Prison Hill

On Aug. 26, 1980 inside Harvey’s Resort at Stateline, graveyard supervisor Bob Vinson was making his rounds, and on his way to the gift shop to buy a pack of cigarettes, he noticed the door to the telephone exchange room was ajar.

The year 1968 was one of turmoil. The Vietnam War was intensifying, and protests were increasing back home. Martin Luther King Jr. and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy were both assassinated. Urban riots were common, and college unrest was widespread.

The story of Adam Uber’s Curse, and Genoa’s Hanging Tree, begins in the fall of 1897. Adam Uber wasn’t exactly the Carson Valley’s darling sweetheart. In Genoa especially, he didn’t have a friend in the world.

On Saturday, Sept. 22, Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space hosted its first full moon guided hike at Prison Hill. While the department does have multiple guided hikes throughout the season, this was the first hike guided during the full moon.

Most people who were raised in the area spent some period of their teenage years creeping around the ruins of the United Comstock Merger Cyanide Mill, known as the American Flats near Virginia City.

The Thunderbird Lodge is a bizarre piece of Lake Tahoe history, from the early days of the 40s when rich high society types out of San Fransisco came to develop properties and build their lavish summer estates.

The Lodge, however, stands far above the rest, due to its eccentric owner, his bizarre life, and the strange underground labyrinth he built.

Juliette “Julia” Bulette was born in England in 1832 and quickly became the proprietor of the most lavish and prosperous brothel in Virginia City. She was beloved by all, and became an honorary member of the Virginia Engine Company Number 1 fire brigade.

Bodie has long been a ghost town tourist destination, and though it might reside in California, we in Northern Nevada still claim its lore as our own, since we are familiar with all things that are spooky, cursed, and rich in Old West history. Bodie encompasses all of these traits, but what has also put it on the map, is the fabled Bodie Curse.

In the days of covered wagons, copious amounts of gold and silver, and dastardly highway bandits, the legend of the Prison Hill Missing Treasure still lives today, and people often comb the sides of Prison Hill in Carson City searching out the lost Wells Fargo gold for themselves, but it has yet to be found to this day.

Due to heavy smoke settling on the area, the RoseBud's Dance Band's performance for Monday, Aug. 6, as part of the Carson City Jazz and Beyond Music and Art Festival has been moved to inside the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 511 W. King St. The concert was originally planned for Comma Courtyard, but the performers want to present the event in a comfortable and healthy atmosphere.

Friday opens the 15th annual Jazz and Beyond Music and Art Festival in Carson City that features 17 days of music, art and film at multiple venues in Carson City, August 3-19.

Summer fun is heating up! Let the kids burn off some energy at the Kids Triathlon at Mills Park. You’ll find all the colors of the rainbow, plus great music and fun times, at the Festival of Unity and Community: Sassabration. Get your grub on at the annual Nevada Honor Flight Chili Cook-off at Glen Eagles, and make sure to check out the craft vendors. The Brewery Arts Center free Concert Series continues tonight with Remember Jones on the stage; bring the family and your friends for a good time had by all. Read on for even more hot summer fun.

SATURDAY:

This is going to be an epic Fathers’ Day weekend. Carson City Off-Road sponsored by Epic Rides has taken over downtown with everything mountain bike and plays host to a free Music Festival in McFadden Plaza. Don’t miss Arts and Culture Day at the Nevada State Railroad Museum with unlimited rides on the Steam Train, special vendors, and more. Stewart Indian School will be a hotspot of activity with the annual Fathers’ Day PowWow underway. This is just the tip of the iceberg, read on for more fun than you’ll know what to do with.

SATURDAY:

These photos were taken of the Voltaire Canyon Fire Tuesday night. Scroll and click photos to enlarge. The first was taken on South Carson Street. The second panorama photo was taken from Prison Hill.

Join Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space for a moderately difficult one-mile guided hike up Prison Hill to learn about local history and ecology. At the top, enjoy the view while Community Yogi leads beginner yoga! Please wear sturdy shoes for the hike, bring water, and bring a mat if possible. Meet us at 2600 E Clearview Drive.

Spring has finally arrived and it's that wonderful time again for the annual Silver Saddle Ranch Open House. Located in southeast Carson City off of Carson River Road, the working ranch encompasses 703 acres that run along the east and west bank of the Carson River.

Mile High Jazz Band Association and Carson City present the 15th Annual Jazz and Beyond Music and Art Festival. It features 17 days of Music, Art, and Film at multiple venues in Carson City, from Aug. 3-19.

What better way to celebrate Earth Day and Earth Week than gorgeous weather that you just can’t help but enjoy. Join Muscle Powered and our Parks and Recreation Department at the Silver Saddle Ranch for a presentation and trash mob. Kids will love the Carnival at Bordewich Elementary School, and it helps raise funds for a local Cub Scout Pack. Mark Twain Elementary is hosting their annual Color Run at Mills Park, just make sure to wear a white shirt.

During Earth Week, Carson City has some special events to celebrate our beautiful valley.

Trash Mob
Saturday, April 21 at 10 AM

Muscle Powered and Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space are combining efforts for Earth Day weekend, April 21 for a special Trash Mob event held at East Silver Saddle Ranch on Sierra Vista Lane one-half mile south of Pinon Hills Road.
Coordinates are 39.137788,-119.702994. Look for the Muscle Powered flag.

‘Break a leg’ to the talented kids in Wild Horse Children’s Theater. Their newest production, ‘Junie B. Jones, Jr.' opens at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall tonight. The Reno Coin Club has returned to the Nevada State Museum for it’s annual National Coin Week celebration with lectures, demonstrations, and foreign coins for kids. It’s a BINGO kind of night. Dayton High School is raising funds for their Safe Grad Night with a huge raffle and plenty of family-friendly BINGO fun. Join the Carson Victory Rollers roller derby girls at Battle Born Social for a Friday Night BINGO Bash.

Join plant experts for a moderately difficult guided hikes to learn about local wildflowers, including the rare plant: monkeyflower! Please wear sturdy shoes and meet us 10 a.m. Sunday, April 22 at the Prison Hill Clearview Trailhead at 2600 E Clearview Drive. The walk is hosted by Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space.

In his second year as director of the Escape From Prison Hill 5K, 10K and Half Marathon, EJ Maldonado has learned one thing in particular. “You have to be OK with the fact that things aren’t going to be perfect,” he said.

Congratulations go out to the Mile High Jazz Band; they’ll be celebrating 17 years of monthly performances during tonight’s gig at Living the Good Life. If you’d like to learn more about drones, those little flying robots, then tonight’s installment of the Sierra Nevada Forum is for you. They’ll be covering the versatility of drones, and fully expect you to be surprised. Chili’s Restaurant welcomes Mother-son duos for a night of quality time. Super-hero costumes are encouraged, and bring a camera, Darth Vader will be there for pictures.

TUESDAY, April 10: Things to do in Carson City

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Commission on Off-Highway Vehicles has awarded $1,290,293 to 28 off-highway vehicle projects and initiatives in Nevada.

Clouds east of Carson City lit up the sky brilliantly Sunday morning as dawn gave way to sunrise behind Prison Hill and over the Pinenut Range.

You can probably scratch ‘hitting the slopes’ off this weekend’s list of options, but you can hit the ‘hill’ instead: Prison Hill, to be exact. You’ll find the start and finish line for Ascent Runs’ ‘Love Can Be Cold’ 5 or 10K at the Prison Hill Southern Trailhead. If you’d rather crawl than run, Virginia City’s ‘Devil Made Me Do It’ Saloon Crawl might be for you. Find something special for your special someone at Artsy Fartsy’s annual Champagne and Jewelry Show or at the Valentine’s Craft Fair inside the Carson Mall.

A 35-year-old man was arrested late Thursday night at Prison Hill Recreation Area for suspicion of gross misdemeanor possession of a dangerous drug without a prescription and misdemeanor trespassing, a Carson City sheriff's deputy said.

The first weekend of the year approaches, and that means our monthly Downtown Carson City Wine Walk. It’s never deterred, come rain, shine, or tornado, so make plans with your friends now. Get a jump on any healthy resolutions by joining Muscle Powered on today’s hike along Prison Hill; just be prepared for the trek and great photo opportunities. Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint has snared touring band, The River Arkansas, to play some Americana roots on their stage; a perfect dinner and show.

It’s finally here, the last weekend of 2017. It’s fairly quiet around town, until Sunday night, that is. Today, Muscle Powered is leading a five-mile half-day hike along Prison Hill. Take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather, and join them. The Carson Nugget is hosting three nights of comedy this weekend: catch Myles Weber on the stage tonight. Head’s up. Galaxy Theater usually plays a movie from the past on Sundays and Wednesdays. This week, we get treated to the Christmas Classic, Die Hard. You won’t want to miss that.

SATURDAY:

The temperature today will seem more spring-like than we expect for December, but you may as well take advantage. Muscle Powered is headed up Prison Hill this afternoon; grab a friend, a friendly dog, and your camera for a fun time. You’ll always find Thursday karaoke at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar hosted by the boys of J and M Productions. Jimmy Rollins takes the stage at Living the Good Life, and Dave Leather sings the blues at Sassafras. Where ever the day takes you, have a good one.

THURSDAY: Dec. 28