Ode to a Logandale

This weekend we went on a getaway to St. George (more on that later), and we took a quick trip an hour south to Logandale. This post is an ode to that cute, little town, mostly on behalf of my husband.

A lot of people have no idea where Logandale even is. It's anout an hour north of Las Vegas. It's part of Moapa Valley which is made up of a few tiny cities and some Indian reservations. Nathan grew up in Logandale and the city right next to it, Overton. The whole valley has a population of just over 6,000. It's a tiny, hot, dusty, awesome place. There's no stop lights, if that helps you understand just how small it is. It's not gorgeous, but I fell in love with this place.

It's where I realized I loved Nathan. He took me there to meet his family and go to the town fair just a few weeks after we finally decided to get together. I loved seeing where this city boy had grown up. I couldn't believe he had once been a small-town boy. We had so many fun trips to Logandale during the two years we dated while he was on his mission. I had even more when Nathan was gone. Nathan had almost his whole life there and I had 5 wonderful years! Sadly, we only had one trip, our reuntion trip, in Logandale after his mission. Nathan's parents moved right after our wedding to Idaho. We love it up there, but there's nothing like Logandale sometimes.

We were excited to go visit the town for the first time in over a year and a half. We had fun re-exploring the town, and visiting with Amanda and Brad who are actually moving back there! 

Here's some of my favorite Logandale memories..

My first trip there. The Logandale fair, April 2008

Random trips just for fun, March 2009

 The time we went and I drove a tractor, Spring 2009

Meeting Clarky for the first time, February 2009

Three 4th of July's! 200, 2009, and 2010 without Nathan

3 years of Halloween! I can't find any from 2009 though..

When Nathan baptized Jaden, May 2009

Our last night together before Nathan left on his mission, December 2009

Logandale fair when Nathan was on his mission, April 2010

Mother's day 2011 skype with Nathan!!! I cried.

 Meeting baby Kalvin, November 2011

And my favorite trip of all.. WHEN NATHAN CAME HOME!

Here's some pictures from our little Saturday trip there..

 View of the valley from the freeway.

 A trailer they lived in when moving into a new house.

 The reservoir

 Wally's! Best gas station ever. I cannot even begin to count how many diet cokes I have purchased there. Nathan's favorite thing was to get their pizza sticks when he could go off campus during high school. I never ate one, but they looked pretty gross to me.

 Skyline. The street the Merkley's lived on.

 The old house! No one has moved in so it hasn't been kept up very well. But it was still so fun to go see it.

 Back yard. Jaden's tree house is still there!

 Miles and miles of DIRT! Gotta love Nevada.

 Nathan's high school!

We both went to MVHS. Moapa Valley High School and Mission Viejo High School!

 The black boots rider shack!

 The grocery store Nathan worked at through high school.

 Inside scoop! Best sandwiches and ice cream. And weird art.

 I once took Jaden to HSM3 here. Best movie ever.

 The house the Merkley's first lived in.

 Logandale park! The spot where we first saw each other after 2 years apart :)

 The haunted house

 Such a warm welcome!

It's no model city, but it's a happy place filled with so many memories! Logandale will always have such a special place in our hearts.