Douglas County
Douglas County sees many a faces of the California Tourist. How many? Douglas alone welcomes over 50,000 tourists every year, most visitors driving north from Los Angeles and Southern California via the Scenic 395 corridor of the Eastern Sierra. This county has a nice variety of landscapes, with its western edge residing within the Carson Range and Lake Tahoe Basin onward to its remote eastern half, largely unpopulated in the Pine Nut Range. However, Douglas is centered around its 'heart', the Carson Valley, home to its seat Minden and largest community, Gardnerville. Life is good in Carson Valley. The views, spectacular, the pace, genteel. At the same time, Douglas faces a deep problem, a problem not easily fixed.
The Carson Valley IS western Nevada. It's the roots of the Silver State and a place where people of the past first called it home. If the modern man can easily fall in love with Douglas' beauty, it's no wonder emigrants gave it a large space in their hearts as well. The first white settlers in Carson Valley were Mormon farmers, who migrated a long way from their home in Salt Lake City during 1850 to find peace, land of their own and a bit of refuge from a confining belief system. A year later, not only did they find their haven, they found home... right alongside the backbone of the Carson Range at the western end of Carson Valley. Soon, their settlement became known as "Mormon's Station", a simple, but effective name that soon became a trading post for passersby, a farming community and a place free from Mormon rule. This 'station' would eventually change it's name to Genoa, named after the town in Italy it reminded them of. In 1851, a courthouse was built and soon became the seat of newly created Nevada County, Utah Territory, briefly serving as an important re-staging point along the Pony Express Trail. Since then, Genoa has retained its tranquility, even if you can call it barely and proudly claims itself as "Nevada's Oldest Settlement". This debate continues to this day with nearby Dayton to claim the crown as oldest community. Therein, the question lies: what defines a community? A structure built of wood or stone, or a dirty, pitched tent? Even if you debate which community should be crowned the "Oldest", Genoa does have one staked victory. The Genoa Bar, established in 1851 has served drinks for over a century, no doubt about it ranking it as Nevada's Oldest Saloon.
Past to present, Carson Valley and Douglas County is certainly a place where many people call home. Perhaps it's the differences and contrasts that abound. Highs and lows are common and every road is a joy to drive. Although the tourist is a common face around here, there is a larger problem that threatens the quality of life here in Douglas County. Due to its proximity to Reno and Lake Tahoe, people are finding refuge in Carson Valley's quiet corners and beautiful scenery. Cheap real estate is apparent to every western Nevadan and people find homes and empty lots in Carson Valley. That is, if they don't mind the taxes. This is especially true for most people who work at the Lake (Tahoe) and make the daily drive down the mountain to their 'quiet' residence on the valley floor, a residence they otherwise could never afford up the mountain. It is this burst of annoying suburbia that threatens the rural nature of Douglas County and its forelorn valley. Today, it's not uncommon to see a dairy farm set next to a golf course and a chain of track homes. A Mercedes or SAAB hugging the bumper of a rusty old tractor down Muller Lane. Locals keep the peace as best they can, but its hard to ignore a way of life that is quickly changing. For this alone, a visit to Douglas County is bittersweet, easy to fall in love with, yet hard to accept what has become. "Keep Nevada Rural" is the motto around here and frankly, every Nevadan in some way or another chants these words too. For now, I try to remember the better days when Carson Valley was a sheltered green oasis set against the Sierra backbone. The 'moo' of cows, the smell of fresh cut hay, all set below snow-capped peaks. Then, that Mercedes whizzes right on by. At least we tried.
The Markers
Historical Markers of Douglas County (18)
Variety is the name of the game when it comes to Douglas' markers. For one, you'll find Genoa perched right on the mountain's edge and barely hanging onto its 'ruralty'. Oddly, Genoa has NONE of the 17 markers but up the mountain is a different story. By taking SR 207, the Kingsbury Grade, try to tear yourself away from the overwhelmingly overcrowded high rises of a 'Mountain Vegas' at Stateline and instead, imagine how the Tahoe Basin might have been like without the exploitation and commercialism. Travel up US 50 and Lake Tahoe's east shore and then back down the mountain onto the valley floor once again. Up here you'll find 3 within Douglas' borders and even with all that adventure, only an hour's passed, but you'll have realized one important thing: just how special us Nevadans have it down here on the desert. Compared to Tahoe, Carson Valley is Shangri-La. If you choose to work Douglas' markers effectively, focus your attention down here on Carson Valley. Almost all of the markers in this county can be found here. Book a stay in Minden, much quieter and 'homeier' than Gardnerville and forget about everything else. However, don't forget about the few up the mountain... and our way of life.
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