Mesquite Vacation? Go All In

Popular Nevada Destination Has It All

Chris Duthie

Mesquite, Nevada, is a sure-bet vacationer’s paradise, especially in the fall. Located 670 miles southwest of Denver, the free-wheeling destination is popular for its casino gaming, first-class accommodations, premier events and mesmerizing golf courses. Flights into St. George, Utah, (40 miles away) and Las Vegas (80) can put you a short drive from all the action.

Here is a divine-nine list of Mesquite’s more amazing attractions:

1. Over 200 of the planet’s biggest hitters—including five-time champion Jason Zuback and last year’s titlist Tim Burke—will compete for bragging rights and big money at the wildly popular Re/Max World Finals Long Driving Championships. Free entry to the Mesquite Sports & Event Complex on Sept. 20-27, 2014. longdrivers.com

2. Celebrated for its pink exterior, excellent steakhouse, spacious casinos, lagoon-style pool and 500 rooms, the CasaBlanca Resort & Casino (pictured top) is a straightforward choice for vacationers pining for an eclectic, it’s-all-here vacation. 877-438-2929 or casablancaresort.com

3. Conestoga Golf Club isn’t just for residents of Sun City Mesquite’s active-adult community, no sir. The Gary Panks-designed course is a head-turning, 7,232-yard daily fee routed among gently ascending and descending elevations, rugged rock outcroppings and tranquil water elements. Managed by Troon Golf. conestogagolf.com

4. Adrenaline junkies can pack their Go-Pros and hook up with Skydive Mesquite, which thrills jumpers of all levels—beginners included—with heart-pounding jumps from perfectly operational airplanes. skydivemesquite.com

5. It was in 1995 that the semi-private Oasis Golf Club kick-started Mesquite’s impressive golf celebrity. The 36-hole venue includes the 6,468-yard Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay designed Palmer Course and the 6,403-yard Palmer/Seay/David Druzisky crafted Canyons Course. In addition to explosive risk-reward golf, guests enjoy panoramic desert views, superb customer service and tasty dining at the 29,000-square-foot clubhouse. theoasisgolfclub.com

Photo: Oasis Golf Club, © Chris Duthie

6. Established in 1935 by the National Park Service, the Lost City Museum houses one of the Southwest’s more complete collections of ancestral Puebloan Indian artifacts. Much of the compilation was excavated from Pueblo Grande de Nevada, which notoriously was submerged by rising waters from newly constructed Hoover Dam. museums.nevadaculture.org

7. Envy Nightclub & Lounge is regarded Mesquite’s hottest night spot, regularly hosting dancing, karaoke, specialty cocktails and live DJ entertainment including the popular return of Afroman, DJ Johnny Utah and others on Sept. 27, 2014. envynevada.com

8. Don’t dare miss playing Wolf Creek Golf Club, ranked 37^th on Golf Digest magazine’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses list. The 6,939-yard stunner features sandstone canyons and plunging narrow ravines, most of which was orchestrated by amateur architects Dennis and John Rider. www.golfwolfcreek.com

9. The sixth running of the Mesquite Tri-State Marathon, half-marathon and 5K is set among some the Southwest’s more picturesque country, a mesmerizing racecourse of red-rock hills and mesas that paces overland through three states. Nov. 8, 2014; visitmesquite.com

For more about Mesquite, go online to visitmesquite.com. For one-stop-shop vacation planning and assistance including golf packages at Mesquite’s more popular courses, visit golfmesquitenevada.com.

RELATED LINKS

Experience the Beauty of Mesquite

Conestoga is Calling

Nevada Travel: Where to Stay

Chris Duthie is a contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.