Hoover Dam, worth visiting?

[Patricio Elicer]

I saw a documentary a time ago about its heroic construction during the depression years in the US. Interesting.

I learned a while ago that it is just 30 miles away from Las Vegas, and that it is considered one of the "Seven Modern Engineering Wonders of the United States".

I have special admiration for huge human engineering endeavors.

Is it worth paying a visit to it? Anyone's been there?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I was there 22 years ago. My answer based on that visit would be yes.

However......I have heard from folks who have been there more recently that they have built a tourist center and it is now a camper-filled tourist trap.

So I don't know what to tell you!

[Zep]

Yes, been there about 8 years ago. It is HUGE, a very impressive piece of engineering, and the Colorado River scenery is both wild and impressive also. But there is nothing to actually do at the dam, so you need to be impressed by the scenery to make it worth while.

Note that the dam is on the border of Nevada and Arizona, so take your passport. You might also like to consider going on for another couple of hours via Kingman to Grand Canyon. It's a pretty easy drive but a good distance away. But TOTALLY spectacular.

Correction: I seem to recall there was water-skiing and general power-boating going on at the dam. But I could be wrong...

MoeFaux should know this subject a lot better than most of us!

[Brown]

I have been to the dam twice--once during the day and once at night--and have seen it once from a great distance (while flying from San Francisco to Phoenix).

For me, the most impressive spectacle was the view of the dam at night. It is worth a visit, yes.

If you want to take a tour, I expect you have to visit during the day.

[Jeff Corey]

My wife says that it is absolutely spectacular.
And it is the only reason that Lost Wages can waste the incredible amount of kilowatts that it does.

[rustypouch]

I visited it a few years ago, and took a tour through the inside of the dam.

It was cool.

If you enjoy stupidly huge human constructions it is worth a look, plus all the original smaller buildings and offices related to the dam are in a really cool art deco style.

[cosmic]

Yes, definately worth a visit. My Father worked there for 15 years, up until 1986, and so I've been on many a tour. A new visitors center was completed in the 90s and so I finally went on a tour in 2001 after being away for 15 years, and I remain impressed. The "hard hat" tour is worth the extra few dollars.

Getting to the dam is also worth the trip on its own. Lake Mead and the surrounding mountains and canyons are increadibly beautiful. In fact I also know of some natural hot springs near the dam. It's about a 30 minute hike down a canyon to some crystal clear pools of jacuzzi temp water. Perfect time of year for it, and I was hoping to go on Monday after the conference. Anyone staying any extra days?

[Patricio Elicer]

Folks, thank you all for your replies so far.

Cosmic: I have Monday off, I'm departing from LV at night. So my plans are to visit Hoover Dam Monday at any time, provided tours are available for that day. It would be fun if we could coordinate a visit together, and even funnier if more people join. All in all you seem to be a perfect tour guide :D

[Ranb]

Originally posted by Jeff Corey
My wife says that it is absolutely spectacular.
And it is the only reason that Lost Wages can waste the incredible amount of kilowatts that it does.

It is a very nice place. Not a tourist trap at all. However, most of the power goes to CA because of a long standing contract when the dam was first built. LV was just a tiny little place back then.

The hard hat tours stoped on Sept 12, 2001, but you can still get into the generator room for a tour. Very impressive sight if I may say so. It was a few bucks to park, and $8 for the tour if I remember correctly. There is a gift shop.

Ranb

[cosmic]

Patricio,

just finally confirmed by travel...

sure-- I'll "guide". I depart tuesday morning so that leaves monday available for touring.

any takers on an expedition to the hot springs? It's very near the dam. 40 minute hike in though.. but well worth it. If you haven't experinced the beauty of the desert, this and the red rock tour would be an excellent intro.

[renata]

Originally posted by cosmic
Patricio,

just finally confirmed by travel...

sure-- I'll "guide". I depart tuesday morning so that leaves monday available for touring.

any takers on an expedition to the hot springs? It's very near the dam. 40 minute hike in though.. but well worth it. If you haven't experinced the beauty of the desert, this and the red rock tour would be an excellent intro.

Red rock tour- is it the same as the one mentioned in Moe thread http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28369?

How strenuous is the hike down and up, and how long do you think the whole expedition will be? I plan to drive back to LA Monday, and I do not want to get on the road too late, or too tired, but I was interested in going to Hoover Dam at some point, and the hike sounds very interesting too.

[CFLarsen]

Oh, that dam' Hoover!!

Originally posted by Patricio Elicer
I have special admiration for huge human engineering endeavors.

Then you must admire Pamela Anderson a lot! :)

Originally posted by Zep
Note that the dam is on the border of Nevada and Arizona, so take your passport.

Why?

[Patricio Elicer]

Originally posted by CFLarsen
Then you must admire Pamela Anderson a lot! :)Read carefully, I said "human engineering", not "engineering on humans" :D

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Patricio Elicer
Read carefully, I said "human engineering", not "engineering on humans" :D
And what is the difference?

I need visual evidence! :D

(snort)

[cosmic]

Renata,

it's a moderate hike: 40 minutes (max) hike down a canyon. the springs are worth it though, natural and clear. bring a bathing suit (or not!) and a towel... and the usual day hike supplies of water and snacks.

probably give it 3 to 4 (5?) hours round trip as once you get there you don't want to leave

so the itinerary would be to see the dam when it opens (9am) and be ready to do the hot springs hike shortly after noon.

this is a full day with a fairly early start... which may conflict with a late sunday night in vegas...

for those that like to hike, this spring is a well kept secret.

[markb]

I'd like to go see the dam, and possibly the hot springs. The only thing is I don't want to stay too late because I intend to drive back to San Diego that day. (I haven't decided on an exact time return home, yet.)

[ceptimus]

When I was last at the Hoover Dam (2001 I think) you weren't allowed to take bags (e.g. camera bags) on the tour. Something to do with terrorism I think.

I enjoyed the trip around the the other dam further up the river (Page?) more. And that was free! But that is too far to go while staying In Las Vegas.

[Wyvern]

Ceptimus,
Are you going to TAM2??

[ceptimus]

No. :(

[Wyvern]

:cry:

[ehbowen]

I visited Hoover Dam this past September, and unfortunately I have to say that the tour they now offer is a pale shadow of the one I remember from the '70s. They take you down an elevator, down one tunnel, let you see one generator room from the balcony, then back up the elevator.

I would say that the new visitor's center is worth a look; I wish I could have spent more time checking out the displays but I had to hit the road ASAP.

Bottom line: I probably wouldn't go out of my way to see it again unless they re-instituted the hard hat tours or something comparable.