By Ken Mink
Carson City and Virginia City are locales less than 30 minutes from Reno and offer many significant and entertaining points of interest.
Virginia City sprang up as a boomtown with the 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode, the first major silver deposit discovery in the United States, and numerous mines were opened. At the city’s peak of population in the mid-1860s, it had an estimated 25,000 residents. The mines’ output declined after 1878, and the city declined. As of 2010 Census the population of Virginia City was about 855.
Carson City boasts an array of outdoor adventures, fine restaurants, challenging golf courses, historical attractions, a step-back-in-time train ride, museums, gaming opportunities and a plethora of events and entertainment.
Both cities are nestled just minutes from world famous Lake Tahoe, electrifying Reno, historic Virginia City and the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Here is a closer look at each city:
Virginia City
In the 21st century, Virginia City’s economy is based on tourism. Many residents own and work at the shops in town that cater to tourists, while others seek jobs in the surrounding cities. Virginia City, a National Historic Landmark District, draws more than 2 million visitors per year. It has numerous historic properties that are separately listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The tourism supports an eclectic assortment of fine and casual dining experiences. Many lodging properties offer options to tourists wanting to stay overnight. Several bed and breakfast facilities are based in restored historic homes including: the B Street House Bed and Breakfast, previously the Henry Piper House, which is listed on the National Register; Edith Palmer’s Country Inn and Core Restaurant in the restored 1860s Cider factory; and the 1876 Cobb Mansion.
Virginia City was the setting for the popular TV western series “Bonanza” and thousands still visit the area each year to get a glimpse of the town where Hoss and Little Joe used to beat up a lot of bad guys. A lot of shops and bars still provide data and memorabilia of the fictional family.
The town’s wooden sidewalks and colorful bars harken back to the 1800s with such colorful names as Bucket of Blood Saloon, Red Dog Saloon and Twisted Spoke Saloon. There is even a Bonanza and Ponderosa saloon.
And if you want to get in touch with history and relax in comfort and enjoy gourmet food the Gold Hill Hotel a mile west of the city is your best bet. The Gold Hill Hotel is the first hotel ever built in Nevada (1861) and offers first class lodging and gourmet food (breakfast is part of the fee). The hotel is only a few feet away from one of the first Comstock Lode gold mines, The Yellow Jacket, where 37 miners were killed in an accident on April 7, 1869. The hotel’s saloon is a pure Wild West treat and The Crown Point Restaurant is noted throughout Nevada for fresh, robust and flavorful fare. There is a very talented French chef (Serge Marchal) on the staff and the hospitality is five-star. Mark Twain (who was a reporter for a Virginia City newspaper at the time) and The Monumental Liars Club hung out here. Ghosts Rosie and William reportedly make their presence known from time to time.
A recent guest at the Gold Hill Hotel wrote on Trip Advisor:
“Best Old West hotel ever! Truly a wonderful find. My wife and I stayed for 3 nites in room number 10. August 13, 14, and 15 , 2014. The room is very comfortable, large, everything you need, even an old brick fireplace. We had a nice fire 2 of the 3 nites. Very quaint ” old timey ” bar, very friendly, and the bartender CC takes very good care of you and really cares about her people. Drinks are NOT expensive, happy hour beer only two dollars. Great on site dining with great food and wonderful friendly service. Once again NOT expensive. A huge wonderful burger and fries only 9 bucks. Lots of great Italian food, awesome pizza too. They have in room frig, coffee maker, free internet, very clean etc. This room 10 has outdoor balcony with bistro set and a great view of the mountains. We live in Las Vegas and it was a 430 mile drive for us, but easy and good road. 7 hours. This was our first time here, did not want to leave and definitely will go back and stay in the exact same room again. And oh yes, all firewood is furnished. Just a great experience and a 150 year step back in time. If your’e looking for bright lites, glitter, bell hops, valet parking, traffic and noise, then don’t go here. If you want quiet, dark at nite, peaceful, serene, laid back , friendly, don’t lock your doors type of place, watch and listen to the steam train pufferbelly go by, THIS IS IT !!!! Just an all around great time we had staying at this hotel…….Just call and ask for Missy, and you will be well taken care of.”
For more on the history of the hotel, rates and package info contact them at their web site: www.goldhillhotel.net or call or fax them at telephone: (775) 847-0111 or
fax at: (775) 847-0604.
Virginia City is home to many fine interpretive museums and sites, including the Silver Terrace Cemetery, the Fourth Ward School Museum, the Pioneer Cemetery, the Fireman’s Museum, the Way It Was Museum, Piper’s Opera House, the Police Officer’s Museum, St. Mary’s Art Center, and numerous exhibits in businesses throughout town. Virginia City also hosts many unique and authentic event celebrations including cook-offs, parades, and Civil War re-enactments.
Like many cities and towns in Nevada, Virginia City was a mining boomtown; it developed virtually overnight as a result of miners rushing to the Comstock Lode silver strike of 1859. But, Virginia City far surpassed all others for its peak of population, technological advancements developed there, and for providing the population base upon which Nevada qualified for statehood. The riches of the Comstock Lode inspired men to hunt for silver mines throughout Nevada and other parts of the American West.
With this center of wealth, many important local politicians and businessmen came from the mining camp. At its peak, Virginia City had a population of over 25,000 and was called the richest city in America. It was rebuilt in 1875 after a disastrous fire burned down 90% of the town, causing $12 million in damage.
For more general information on Virginia City contact the visitor’s center at
www.visitvirginiacitynv.com
Carson City
The capital city of Nevada has lots of charm and interesting venues.
Carson City boasts an array of outdoor adventures, fine restaurants, challenging golf courses nine courses (termed The Divine Nine), historical attractions, museums, gaming opportunities and a plethora of events and entertainment.
Carson City has several casinos, with the Gold Dust Hotel and Casino topping the list. This is a wonderfully comfortable hotel with extensive gambling and dining facilities. The 142-room hotel offers a free hot breakfast that is hard to top. Centrally located, the hotel offers many amenities. For information: http://www.gdwcasino.com/Carson/index.php
Carson City, named for the famed western explorer Kit Carson, is replete with interesting museums.
For many the word museum equates to boredom, but Carson City museums are wonderfully informational and entertaining. The Nevada Natural History Museum and Mint is quite extensive and covers several floors. On the street near the entrance is an informational map on the history of the Pony Express. The Railroad Museum and Children’s Museum are also well worth visiting.
Take time to visit the state capitol and walk around the grounds.
There is also a chance to take a step-back-in-time railroad ride here. Locomotives from the Virginia & Truckee Railroad — the historic short line that once hauled silver out of the Comstock in Virginia City — have been seen in the movies and on television for decades. Chosen by Hollywood for their classic American look, V&T cars have graced film sets from 1939’s “Union Pacific” starring Barbara Stanwyck, to 2011’s “Water for Elephants” featuring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson. They’ve also rolled through countless B-Westerns and television shows such as “Gunsmoke” and “Little House on the Prairie,” helping to shape public perception of the Old West.
See the real deal and learn about the V&T’s key role in the Comstock mining boom when you visit the restored V&T railroad, which has depots in both Virginia City and Carson City. Several ride options are available, but those interested in trains and Western history may want to consider the Sisters in History route. Offered from late May through October, the Sisters in History trip takes passengers from Carson City to Virginia City, where they can explore for about three hours before taking the train back to Carson City.
V&T rides include the Sisters in History round-trip route from Carson City to Virginia City and back , running May through October; a 35-minute historic route from Virginia City to Gold Hill; and various themed rides. For details and to book tickets, see these websites:
• Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau, www.VisitCarsonCity.com
• Virginia & Truckee Railroad, www.virginiatruckee.com
• V&T Railway Reconstruction Project, www.vtrailway.com
For more information on the V&T in general, visit the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Historical Society, www.vtrrhs.org.
Visitors also may be interested in seeing the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday through Monday, the museum is at 2180 S. Carson St. Details: 775-687-6953; www.museums.nevadaculture.org.
For information on where to stay in Carson City, see www.visitcarsoncity.com.
For information on where to stay in Virginia City, see www.visitvirginiacitynv.com.
About 15 minutes south of Carson City off U. S. Highway 395 is David Walley’s 1862 Hotel and Spa, an elaborate facility offering panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and close proximity to Lake Tahoe. The1862 David Walley’s Hot Springs Resort & Spa in Genoa is a beautiful year-round destination for visitors seeking relaxation or recreation. Five natural hot mineral springs, a pool, dry saunas, steam rooms and a newly remodeled spa set to open in November soothingly handle the pampering, and a fitness center, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails. Also nearby are ski runs,and golf courses.
Some of the top-notch golf courses include Squaw Creek, Old Greenwood, Coyote Moon, Genoa Lakes, Sunridge and Edgewood Tahoe, which annually plays host to the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship. The latter layout is one of the most stunning in the West, with iconic Lake Tahoe, towering pine trees and rugged mountain backdrops in sight almost every step of the way.
The resort’s one- and two-bedroom suites have full kitchens, gas fireplaces, living areas with sofa beds and balconies to enjoy the sights and wildlife. When not in their rooms or playing outside, guests can savor dining at its finest at 1862, the resort’s restaurant that received the coveted 2012 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. With more than 1,500 bottles to choose from, 1862’s wine cellar offers a nice variety in quality and price for all palates.
The resort’s signature hot springs have been known for their healing powers for almost 150 years, making a guest’s stay a perfect way to refresh, relax and reconnect. The site’s location, at the foothills of the Sierras with 360-degree views, is also less than a half hour from South Lake Tahoe and its eclectic nightlife, gambling and shopping opportunities.
The facility is located in what you might call nowhere, with no gambling or entertainment facilities nearby (closest is Carson City and Lake Tahoe, each perhaps 15-20 minutes away). But if peace, quiet, comfort, good food and relaxation is what you want this place would be hard to beat.
A recent guest wrote on Trip Advisor: “Five-star for location, because we loved the views, habitat area; the sound of the geese, the birds, dragonflies, lizards, frogs & turtles, call of the cattle (not too close though) and the tranquility. About 45 miles or so from Reno airport, you will need a car. Wonderful staff, very clean facilities, grounds and rooms. Debbie gives GREAT massages! Liza provided superb manicure and pedicure! Dawn, server at 1862 Restaurant is awesome and a professional photographer to boot. The Filet Mignon dinner was par excellence, wonderful Chocolate Martinis for dessert. General Store in Genoa has good food also. Don’t have one bad thing to say, did not want to leave!”
For more on this resort visit their web site at http://www1862hotsprings.com or call 855-398-1862.
