Battle Mountain has scenic views, friendly neighbors and gold
High-reaching ridgelines and mine yards frame the community of Battle Mountain and a reservation home to the Western Shoshone, fills its northwestern corner. Beyond its fruitful gold mines, the Lander County seat offers abundant recreation, bolstered by local businesses and a friendly locale. “It’s a very small community,” says resident Kayla Dorian, a local Realtor with Coldwell Banker Excel. “You could compare it to a town in a Hallmark movie. Everyone knows each other's car, and if you go to the grocery store, you're going to see someone you know."
Housing options include ranch styles and manufactured homes
The housing market primarily consists of single-family homes. “There’s a very large variety of housing,” Dorian says. While most of the area's 20th-century homes are ranch-style, some cottages and mountain cabins exist. Pockets of manufactured homes are available across town, and newer builds sit closer to the golf course on the southwestern side. All share views of the surrounding mountain ranges, and streets are wide enough for parking and pedestrians. Manufactured homes typically sell between $80,000 and $350,000, while single-family homes range from $180,000 to $425,000.
Battle Mountain High School awards outstanding students
Lander County School District serves the community and has a C rating on Niche. Battle Mountain Elementary enrolls prekindergarten through fourth grade and earns a C-plus. Eleanor Lemaire Junior High School teaches fifth through ninth-grade students and has a C rating. Students finish at Battle Mountain High School, which scores a C-plus. As a part of the high school’s Mining Incentive Awards, high-performing students are recognized and awarded money for their hard work.
Parks, golf and hunting offer plenty to do outdoors
Elquist Park is centrally located and has a newly renovated playground, picnic tables and an outdoor pool. Battle Mountain Sports Complex runs various youth sports programs between its indoor pools and athletic facilities. The area’s setting offers abundant hunting. “It’s everyone's hobby because it’s what people have here to do, and it takes place everywhere,” Dorian says. Mountain View Golf Course features a nine-hole course open to the public and plans to add another nine holes in the coming years. “It’s very popular, and they have a nice clubhouse,” Dorian says.
Local businesses and big-box shopping commutes
Independently owned restaurants sit off Interstate 80 in the center of town. Dorian notes that El Aguila Real, a laid-back Mexican spot, is a favorite among residents. Owl Club Casino & Restaurant is one of the few places to enjoy breakfast, and The HideAway serves as one of many local watering holes. “It has a cool vibe, and they have a patio that’s open during summer,” Dorian says. Dollar General and Lander Hardware are in town, along with Etcheverry’s Food Town and Midway Market. Elko, 70 miles east, has a Walmart Supercenter, but Dorian says many make the some 200-mile drive to Reno for major shopping.
Local vendors and prizes at the Battle Mountain Burners event
The community puts on several gatherings for residents throughout the year. “The Battle Mountain Burners Show and Shine is a big deal,” Dorian says. Car enthusiasts fill Elquist Park in late August with vintage rides and compete for prizes. A beer garden, local vendors and a drive-in movie are a part of the festivities.
Interstate 80 and State Route 305 are main throughways
Battle Mountain doesn't have public transportation, but Interstate 80 and state Route 305 are accessible from within the community and support travel to mining areas outside of town. “A lot of people living here work in the mines,” Dorian says. “We [the local economy] run off of mining.” Battle Mountain General Hospital is closer to home, on South Humboldt Street.
Battle Mountain's moderate wildfire risk and prevention measures
Federal Emergency Management Agency data shows the area is within a relatively moderate wildfire risk zone. Battle Mountain Volunteer Fire Department shares prevention measures with residents throughout the year, and the Bureau of Land Management issues public land fire restrictions to help mitigate risk.
Written By
Matthew Simmons
