Ely State Prison

Ely State Prison is a medium security correctional facility in White Pine County, northeastern Nevada, located about nine miles north of the small town of Ely. The complex consists of multiple building blocks with reinforced outer walls, watchtowers along the perimeter fencing, and a wide security zone monitoring the outer boundaries.

The prison opened in July 1989 after years of local advocacy, following funding approval by the Nevada Legislature in 1985. Initially designed as a maximum security institution, it was reclassified to medium security in 2024 and roughly 2000 inmates were transferred to other facilities.

The prison implements rehabilitation programs, offering vocational training and educational opportunities to prepare inmates for their return to society.

Visitors need to arrange an appointment in advance and go through strict security screening, including metal detectors and vehicle inspections upon arrival. The site is located off main highways, so reaching it via local access roads requires some familiarity with the area.

The shift to medium security made the facility one of the few prisons in Nevada to undergo such a comprehensive operational change in a short time. Many of the surrounding buildings and infrastructure were adapted to meet the new requirements for inmates and staff.

Location: White Pine County

Inception: July 1989

Official opening: July 1989

GPS coordinates: 39.38550,-114.93840

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27