Walker Lake NV- July 3, 2026
By Photojournalist Richard Massey
This past Saturday I joined several friends to celebrate the annual Walker Lake Days. As is our tradition, we started the day with early morning coffee hosted by Tony Ruse, owner of the Bighorn Crossing Restaurant and Convenience Store. If you ever find yourself in the Walker Lake area, be sure to stop by and say hi to Tony. Not only does he serve up some good food; he is also a Mineral County Commissioner with a wealth of information about the area.
It was a fun-filled morning with several activities designed to both entertain and educate. As the air was filled with music from a DJ, volunteers were offering boat rides, ATV rides, and even lessons on how to stay upright in a Kayak.
In addition to a corn hole tournament and a children’s watermelon eating contest, there were the two major events of the day…the “World famous” liars boat race and the 4th Annual Kayak Races.
Activities came to an early disappointing end because of late morning winds. The event was organized through Mineral County Parks and Recreation (Kyle Isom director).
Although some families brought their own food, the majority took advantage of the outstanding offerings provided by two food-trucks.
Food from this colorful food-truck didn’t disappoint.
Booths featuring arts/crafts and information about the history of Walker Lake and the Walker Basin were very popular among the many visitors.
The purpose of the event was to raise funds and public awareness with the goal of one day bringing Walker Lake back to a level where this important habitat will once again see millions of migratory birds and become a thriving fishery. When this happens, the lake will become a major contributor to Mineral County’s economy.
The two groups working to achieve this goal are the Walker Basin Conservancy and the Walker Lake Working Group. Marlene and Glenn Bunch founded the Walker Lake Working Group in the ‘90s.
Sybil Caldwell, Vice President of the Walker Lake Working Group, stated that, “We ask for your support and generous contributions to help fight to save Walker Lake. Consider becoming a volunteer and help us achieve our goals.” The group meets at 2 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) Building in Hawthorne…205 South “A” Street.
For additional information:
Walker Lake Working Group
Walker Basin Conservancy
615 Riverside Drive, Suite C
Reno, NV 89503(775) 463-9887info@walkerbasin.org
About the author/photographer:
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