Oats Park Art Center

Name: Oats Park Art Center
Address: 151 East Park Street, Fallon, NV, 89406, United States
Telephone: (775) 423-1440

151 East Park Street, Fallon, NV 89406

(775) 423-1440

Hours & Admission

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Inside a stately brick building in the heart of Fallon, a vibrant and unexpected art experience awaits. Let the lasso of a neon cowboy rope you into Oats Park Art Center, home to diverse collections, performances, and special events.

For a small town with a population of less than 10,000, Oats Park brims with storied pieces and interactive elements you’d expect to find in major metros.

Founded in 1986, the Churchill Arts Council (CAC) prides itself on enriching the culture of Fallon and northern Nevada. The CAC has called Oats Park home since the early 2000s, filling the former public school building—opened in 1915 and designed by famed Nevada architect Frederic J. DeLongchamps—with every variety of art. That range includes visual arts exhibits, performing arts series, literary readings, classic and foreign film screenings, and conversations with contemporary artists.

The Art Inside (and Out)

Visitors can’t miss “Crank,” a room-sized drum sculpture that changes beats depending on the amount of kinetic energy—i.e., moving people—around the work. Another eye-catcher, “Desert Cross,” was created by John Mason, a famous ceramicist with close ties to the area.

That aforementioned neon cowboy? Dating back to the 1950s, the Lariat Motel sign once welcomed Highway 50 travelers into Fallon for a road trip respite. The lodging is long gone, but the meticulously restored rider and his horse still greet Oats Park guests with glowing animation.

crank drum artwork at oats park art center in fallon nevada — “Crank” Drum Sculpture

lariat motel neon sign at oats park art center in fallon nevada — Lariat Motel Neon Sign

Performances & Special Events

In addition to its three, always-changing galleries, Oats Park houses a striking stage that brings impressive performances to this small town. Inside the intimate Barkley Theatre, patrons can take in live music—everything from bluegrass and big-band funk to groovy jazz and indie folk—and film series.

The CAC hosts a handful of special events at Oats Park, too. These include the chance to sample local and regional spirits during Ales for Arts in October, which raises funds for the CAC’s programming, or celebrate the season at Holiday Art Bar, featuring seasonal cocktails, light hors d’oeuvres, and festivities with fellow art enthusiasts. Two Green Goddess Markets—one in spring and one in fall—invite folks to swap seedlings, shop local produce, and spend a day surrounded by art, music, and food.

When you visit, report any strange encounters to Oats Park staff, as there are plans to gather an oral and written history of the hauntings. Over the last 50 years, people have reported items being moved, unexplained sounds of footsteps and female voices, and sights of “shadowy, moving objects resembling people.”

For more hands-on endeavors, sign up for Oats Park Art School classes. All ages and experience levels can partake in music lessons, creative writing workshops, and courses that cover painting, drawing, silversmithing, textiles, ceramics, and even cooking.