Unfortunately, some national magazine or something publicized US50 as “The Loneliest Highway in America” sometime around 1986 … which created enough traffic that I doubt that statement is true anymore. As one article stated: “this quirky landmark has become a must-see for travelers.“

Damn …

Way back when though, that statement about loneliest highway was true – there was no gas between Fallon and Ely – some 260 miles with only two towns in between (and no gas) followed by another 160 miles between Ely and Delta, also with nothing in between that was – if anything – even more remote … and that discouraged traffic. As did the 110 mile stretch between Salina and Green River.

That I-70 in Colorado was still a two-lane US highway through Glenwood Canyon – windy, twisty, perhaps uncomfortably close to the Colorado River – also limited traffic, particularly semi traffic.

Even now, with I-70 a full Interstate, that’s still some remote country.

I often travelled between Reno and Grand Junction in the early/mid 80s, often by motorcycle. Although I-80 to Salt Lake, then down US6 to I-70 at Green River was the quickest route (I-70 was a 2-lane road then even though it did have Interstate status), I preferred US50 to Salina where I picked up I-70 (I-70 ended in a dirt embankment at Salina then)

Out along 50 in the middle of Nevada, between Middlegate and Eastgate, perhaps midway between Fallon and Austin, is “The Shoe Tree”.

Story has it that back in the 40s or 50s, newly-weds had stopped and camped for the night along the road. They got in an argument, the wife threatened to walk away, and the husband tossed her shoes up into a nearby tree. He left for a nearby bar (“nearby” being relative – probably Middlegate) where the bartender convinced the man to go back and get his wife. They reconciled and when their first child was born, they tossed a pair of his shoes up into the tree as well. They continued the tradition on each anniversary.

This was generations ago and over the years, travellers would stop and toss shoes up into the tree until the tree appeared to be bearing fruit when viewed from a distance.

At the time when some twits cut down the tree (2010), there were thousands of shoes hanging from this old cottonwood. Rumor has it a man from Fallon found his wife met her lover at the tree, so he cut it down to keep that from happening (how did that work out for you, fellow?)

Since then, a nearby tree is now Shoe Tree II … but something more than just the original tree was lost; it’s a tourist site with a pull-out.

I just drive on by anymore …

Just a note: this section of US50 is essentially the old Pony Express trail.