A dormitory for World War II-era airmen working at Wendover Airbase shows the ravages of time. The base, which was built quickly and for temporary use in the 1940s, is one of several historic and geographical attractions in the area. - photography / Clint Thomsen

Unintelligible words and distorted musical strains wisped across the airfield’s concrete ramp like ghostly transmissions from the past. As we approached, the sounds grew recognizable as air-traffic control over classic rock. Various aircraft sat perched on the ramp, their owners keeping a close watch as passersby snapped pictures.

Wendover itself is the quintessential desert town — a seemingly random mix of dilapidated buildings and glitzy casinos where the concept of time seems completely out of place. And as unremarkable as it looks, the Wendover area evokes a spirit of mystery and exploration like no other place in the county.

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The "Enola Gay Hangar" at Wendover Airbase - photography / Clint Thomsen