Carson Valley, Nevada~ rugged, relaxed, reachable destination!
Carson Valley, Nevada is one of the few places where the night skies are lit up by stars; not neon lights!! The Magic of Carson Valley!
Make Carson Valley your next Rugged ∙ Relaxed ∙ Reachable retreat destination. With natural beauty, a laid back friendly atmosphere, historic exploration, authentic outdoor recreation, and a wide entertaining Nevada nightlife, Carson Valley will have you coming back for more.
MILES OF OPEN SPACE
Carson Valley rests at a crossroads of sorts. It sits at the transition between the Sierra Nevada range and the Great Basin, the West Coast and the Wild West, the high alpine and the high desert. The valley is guarded on the west by rugged 10,000-foot peaks, the same mountains that cradle Lake Tahoe. Northern Nevada’s most scenic valley is scattered with open space, golf courses, expansive farms and ranches, parks, shops and hotels. Your journey through the Carson Valley stretches from Genoa in the northwest through the towns of Gardnerville and Minden. The trip is paid off with the refreshing reward of Topaz Lake to the south.
GETTING AROUND
As you travel any of the three main roads into Carson Valley (U.S. Highway 395, State Route 88, or U.S. Highway 50), you will enjoy unspoiled views of the valley – surrounded on the east and west by mountains that are sometimes snow-capped year-round. The weather is pleasant and the area enjoys four distinct seasons, with temperatures commonly in the 80’s and 90’s during the summer and, typically, several inches of snow falling over the course of the winter. Topaz Lake, a 20-minute drive from Gardnerville and 30 minutes from Minden, is known for great fishing, boating, water-skiing, and wake-boarding. The lake (a reservoir) lies east of U.S. Highway 395 on the Nevada-California border. The scenic Pine Nut Mountains form a backdrop to the lake and nearby Topaz Lake Park. The south shore of Lake Tahoe, one of the world’s most famous alpine lakes, is just a 20-minute drive from Carson Valley.
HISTORY
John Reese settled Genoa, the oldest town in Nevada, in 1851. Within the main town square you’ll find Mormon Station State Historic Park, the Courthouse Museum of Genoa, and the Oldest Bar in Nevada. Within easy walking distance of any of the lodging establishments are boutique stores and shops, a general store, a winery, and restaurants, as well as an art gallery – all within the quiet, peaceful small town that is Genoa. Gardnerville got its start in 1879, when Lawrence Gilman purchased the Kent House and had it moved from its location south of Genoa to a seven-acre parcel of land on the east fork of the Carson River. There, near the site of what is today the J.T. Basque Bar and Dining Room, the building was converted to a hotel. A blacksmith shop and saloon were added. The hotel was the center of the hay- and grain-producing community that became Gardnerville, named for Gilman’s friend John Gardner.
H.F. Dangberg, Jr. established Minden in 1905 to fulfill his vision of a European-style planned community designed around a town square (Minden Park). Minden was named after a German town near the birthplace of Dangberg’s father, H.F. Dangberg, Sr., a pioneer in Carson Valley and founder of the Dangberg Land and Livestock Company. The V&T Railroad’s extension of a rail line to Carson Valley, with Minden as the terminus, was key to Dangberg’s plans for the town’s future. The railroad spurred the growth of Carson Valley into a hub of agriculture. Located in the heart of Douglas County, Nevada, Carson Valley has changed from a small farming community to one of the fastest-growing areas in Nevada.
As for my itinerary, I experienced the JACOBS FAMILY Berry Farm, located on a 5 acre site in Gardnerville, Nevada, which is about 10 minutes from Carson City. Jack and Diana Jacobs, the owners, took us on an extensive tour of the property. This is a wonderful venue for weddings, dinner parties, large events, etc. There is a 4500 square foot
historic barn which has lighting and definitely sets the stage for music, dancing, a cake cutting or wedding ceremony. An historic two-story ranch home with furnishings dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s is a romantic setting for the bride and groom to get ready for their very special day! As they go out the double doors, they enter the garden where the guests await them. A one acre berry field has over 1000 rasberry and blackberry bushes. We sampled their jams which were so delicious. A must see! Please visit them on their website at; www. jacobsberries.com or call (775) 525-0450 for more information. I could have stayed at this wonderful place a lot longer, but had to rush to get to my concert!