The book

All Around Mesquite: History, Trails & Destinations

By Dustin Charles Berg. Published November 2023 by Desert Covenant Books LLC. About 200 pages, as a Kindle eBook and a print edition.

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The cover of All Around Mesquite, Nevada: History, Trails & Destinations, with a brown trail sign, an ATV crossing sign, a Historical Marker sign, a Joshua tree at sunset and a desert golf course

About the book

A guide to the whole Tri-State area, not just the town

Embark on a captivating journey through Mesquite, Nevada, and the expansive Tri-State area, known for its vast nature, unique culture, and historical landmarks. Explore the Arizona Strip, Southern Utah, the resilient Virgin River Valleys, and historic Lincoln County, NV.

Uncover the region's agricultural roots, geological wonders, and distinctive ingenuity. Immerse yourself in the excitement of the best nearby UTV trails for unparalleled adventures. Delve into stories of key destinations, significant events, and the diverse local flora and fauna. This book is your gateway to a treasure trove of stories for both residents and visitors alike. Unlock the best hidden gems in this fascinating area that is 'All Around Mesquite'.

The description above is the book's back cover.

How the book is organized

History. Three periods, from the Paiute tribe to the settling pioneers to modern developments: Setting the Scene, The Making of Modern Mesquite, and Booms, Busts, and Resurgence.
Trails. Guides and descriptions of the landscape, organized by region with the trail information woven into the narrative: Mesquite, Moapa Valley, Lincoln County, Arizona Strip, Southern Utah.
Destinations. A visual index listing notable locations alphabetically and linking them to the historical data and maps elsewhere in the book.
Photographs, infographics, bullet points and checklists throughout; a Mesquite fact sheet and a timeline up front.

From the preface. The preface also says the e-edition will be updated with new information, references and resource links.

Who it is for

Not just for UTV people

"Whether you are a seasoned local or a curious visitor, All Around Mesquite, Nevada is crafted for you - the explorers, hikers, treasure hunters, ghost town aficionados, and those who are simply intrigued by the unknown." (From the preface.)

Hikers and explorers

Get out and look around

Trail information by region, with the stories and lore behind the places, for people who hike, ride and poke around rock formations.

UTV and OHV riders

A rough guide to where things are

Maps and directions to the general area of each destination, meant to be used alongside Ride Command or other trail navigation software, not in place of it.

History readers

The stories behind the markers

Genealogy and pioneer records rarely connect to the modern-day places where things happened; the book bridges that gap.

Newcomers and locals

What is out there

For someone relatively new to the area, and for people who have lived here a long time but never got out to explore.

"I really want to emphasize that this book is not just aimed for UTV people. It is really for people who are interested in hiking and exploring and just looking into the area's history."
Dustin Berg, in The Progress, December 2023

"I thought it would be really valuable for somebody that is relatively new to the area to learn about the history but also there's people that have lived here a long time and unless you get out and explore, you still don't really know what's out there."
Dustin Berg, in Mesquite Local News, February 2024

Formats

Kindle eBook or print edition

All Around Mesquite open on a tablet held in two hands

Kindle eBook

A #1 Best Seller in Nevada Travel Guides on Amazon Kindle. Read it free with a Kindle Unlimited plan: try before you buy and discover the region's hidden treasures.

Get the Kindle edition

Print edition

About 200 pages. ISBN 979-8-8704-0404-2, "Made in Mesquite". On Amazon and at the local retailers; autographed copies by request.

Order the print edition

View sample

Read a sample

Eleven pages from the book: the cover, the table of contents, the Did You Know? fact sheet, the preface, the Timeline of Mesquite, the acknowledgments and the back cover. Tap a page to open it full size, then use the arrows.

The front cover of All Around Mesquite, Nevada: a desert canyon with a trail marker, a brown trail sign reading History, Trails & Destinations with a hiker symbol, an ATV crossing sign, a blue Historical Marker 1 Mile sign, a Joshua tree at sunset and a golf course cut into badlands — Front cover

The title page: All Around Mesquite, History, Trails, & Destinations, Dustin Charles Berg — Title page

Table of contents, first page: Preface, Introduction, and the Historical Overview of the Region in three parts, Setting the Scene, The Making of Modern Mesquite, and Booms, Busts, and Resurgence, with every chapter listed — Table of contents, page 1

Table of contents, second page: Urban Information & Events, OHV Information & Trails and Destinations by Region for Mesquite, Moapa Valley, Lincoln County, Arizona Strip and Southern Utah, Epilogue, Acknowledgments, About the Author and Index — Table of contents, page 2

Did You Know? Mesquite Fact Sheet, first page: facts about safety, growth, golf courses and casino resorts, public land, the Virgin River, OHV-friendly city roads, parks and trails, and six state and national parks within a three-hour drive — Did You Know? fact sheet, page 1

Did You Know? Mesquite Fact Sheet, second page: rumors and wild tales, the longest non-union strike, three states and three time zones within a 30-minute drive, Pakoon Springs, Clark and Mohave counties, and the Arizona Strip — Did You Know? fact sheet, page 2

Preface, first page: how the book is divided into History, Trails and Destinations, and the hope for revisions and an updated e-edition — Preface, page 1

Preface, second page: who the book is for, the explorers, hikers, treasure hunters and ghost town aficionados, with a photo of a Joshua tree silhouetted against a sunset — Preface, page 2

Timeline of Mesquite from 1776, when Spanish settlers first encountered Southern Paiute tribes, through the Old Spanish Trail, the Mormon pioneers, the 1880 permanent settlement, floods, post offices and railroads, to 1906 — Timeline of Mesquite

Acknowledgments page listing the organizations that helped support the book, signed by Dustin Berg — Acknowledgments

The back cover: the book description over a badlands landscape, the Made in Mesquite mark, and the ISBN barcode 9798870404042 — Back cover

Table of contents

What the book covers, chapter by chapter

Transcribed from the table of contents shown in the sample pages. Page numbers are from the print edition.

I. Prefacepage 1

II. Introductionpage 3

Timeline of the Tri State Area
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: A Detailed Portrait of the City
Navigating the Nuances: Top 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Moved Here

III. Historical Overview of the Regionpage 15

Part 1: Setting the Scene (page 15)

The Mojave Desert: An Arid Canvas
Echoes of Ancient: The Lost City
The Virgin River: A Winding Lifeline through the Desert
The 1776 Connection: A Patriotic Pilgrimage
Gold Butte: A Geological Marvel in the Southwest
Unyielding Spirits: Life on the Muddy River (1865-1871)
The Davidson Tragedy
St. Thomas: A Journey Through Time
Mesquite Flats: The Founding Footsteps
Fractured Frontiers: The Territorial Disputes of Lake Mead
The Mormon Pioneer Pathway
Verdant Valley and Paiute Roots: The Tri-State's Botanical Tapestry
The Wild Burros of Gold Butte: Mesquite's Silent Builders

Part 2: The Making of Modern Mesquite (page 36)

Mesquite's Link to Treasure & the Old Spanish Trail
Settler's Division & The Lost Boys
The Hoover Dam Chronicles: A Meld of Ambition, Controversy, and Sacrifice
Mesquite Arrows: The Guiding Giants of Airmail History
Mesquite's Storied Past: From Pioneer Struggles to Pandemics
Civilian Conservation Corps: A Legacy Cast in Sand & Stone
Mafia Mysteries in the Desert
Embracing the Call of the Wild: Mesquite's Natural Tapestry
Mesquite Amidst the Mushroom Clouds: Echoes from Bunkerville's Past
A Ribbon Through the Desert: The I-15's Legacy in the Tri-State Area
Farmer's Tenacity: An Emblem of Mesquite
Rural Robberies & Crime Chronicles: From a Bank to a Casino
Takeaways from Mesquite's "Battle for Decency"
The Confluence of Time Zones: The Tri-State Experience
The Oasis Casino: A Beacon in the Desert

Part 3: Booms, Busts, and Resurgence (page 65)

The Fastest Growing City in the USA: The Rise of Mesquite
The Evolving Frontier: Arizona Strip in the Modern Era
Mesquite's Underbelly: Murder, Mystery, & History
The Great Recession - Boom or Bust: Weathering the Economic Storm
Mesquite's Trails and Parks: Promoting an Active Lifestyle
Mojave Mavericks: Rugged Ingenuity Amidst the Desert Sands
Long Drive, Rodeo, and All Stars: Mesquite's Spectacular Showcase
On the Rocks: Golf Resorts & Recreation
Federal Influence: Protection & Restriction
Mesquite in Popular Culture: Echoes of Gold Butte's Whispers
Nature's Wonders: State & National Parks Around Mesquite
A Line in the Sand: Bunkerville & the Struggle for Sovereignty
A Spiritual Oasis: God's Work & the Flourishing Faith of Mesquite
Exploring Modern Mesquite: Safety, Natural Resources, & Future Prospects
The Current State of the Tri State Region
Interconnected Dreams and Shared Futures

IV. Urban Information & Eventspage 86

V. OHV Information & Trails and Destinations by Regionpage 93

A. Mesquite (page 104), B. Moapa Valley (120), C. Lincoln County (130), D. Arizona Strip (137), E. Southern Utah (152)

Introduction and Significance of the Region
Downtown: Urban Destinations & Historical Markers
Trails & Scenic Destinations

VI. Epiloguepage 172

VII. Acknowledgmentspage 177

VIII. About the Authorpage 181

IX. Indexpage 182

Where to get it

Buy the book

You can purchase All Around Mesquite on Amazon or at one of the local retail locations, subject to availability. Special autographed copies are available by request.

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