If meeting planners are considering a West- ern destination with charm and history, Elko, Nev., should be at the top of their list. This mining community has not only grown into the country’s largest gold producer, but has become a popular meeting destination for many regional and national groups. At the hub of the city’s meeting facilities
is the Elko Convention Center — a flexible, 11,000-square-foot facility with a 923-seat auditorium. Complementing the center are 2,400 guest rooms, including the 90-room Hilton Garden Inn Elko and the 84-suite Town- Place Suites Elko. In addition, the 222-room Red Lion Hotel & Casino offers more than 17,000 square feet of gaming. When it comes to off-site venues, Elko has
Past and present In Northern Nevada, Elko lies along the historic California Trail and is rich in the history and lore of the Old West — just one of many reasons why the Oregon-California Trails Association chose Elko to host its 400-delegate annual convention in 2011.
plenty of unique options that bring the city’s interesting history to life. The Western Folklife Center, which celebrates the people and tra- ditions of the American West, has two rental spaces for groups — the G Three Bar Theater, which accommodates up to 300 guests for theater-style events, and Pioneer Saloon, which holds up to 150 guests for receptions. The new, $14-million California National His- toric Trail Interpretive Center offers meeting space as well. After the meeting concludes, attendees
will find a wealth of historic, cultural, and outdoor attractions to explore. Favorites include tours of gold mines, 19th-century- era homesteads like Sherman Station, treks through wildlife refuges and state parks, and afternoons spent exploring the Northeastern Nevada Museum. And whether it’s a tour of how the cowboy life lives on in the Wild West or a sightseeing itinerary filled with wildlife and beautiful views, the talented team at the Elko Convention & Visitors Authority can arrange every last detail.
For more information: Elko Convention & Visitors Authority — (775) 738-4091 or (800) 248-3556; exploreelko.com