A big, splashy desert getaway

Without the massive wall of concrete called Hoover Dam, Boulder City, Nev., wouldn’t exist. The town sprouted during the Great Depression to house thousands of workers, mainly men, who had headed west to help build the dam. People now often bypass the tow

The bed

Workers slept in shanties and tents while visiting executives enjoyed the relative luxury of the Boulder Dam Hotel ( 1305 Arizona St., Boulder City; [ 702] 293- 3510, www.boulderdamhotel.com), built in 1933. Its 21 small rooms reflect the property’s age, but they’ve been well maintained. Queen rooms are $ 89 a night; add $ 5 for a king. A real plus: The hotel houses the Boulder City/ Hoover Dam Museum ([ 702] 294- 1988, www.bcmha.org), a compact but well- curated museum chronicling the astonishing construction feat. Admission is $ 2, a mechanic’s helper wage for a full day’s work at the dam during the early 1930s.

The meal

Two shotguns fashioned into door handles set the theme at the Dillinger ( 1224 Arizona St., Boulder City; [ 702] 293- 4001, www. the

dillinger. com). With an everchanging array of craft beers, the restaurant is known for its burgers ($ 8-$ 19) named for thugs such as Al Capone, Baby Face Nelson and Bugsy Siegel. For breakfast, consider the Coffee Cup Cafe ( 512 Nevada Way, Boulder City; [ 702] 294- 0517, www.worldfamouscoffeecup.com), where popular dishes include the pork chile verde omelet ($ 9) and “The Hangover” ($ 8), a mix of biscuits and gravy, sausage and eggs all topped with cheddar cheese.

The f ind

The desert, mountains and water provide recreational opportunities. There are several hiking paths, including the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail. The nearly four- mile trail includes tunnels blasted to haul equipment to the

dam during its construction. In Bootleg Canyon, home to another hiking trail, there’s the Flightlinez zip- line ([ 702] 293- 6885, www.flightlinezbootleg.com). The lake is so expansive it’s easy for boaters to feel it’s theirs alone. The closest place to Boulder City that rents watercraft is Lake Mead Marina ([ 702] 293- 3484, www.boatinglakemead.com).

The lesson learned

In the 1920s Boulder Dam was the unofficial name for the huge public works project. In 1930 the secretary of the Interior formally named it Hoover Dam after his boss, Republican President Herbert Hoover. After Democrat Franklin Roosevelt took office, the name reverted to Boulder in 1933. In 1947 Congress resolved to once again call it Hoover Dam. According to the local museum, an anonymous citizen suggested another name: Whogivza Dam.

Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times LAKE MEAD, created by Hoover Dam, entices boaters to take a plunge on a July day. The reservoir doubles as a recreation area.

Brian Jones L as Vegas News Bureau ZIP- LINES at Flightlinez in Bootleg Canyon send riders f lying above the scenic, rocky f loor.

Jay Jones TALES of the thousands of men who built the dam in the early 1930s are told at the Boulder City/ Hoover Dam Museum.

Jay Jones AT BREAKFAST time, the Coffee Cup in downtown Boulder City is popular for its omelets and hearty “Hangover” plate.