Searchlight is a former mining town in Southern Nevada, between Boulder City and Laughlin.
Understand
Searchlight was founded as a mining town shortly after prospector George Frederick Colton struck gold in the area in 1857. He apparently used a searchlight (type of lantern) and the town took its name from that.
In 1907, composer and pianist Scott Joplin wrote the Searchlight Rag after the town because he and some friends went prospecting there.
Climate
Searchlight has a typical desert climate with hot days and cold nights. It is constantly arid with little rainfall, hot summers and warm winters.
Get in
By car
- From Boulder City – Take the US-93 west, then the US-95 south.
- From Laughlin – Take the SR-163 west, then the US-95 north.
- From Primm – Take the I-15 south, then the SR-164 east.
By plane
Searchlight Airport 📍 is unmanned and has no services.
There are charter and seasonal flights from some American and Canadian cities to the nearby Laughlin-Bullhead International Airport 📍 (IATA: IFP) in Bullhead City, Arizona across the river from Laughlin. The airport is not served by any major airline.
Las Vegas has Henderson Executive Airport 📍 (IATA: HSH) and Harry Reid International Airport 📍 (formerly McCarran International Airport) (IATA: LAS).
By bus
- Southern Nevada Transit Coalition. Bus service from Las Vegas and Laughlin, Monday-Friday. 2021-09-16
Get around
See
- Searchlight Historic Museum, 200 Michael Wendell Way, 35.468098°, -114.906719°, +1 702-305-8474. M-F 9AM-5PM; Sa 9AM-1PM. Museum dedicated to Searchlight's history as a mining town.
- Walking Box Ranch, 35.489444°, -115.040206°, +1 702-714-0552. On the National Register of Historic Places. The ranch belonged to 1920s silent film stars Rex Bell and Clara Bow, serving as an entertainment venue for celebrities including Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Errol Flynn, and Lionel Barrymore. 2020-05-23
Do
- Cottonwood Cove Resort Marina, 10000 Cottonwood Cove Rd, 35.491285°, -114.685936°, info@cottonwoodcovemarina.com. 2020-07-27
- Searchlight Park, 35.464803°, -114.916407°. A small recreational park. 2017-10-16
- Searchlight Skate Park. A small recreational skate park. 2020-08-29
- Rex Bell Jr. Trail Park, 35.469161°, -114.907181°. A walking trail with workout stations and historical signs behind Elementary School. 2020-08-29
- Searchlight Cemetery, 35.4615138°, -114.9078498°. Small historical cemetery built in the early 1900s. 2020-08-29
Gambling
If you win...
Chances are that, if you win it big in Searchlight and you are not a U.S. citizen your winnings will be subject to a 30% withholding tax from the Internal Revenue Service. That $10,000 slot winning can dwindle quite quickly if that is taken off the top. Not to worry though you can reclaim your gambling winnings tax through a 1042-S form. You should get this from the casino so don't lose it: it is your starting ticket to getting your gambling winnings back.
Searchlight has a few opportunities for gambling from its small casinos.
- Terrible's Casino, 670 US-95, 35.460985°, -114.918512°, +1 702-297-9200. Small casino with a bar and a small 2 lane bowling alley. Also has a Redbox for renting movies, a convenience store, and a McDonald's close by. 2017-10-16
- Terrible's Roadhouse, 100 US-95, 35.466088°, -114.919776°, +1 702-297-1201. 24 hrs. 2020-07-26
Buy
- Gus's Fresh Jerky, 675 US Hwy 95, 35.461146°, -114.919277°, +1 702-203-3421. Store selling a wide variety of jerky, dried fruits, condiments, and other deli products. Offers a few free samples to get started with.
There is another smaller store in Olancha, California. 2017-10-16 - Searchlight Boat & RV Storage, 35.466102°, -114.916408°, +1 702-297-1600. Th-Tu 8AM—5PM, W closed. Store that sells camping, RV supplies, snacks, and groceries. Also provides RV and boat storage. 2017-10-16
- Searchlight Treasures Thrift Store, 101 E Hobson St, 35.4627992°, -114.9182592°, +1 702 325-1462. M Th F Su 10AM—1PM, Tu W Sa 10AM–2PM. Non-profit thrift store that sells used goods. 2020-05-23
Eat
Searchlight has two restaurants: Denny's and a McDonald's.
- Denny's, 100 US-95 (in Terrible's Roadhouse), +1 702-825-3956. 6AM—9PM. 2017-10-16
- McDonald's, 670 US Hwy 95 S (adjacent to Terrible's Casino), 35.460951°, -114.918241°, +1 702-297-2022. 5AM—11PM. Has free Wi-Fi and a drive-thru. 2017-10-17
Drink
-
Terrible's Casino, 670 US-95, +1 702-297-9200. Terrible's Casino has a bar. 2017-11-03
-
Terrible's Roadhouse Casino, 100 N. Highway 95. 2020-05-23
Sleep
Searchlight is a small town with RV parks and motels being the only accommodation provided. There are large hotels in Primm and Laughlin:
- Cree's Mobile Home Park, Nipton Rd, 35.465153°, -114.92027°, +1 702-297-1532. RV park with free Wi-Fi. 2017-10-16
- BV Motel, 115 Gaviland St, 35.461906°, -114.9191°, +1 702-297-6306. 2017-10-16
- El Rey Motel (The King Motel), 430 US-95, 35.463224°, -114.919268°, +1 702-297-1144. A small motel in town. 2017-10-16
Connect
- Searchlight Library, 200 Michael Wendell Way, 35.468556°, -114.907419°, +1 702-297-1442. 2021-10-24
Go next
- Boulder City – about north of Searchlight on the US-95. A town created originally to house the workers for the iconic Hoover Dam.
- Laughlin – about to the southeast of Searchlight on the US-95 then SR-163. Nevada's most southern town. Has many hotel-casinos and is the third most visited location after Las Vegas and Reno.
- Primm – about to the northwest of Searchlight on the SR-164 then I-15. A town on the border between Nevada and California, known for its Desperado roller coaster (the tallest in the state) and lottery store. The town has three hotel-casinos all run by Primm Valley Resorts.