Rockin’ TD Ranch

Ready to kick back in one of the best Uncommon Overnighter experiences in the Silver State? Far beyond Gerlach and past the northwestern edge of the Black Rock Desert, you’ll find the tiny, pioneer history-packed community of Vya, home of Rockin’ TD Ranch. Located minutes from Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area, the Rockin’ TD Ranch brims with unbeatable access to some of Nevada’s best outdoor recreation, including wildlife viewing, birdwatching, hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, and rockhounding. 

The folks behind Rockin’ TD Ranch are Tony and Diane, who’ve lived in the area for many years. As the original proprietors of the Old Yella Dog Ranch just across the valley, Tony and Diane acquired the three square miles of land the Rockin’ TD Ranch sits on back in 2006, and quickly got to work building out another luxuriously remote accommodation.

This cozy, 1,400 square-foot guest house features large windows that overlook Long Valley, along with a beautiful front porch to take it all in. During your stay, you’ll have the entire two-bedroom, two-bath home to yourself. If you’re looking for something smaller, check out the Rockin’ TD Ranch Bunkhouse.

While visiting, you may spot a world of wildlife that lives in this remote, northwestern corner of Nevada, but one thing’s for certain—you’ll definitely spot the registered black angus cow and calf operation Tony and Diane run. Along with wildlife preservation, the pair focus on land stewardship and pasture management. While you’re here, ask them about it, along with the cattle drives and roundups that may happen during your stay.

Stargazing at Rockin’ TD Ranch

One of the most popular reasons to stay at Rockin’ TD Ranch is to visit Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area. The night skies here represent the darkest of the dark—which earned Massacre Rim its Dark Sky Sanctuary designation (one of few on the entire planet) in 2019.

Visitors can see their shadow by the light of the Milky Way—one criterion for Dark Sky designation and one memory-making Nevada experience. As night falls, the view gets even better: There is little to no light pollution in any direction. On a moonless night, it can be difficult to identify constellations due to the sheer number of visible stars. And as Diane notes, these views are visible from the front porch of your guesthouse, too.

One night at Rockin’ TD Ranch, and you’ll see why the idea of getting away to nowhere has never been so bright.