecone Convention
Center 150 Sixth Street, in downtown Ely, Nevada. They can
be reached at 800-496-9350. Ed Spear is the Director, and he
and his staff are always very helpful in answering questions
and arranging access and use of the facility.
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| If you are looking for a special place
but are weary of the ubiquitous hotel conference room or
bustling public parks, and have a little of the spirit of
adventure. Camp Success might be the place. |
For more information
about Camp Success contact the Bristlecone Convention
Center in Ely, Nevada...
Bristlecone
Convention Center
150 Sixth Street
Ely, NV 89301 |
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| Phone:1-800-496-9350 |
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