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Wedged between historic Carson City and Churchill County, is a piece of Nevada ground that even some Nevadans tend to forget. The people of Lyon County make due just fine without the rest of Nevada butting into their business. Maybe its people need only each other, or maybe the county lives off of its strong self-sufficiency. Whatever the reason, Lyon is quickly making its name in western Nevada.
The Lyon Secret
Lyon's sense of community is perhaps its greatest beauty. Dayton, the county's largest community, still manages to retain its original small-town charm despite its recent infection of suburbia. Many Nevadans admit that Dayton has become a new bedroom community to Carson City and Washoe Valley and while this may be true, the same can be said for Fernley - on the extreme northern tip of the county. Lyon looks to Fernley as a steady and reliable income base courtesy of Interstate 80's endless stream of traffic. In a way, Fernley has become a saving grace of sorts for Lyon County's relatively-poor economy, a town so recently prosperous, it too has recently been claimed as a bedroom community. Truly, Lyon enjoys proving Nevada wrong.
Pizen Switch, anyone?
Alternate US 95 and SR 208 are routes that traffic doesn't have to take to get from one place to another in Lyon County. Yet, these routes are the only way a person will ever find Yerington. Maybe Yerington's location is for the best. When Fernley and Dayton start catering to the hovercar in the year 2236, Yerington will always stay Yerington. Most wonder why I hype Yerington to the extent that I do. Visit the valley after a recent cutting of the crops, or just prior to a July thunderstorm. The senses speak a thousand words. In between these three towns, small outcroppings of community like Silver Springs, Wellington and Silver City, similar to small but lively springtime wildflowers sprouting up out of the hills and sage. For this reason, Lyon could be considered a true outback in populated western Nevada, a part of the state where ruralty could be quickly becoming a thing of the past. Newcomers to Nevada find it shocking to see herds of wild horses cantering past their backyards in the renegade county. With Lyon's population vastly distributed, the county makes the perfect place for another industry to set up shop: legal prostitution. Lyon is among six counties in Nevada that allows prostitution to take place within legal brothels. The difference is, Lyon County has more brothels than any other county in Nevada. Maybe this is a slap in the face to Reno and Carson, displaying a sort of "I can do what you can't" demeanor. Or maybe it's because Lyon County simply needs the money. In either case, rebellion is felt and Lyon couldn't be prouder.
The Markers
Just as varied as Lyon's terrain are its nineteen markers; the theme and basis for many of Lyon's markers is concerned with the "transition" of Nevada, a time when the Nevada outback was trodded by some of the state's first white men. Since many of Lyon's markers are situated in the north end of the county, Dayton might be the best base for marker hunting. Carson City, only six miles from Dayton is another great base, especially if hunters plan to tackle both counties in one trip. Either way, once you leave Dayton, prepare to experience Lyon County's unique outback. East of Dayton, the markers scatter along US 50, with a few renegade markers that sit patiently alongside US 95 Alternate headed south to Yerington. #74 and #255, located in the often forgotten south end of Lyon, make for a nice retreat from US 50. Marker hunters should also remember to conquer the few markers situated in Silver City! (Yes, Silver City is technically and, as one local put it, "proudly" in Lyon County.)
As any renegade county should be, Lyon welcomes the oddball, the promiscous, and the renegade. Lyon is an ambiguous, oddly-shaped, and unsealed box full of surprises. It seems like the quiet child gets the final hand-me-down after all.
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