SPECIAL TO THE PVT Rodney Leach from Beatty practices his mock gunfighting routine, in anticipation of a skit during the opening of "A Patch of Heaven" in Ash Meadows Sept. 22. SPECIAL TO THE PVT Helena Lopez, a church member of Ministerio Roca Salida, paints a wagon wheel as part of the restoration of the old cow camp in Ash Meadows. Advertisement

Guests who enjoyed chuck wagon barbecues at Ron Metheny's cow camp at Ash Meadows will be pleased to know the grounds will be reopened to the public during a fundraiser starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22.

Ministerio Roca Salida, which means "Solid Rock Ministry" in Spanish, took over the 40-acre site last November and renamed it "Patch of Heaven."

Since January church workers have been putting quite a bit of effort into giving the grounds a face lift, although it erased some of the, ramshackle, rustic look of Metheny's mock western village. Metheny took many of his artifacts up to Goldfield.

There will be a few differences from the old outings when Metheny ran the place, which featured a steak dinner, a band, chicken bingo, petting zoo, drinking and a rousing campfire on the Saturday night nearest the full moon.

For one, there won't be any alcohol, according to Annette Fuentes, whose husband Victor is the pastor of Ministerio Roca Salida. The starting time is also early in the day, to coincide with the more family-oriented activities.

Donations will be accepted for the event. Fuentes said it will also show people what the church is doing on the property, which will be open to the public.

The church is constructing two bunkhouses that will sleep 70 and 25 people, respectively, a wedding chapel and a commercial kitchen to function as a snack bar. The patrons at public functions will have modern bathrooms to use in the bunkhouses instead of portable toilets.

"We're not done yet. We're under construction. We want people to come out and see where we're going," Fuentes said.

Plans call for eventually putting in paddle boats and kayaks, as at Terrible's Lakeside Casino, she said.

Fuentes said they found out about the property when they relocated to Pahrump three years ago, but initially thought it was too far out of town. The turnoff to the site is on Bell Vista Avenue in Amargosa Valley, also known as the Bob Ruud Highway, just before the California state line. It's then another few miles to a 'T' junction near Devil's Hole. A left turn there, then another right turn soon after on the road to Peterson Reservoir leads to "A Patch of Heaven."

"It's just a great place. It's peaceful. We want people to get out of the craziness of Las Vegas and enjoy it," Fuentes said.

Metheny is still the caretaker of the property, she said.

"We weren't sure how we would be accepted, but there's a lot of great people out there," Fuentes said. "Where Ron used to have the outdoor barbecue, we closed that in -- that's going to be a commercial kitchen."

Church members were fortunate enough to purchase the buffet facilities when the Stardust Resort closed, she said.

The animals at the petting zoo have been removed, but Fuentes said she'll bring her miniature donkey and possibly other animals.

Children will have a water slide, a bouncy house and a dunk tank to enjoy during the celebration on the 22nd. A highlight of the party could be the wagon rides. Fuentes said there will be hamburgers and hot dogs served up. A cowboy reenactment group will offer mock shoot-outs.

Fuentes said there could even be an attempt to bring back the chicken bingo, in which people bet on which square in the cage a chicken will poop.

The springs on the property will be flowing as usual, giving the appearance of an oasis in the desert. The 40-acre spread is one of several tracts of private property on the refuge created to preserve endangered species like the pup fish.

"We just want people to be able to come and enjoy it. It's a great place. We're just blessed to have it," Fuentes said.

For more information, call Ministerio Roca Salida at 702-575-1386.