Nyala, Nevada

Coordinates: 38°14′56″N 115°43′43″W / 38.24889°N 115.72861°W / 38.24889; -115.72861

Nyala, Nevada
Unincorporated Community
Country	United States
State	Nevada
District	Nye County
Elevation	1,467 m (4,813 ft)
Coordinates	38°14′56″N 115°43′43″W / 38.24889°N 115.72861°W / 38.24889; -115.72861
Timezone	Pacific (UTC-8)
- summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)

Nyala is an unincorporated community in the Railroad Valley of Nye County, Nevada at the northwestern base of the Quinn Canyon Range.

Known variously as Mormon Well or Polygamy Well, the site was a watering hole for travelers through Railroad Valley as early as the 1860s. Because of its supply of water the site not only became an important stop on the Midland Trail, but was also alluring as a base of operations for agricultural pursuits.

Herman and Alvena Reischke arrived to the Mormon Well area in 1913 to develop ranching property and soon expanded their business interests, opening a boardinghouse, restaurant, and general store; a small settlement developed around them, and on February 5, 1914 the community was granted a post office under the name Nyala.

The Reischke property changed hands in 1917 and again prior to 1913 when it was acquired by George Sharp. Sharp closed down the services in Nyala, and the post office was discontinued on January 15, 1936.

The origin of the name cannot be determined with certainty: Helen S. Carlson (Nevada Place Names) draws the conclusion that the name is a permutation Nye, from Nye County, whereas according to Shawn Hall (Preserving the Glory Days, p. 107) the name Nyala was suggested by Alvena Reischke after being smitten by a photograph of a nyala antelope.

References

• Preserving the Glory Days, Shawn Hall: University of Nevada Press, Reno, 1998.
• Nevada Place Names, Helen S. Carlson: University of Nevada Press, Reno, 1974.

Coordinates: 38°56′54″N 117°35′15″W / 38.94833°N 117.5875°W / 38.94833; -117.5875