2026 Great Basin Rendezvous   Recently updated !

September 18^th through 20^th, 2026

For 2026 the fourteenth annual Great Basin Rendezvous (GBR), is returning to the Royal Peacock Opal Mine (Mine) near Denio, Nevada. Come join your fellow geologists, drillers, consultants, and their families in the beautiful, majestic Virgin Valley caldera. Located within the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, the Virgin Valley is a unique environment within the Basin and Range.

The price will remain the same: members will pay $40.00 plus $25.00 for each additional family member over age 12. Non-members will be charged a base fee of $190.00 which includes NMEC membership for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027.

Cabins are $150 per night. A small fee per person per night will cover dry campsites for tents or small trailers needing no hookups. Sites for larger trailer sites requiring 30-amp and 50-amp hook-ups run $60.00 per night; pull through sites are $40/night. These fees are over and above the registration fee and must be paid directly to the mine. You may contact JoAnn Newbury or call the mine directly at (775) 941-0374 to reserve an RV space.

Breakfast and dinner are included in the price. Friday and Saturday night dinners will again be prepared by our camp hosts, Julie and Cassie Wilson, along with their crew. Breakfast will be served on Saturday and Sunday. There is no band scheduled this year so bring your gitfiddle and banging instruments!

We have again been given a discount rate for digging at the mine. Bank digging in the fresh cut-face will cost $170/day or you can sift through the tailings for $65/day (some of the greatest finds have come from the tailings). Some of the most precious finds may be found in the gift shop.

For a short excursion Saturday, we could go north to the Virgin Valley campground to explore the rolling front of one of the many spalling trachyte lobes that moved in from the east during the last eruptive event. Alternatively, we could hike to the Thousand Springs Gorge viewpoint and take a dip in the Virgin Valley Warm Springs (https://travelnevada.com/camping/virgin-valley-campground-warm-spring/) or just hang out at the beautiful mine campground.

The Royal Peacock Opal Mine has been owned and operated since the 1940s by a single family and is one of the last remaining family-owned mines in America. The opal mine offers precious black and white opal digging for a discounted fee to GBR participants. There are 60 dry camping spaces and RV/trailer spots with 30- or 50‑amp hook-ups. Quality bathroom and shower facilities are available. We’ll gather around the fire ring in the evening near the large grassy area. Famous opals found here include the Northern Lights Delight (also called "the shoe") and the massive Ginkgo Log. At 130 pounds, the Ginkgo Log is among the largest precious opals ever found anywhere in the world! It was found by a customer in the late 1990s. Check out the Mine website:https://www.royalpeacock.com

The Friday night dinner has been graciously donated by Envirotech Drilling, and the Saturday night dinner is supported by Steve Neilsen Exploration. The Saturday breakfast, sponsored by Westland, and Sunday breakfast by Falcon Drilling will be major highlights of the event. We are looking for sponsors and donations towards the campground fees and incidentals.

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TO HELP SPONSOR THE GREAT BASIN RENDEZVOUS, Click Here

For further sponsorship information contact Catherine Lee (clee@westlandresources.com) or JoAnn Newbury (jnewbury.consulting@yahoo.com)

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TO REGISTER FOR THE GREAT BASIN RENDEZVOUS USE THE ONLINE PAYMENT FORM DIRECTLY BELOW  

0r Click Here to Download the PDF Registration Form and mail to the NMEC address on the form

For further information on the Great Basin Rendezvous or camp logistics contact Warren Thompson at (wfthompson@frontiernet.net)

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