Dayton Unearths Grand Plan for Sutro Tunnel

Treasure Not Included

DAYTON, NEV.—The good people of Dayton have taken a break from their usual pastimes—watching sagebrush tumble by and debating which saloon has the best whiskey—to embark on a bold new venture: making the Sutro Tunnel a tourist attraction. Yes, after more than a century of doing what tunnels do best (being dark, damp, and ignored), this grand subterranean passage is being primed for its second act—this time, as a destination for people who think ghost towns aren’t ghostly enough.

The nonprofit Friends of Sutro Tunnel, a group devoted to making sure no good ruin goes unappreciated, teamed up with Travel Nevada to host a community meeting Tuesday, part of a grand scheme to turn Dayton into the kind of place people stop on purpose. It all comes under the banner of the state’s Destination Development Design (3D) program, which sounds like something out of Disneyland but is, in fact, an earnest attempt by the Nevada Commission on Tourism to convince folks that the best parts of the state aren’t just Las Vegas and the nearest exit.

If all goes according to plan, Dayton’s historic tunnel might just become the next big draw for those with an appreciation for mining history, forgotten engineering marvels, and places that might harbor an inconvenient number of rattlesnakes. Should Friends of Sutro Tunnel play their cards right, they could snag a portion of the project’s $1 million grant, ensuring that this piece of Nevada’s past gets a fresh coat of historical relevance and maybe even a gift shop.

The enthusiasm in the room was palpable, with board member Rob McFadden describing the session’s turnout as “spectacular.” Over 100 people RSVP’d, not counting those actively involved in the planning—an impressive number considering the usual attendance at events involving civic engagement and old tunnels.

“I think it’s going to come together and create massive momentum,” McFadden declared, though whether he meant the project or an inevitable landslide of paperwork remains unclear.

The Sutro Tunnel was once a marvel of engineering, stretching 3.88 miles from Dayton to Virginia City’s Savage Mine. Built to drain water from the Comstock Lode, provide ventilation, and move ore, back when miners had the good sense to stay out of the heat and work underground where it was hotter. Unfortunately, like many ambitious ventures of the 19th century, it eventually fell into disrepair, proving once again that time spares neither men nor their tunnels.

Cortney Bloomer, Travel Nevada’s destination development manager and a Dayton resident herself, is leading the charge to ensure that this historic relic doesn’t just become another thing tourists glance at before moving on to Reno. The plan involves integrating the tunnel into a broader tourism strategy, focusing on infrastructure, arts, and outdoor activities—all things that sound wonderful in theory but require considerable effort, funding, and the ability to convince people that an old, abandoned mine shaft is a must-see attraction.

Linda Clements, vice president of the Historical Society of Dayton Valley, took the opportunity to remind everyone that Dayton is, in fact, the oldest non-native settlement in Nevada and, therefore, historically superior to all those upstart towns that came after. She envisions an open park where history buffs and Instagram influencers can gather, basking in the glory of Dayton’s past while contributing to its economy by purchasing souvenirs of questionable necessity.

Not all are content to wait for the history-loving hordes to arrive. Richard Mitrotz, executive director of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, is already working on a new website to promote the area. Given the average internet user’s attention span, one can only hope it includes flashy graphics, an engaging tagline, and perhaps the promise of treasure hidden deep within the tunnel—because if there’s one thing that drives tourism, it’s the faint but persistent hope of striking it rich.

Travel Nevada plans to take all the input from this first session, crunch the numbers, and present a draft plan at a second session on March 18. The document won’t be final at that point, but it will lay out significant recommendations for turning Dayton into the sort of place people actually travel rather than through.

So, what’s next? With luck, some elbow grease, and perhaps a government grant or many, the Sutro Tunnel may yet become a jewel in Dayton’s tourism crown. And if that doesn’t pan out, the tunnel’s still there—patient, unbothered, and waiting for whatever grand scheme the next century dreams up.