Washoe County & Reno
People have always underestimated the Nevada desert. It's 'attainable' fortunes that lie buried deep within the earth's surface. Nevada's relentless 'boom to bust' heritage has tempted many men to their dooms and their prosperity. Maybe Reno and today's Washoe County puts that concept to the test.
Washoe County is a place of three faces and three places, four if you count Lake Tahoe. Each face and place is different from the other, worlds away and proudly so. The first goes back to a time when the only 'Nevadan' was a native Nevadan, men and women of ancient times who left ancient messages for its ancestors to try and comprehend. They lived off the land, fished for giant trout and wandered about its mountains and deserts. Later this same face saw the white man, gold hungry emigrants and an intrepid explorer who named a mysterious body of water after a rock formation, only to come back to see it again! A river was named, a river named "Truckee" meaning "great place", then a few mountain ranges, then as they say, the rest was history. It was the place of Nevada's only Indian War and a place where emigrant trails and their graffiti still exist today in the remote canyon and range country known as High Rock. Inscripitions in High Rock's walls read, "Lloyd R, November 1846" remind us that men traversed this lonely country, looking for an easier way to get to the goldfields. This is but one face of Washoe County, a face and place that is still present and accounted for... Washoe's extreme northern half, known thoughtfully as, 'the northwest corner'. Places like Wadsworth, Nixon and Gerlach serve as the only outposts in this remote and unpopulated sector of Nevada, a place that will forever seem to escape Reno's hungry metropolis. Today, there are still only a few reason why the average person would drive up SR 447. One is to Pyramid Lake, described as 'America's most beautiful desert lake' and savor in the joy of catching a unique and endangered trout, also Nevada's state fish. The other is to see 'the Desert', the Black Rock Desert and Gerlach's place of play. Here, rules are your own, but rules that shouldn't ignore such things as common sense in this very remote portion of the Silver State. In this area and everywhere northward to Oregon, you are on your own. Here, YOU are your own worst enemy, best friend and life-saver.
The 2nd face of Washoe County either seems to ignore Nevada's typical way of life, or seems to meet its boom and bust expectation even today. We're talking about Reno and the Truckee Meadows. This sector of Washoe seems to be its own, a place of progression, pride and power. It is the ultimate say in Washoe, night and day with no in between. "Reno-ites", as they like to be called, take pride that they are Nevada's largest city after Las Vegas, but they also like their ruralty. They like how the mountains tower above them, the comfort and shelter that Mt. Rose provides. When you can ski, fish, hike, camp, 4x4 and backpack, who needs anything else? Then again there's also gambling for high-rollers and 'low-graders', a busy nightlife scene, walk along the Truckee and everything else that you'd expect from a big city. But, Reno does have problems. The realization that California is only a few miles away doesn't help the city's identity. As more and more 'spillovers' decide to make Reno home, their 'ruralty' is put to the test. Life in the city may not be exciting as you'd think. Throughout history, Reno has always been a problem-solver. When other states wouldn't allow quickie divorces, Reno stepped right in with a 6 month residence rule. When prohibition loomed over the heads of America, Reno was the answer with its speakeasies, basement casinos and isolated location. Even during the Comstock, Reno wouldn't have become without Byron Lake building a little bridge over an impassable river. Soon, the bridge would be known as "Lake's Crossing", allowing horse traffic to the Truckee Meadows, then up the grade to Virginia City. No doubt, Reno has earned its spot as an important community in Nevada. Just don't forget, there is much more to Washoe, than just Reno.
Finally, Washoe's third face is Washoe Valley. Since most 'Reno-ites' have strong ties with Incline and the Tahoe Basin (Washoe County's other piece of ground), Washoe Valley stands alone... an outright oddball in the county of Washoe. So forgotten and neglected is Washoe Valley, that its residents relate more to Carson City than the rest of Reno. Washoe Valley has its own presence, its own identity as a sleepy place in between Reno and the Capitol. In the words of one local, "Not a whole lot happens here." Perhaps that's why it's so great. The Valley has earned its reputation in history as a shipping and loading spot for the Comstock in the late 1870's, when Washoe City, the first ever seat of Washoe County was an important freighting community on the shore of Washoe Lake. Lumber was shipped by log flume from Lake Tahoe and the adjacent mountainsides, sent across the lake and up the Virginia Range to the Comstock mines. Then again, that was the most excitement the Valley ever received. After VC's prosperity ended, Washoe City shriveled up, its seat moved to Reno and since has become nothing more than a bottleneck on the busy US 395. Most commuters in between Reno and Carson have no idea, or no care in the world, that Washoe Valley contributed greatly to Virginia City's place in history. Little do they care that Washoe Valley could be the last remnant of Reno's ruralty, a place where mountains meet desert and people are their own. No busy city lights, the jaws of crime or traffic jams here. In Nevada, Washoe Valley is just Washoe Valley. Period. At least it makes a nice demarcation line between Carson City and the Reno metropolis.
The Markers
Indeed, Washoe County is one strange duck, a long and elongated piece of Nevada ground that stands alone. Washoe County is a place literally untouched by modern day hands, while the other is a bustling center that lives to be the center of everything. For this quality alone, Washoe is a fascinating place, one that will put you onto bumper to bumper traffic through the neon Reno Arch and in a few hours, will leave you speechless among the vast emptyness of its remote northern deserts. Southern Washoe also shares real estate within the Tahoe Basin, putting its residents into unique piece of ground among pine trees and a sky blue water. In one day, I dare you to stand along the shores of Lake Tahoe or stand in alpine tundra atop Mt. Rose. Next, drive through a glowing neon city, stare at an austere Pyramid that seems to float above the waters of Pyramid Lake, then, end the day by standing alone on the Black Rock or walk in awe among the walls of High Rock Canyon. Several unique worlds, all in one county. For this reason, the people of Washoe are also varied. Watch how a city slicker from Reno is stared down upon when he asks for a mocha in Bruno's Country Club, or a young snowboarder from Incline Village clashes with a die-hard veteran of a railroad town, or rancher in Washoe Valley. All of these unique 'faces and places' insure Washoe County's identity from molding itself into just Reno and Sparks. Of course, a Washoe Valley resident will see heavy traffic through his valley, a Gerlach native will see only a few cars mainly from the people he knows. Nevertheless, Nevada's 2nd largest city, is always a thought away. With that in mind, that should tell you what you're in for. Washoe County is home to the most historical markers in Nevada, with experiences and a little something for everyone! With a new addition just last in 2007, Washoe now has a total of 42 markers! To acquire all 42 of these landmarks, you will need one thing only: patience! About 80% of all the markers found within Washoe are located within the limits of Reno and Sparks. It's this reason I've provided a mini-map of the city for you to enjoy. Hopefully it'll help in your city conquering, especially the confusing streets around UNR and downtown. The rest of Washoe's markers lie quietly awaiting your discovery in other 'faces and places'. There are a few that are so far off the beaten path, that you'll need to plan in advance how to tackle them to conserve gas mileage. #149, High Rock Canyon, can only be reached via an hour's drive on dirt roads, extremely far away from "civilization". Keep in mind that once you leave Reno and the Truckee Meadows, typical Nevada awaits your arrival. Needless to say, finding all 41 of Washoe's markers is an experience, even though you will spend most of your time cruising the streets of Reno. Even so, it's still enjoyable. Reno is a clean city with character, bit of sass, reservation and excitement all rolled into one. In Washoe, markers are located on cemetery grounds, one way streets, underneath high rise buildings, city parks, riverside, desert floors, amidst pine trees, alpine landscapes, old ghost towns and railroad sidings. And that's only a few, my friends. Enjoy this series of markers. No wonder Reno-ites term the coin, "We love this place!"
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