Overview:
The El Dorado Valley Pet Cemetery, also known as the Boulder City Pet Cemetery and or the Marwood Doud ( a 1950s Boulder City veterinarian) Cemetery, is an unofficial pet cemetery located along US-95 Southwesterly of the Boulder City, Nv. downtown area. This illegally established cemetery, a resting place of hundreds of beloved pets, dates to a time when local residents started burying their pets in El Dorado Valley in the early 1930s. Despite its illegality, grave sites exist with dates as recent as the last decade. Within the cemetery are reminders of how grieving owners memorialized their pets, with many elaborate sites (now being lost to time) which took a great deal of effort to establish.

Some memorials are simple crosses with the pets name, others are more complex utilizing wood or metal fencing, rocks, decorative concrete edging and homemade or professionally chiseled headstones. There are dog houses, sitting benches, chew toys, milk dishes and ceramic statues of dog and cats scattered among the graves. The oldest graves are situated not far from US-95, mostly consisting of dilapidated wooden fences, a reminder of picket fences that might have surrounded the yards that each pet once called home. The more "recent" graves are situated further away from the highway, with a variety of materials marking their location, being more spread out and not arranged in the "orderly" grid pattern of the earlier sites. With the cemeteries long history, dilapidated grave markings and somewhat daunting state of disrepair most visitors will experience a reverent, somewhat depressing yet appreciative understanding of the former owners love for their pets.

Rumors exist of past Mob connections and their unfortunate victims being buried within the cemetery, non of which are proven. Other more paranormal stories exist: of significance (and most well known) the cemetery being haunted by a white female cat that follows visitors thru the cemetery (if she likes you). These types of stories, real or not, have given rise to speculation that the El Dorado Valley Pet Cemetery is the most haunted pet cemetery on earth. Despite its illegality, alleged Mob connections, paranormal stories and murky past, the El Dorado Valley Pet Cemetery (one of Nevada's roadside oddities) is a fascinating and historic site to visit.

  
...El Dorado Valley Pet Cemetery
  
...El Dorado Valley Pet Cemetery
  

Information / Tips:
This adventure would make a great stopover while traveling US-95 Northbound towards Boulder City or Las Vegas. Bring plenty of water, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and comfortable shoes. Make sure you have a full tank of gas and a fully pressurized spare tire.
•  Should be considered day use only
•  No formal parking area
•  No amenities or restroom facilities
•  Not ADA accessible
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nearby: Keyhole Canyon

nearby: Nelson Ghost Town

Warning:
THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT ALONG THIS SECTION OF US-95 IS 75mph WITH MANY VEHICLES TRAVELING WELL ABOVE THE POSTED LIMIT. UTILIZE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN APPROACHING THE PET CEMETERY AREA (see driving directions and map below) AS TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU WILL APPROACH WITH GREAT SPEED. WHEN PARKING AT THE PET CEMETERY "ACCESS" AREA PULL WELL OFF THE HIGHWAY (immediately North of a Blue Information Kiosk - see photo below) ONTO "DIRT TRACKS" WHICH RUN PARALLEL WITH AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE HIGHWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY FENCE. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO UTILIZE INTERNET MAPPING RESOURCES SUCH AS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY (not always current) AND THE PROVIDED WAYPOINT POSITION (WP1 - see below) TO VISUALIZE YOUR DESTINATION PRIOR TO VISITING THIS AREA.
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This adventure involves travel to a relatively remote area, please refer to the section on desert travel for safety information.
•  Watch your kids near highway
•  Be mindful of lightning / flash floods
•  Watch for snakes
•  AVOID THE AREA DURING EXTREME HEAT
•   You are responsible for your own safety

Cemetery Access:
Utilizing the "blue-colored" information kiosk (WP1) as a landmark, proceed from your parking spot and follow the "barbed-wire" highway right-of-way fence in a Southerly direction (for a short distance) to an opening in the fenceline (near the kiosk). Cross over a "cattle guard" like structure (designed to prevent Desert Tortoise from entering the highway) to the kiosk. This kiosk provides information pertaining to the Boulder City Conservation Easement and does not provide information on the Pet Cemetery. Just North of the kiosk is a gate (typically locked) and wire fence running in an Easterly direction (surrounds the cemetery). If open proceed thru the gate, if locked "cross" thru the fence (wire only - not barbed-wire). The cemetery (WP2 - approx. middle of cemetery) lies Northeasterly of the kiosk, approx. 400feet distant. After visiting the cemetery, return to the "blue-colored" kiosk (always within eye-site) to return to your vehicle.
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WP1:    N35.91382  W114.91814

WP2:    N35.91453  W114.91701

Note:
See desert travel for GPS Waypoint info
All distances and waypoints are approximate

Driving Directions:
From the US-93 / I-11 interchange with US-95 (just West of Boulder City) head South on US-95 (becomes a divided highway) traveling 3.1 miles+- to the signed turnoff for Black Hills Drive. NOTE 1: utilize Left lane while approaching Black Hills Drive (no exit lane - watch traffic behind you) as you will perform a "u-turn" onto US-95 North. At the Black Hills Drive turnoff turn Left (Easterly) onto the crossover and "immediately" turn Left again onto US-95 North. NOTE 2: be aware of oncoming traffic when you turn onto US-95 North as you will "immediately" need to be in the Right US-95 Northbound Lane (no traffic should be anywhere near you). Once on US-95 North travel 0.3 miles+- and pull off the highway (beware of the gravel shoulders) immediately North of a blue colored information kiosk (WP1 - see photo above) located 125 feet+- on the East (Right) side of the highway (park well off the highway). Return by traveling US-95 North to the Vegas area. Approx. 27 miles from the central Vegas Strip to the El Dorado Valley Pet Cemetery.

Alt. directions: for individuals uncomfortable performing the previously described "u-turn" at Black Hills Drive consider exiting US-95 South onto Westbound Black Hills Drive (turn Right). Once heading Westbound on Black Hills Drive immediately turn-around and head Eastbound on Black Hills Drive, utilize the highway crossover, then proceed Northbound (turn Left) onto US-95 North. Refer to NOTE 2: (above) to continue to the cemetery parking area.