Virginia City Tourism Commission

On the eve of the 24th annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry, Virginia City tourism and county officials want to make it loud and clear that Virginia City is open for business, especially with concerns of the temporary detour on State Route 342.

The detour to the State Route 341 Truck Route, which has been in place since Feb. 18, 2015, adds just over a mile or five minutes travel time from Carson City access from U.S. Highway 50. Visitors continue to travel along the Truck Route to the historic town and its numerous attractions.

“The temporary detour of State Route 342 is just that, a detour. We’re here and open for business,” Deny Dotson, tourism director for the Virginia City Tourism Commission/Storey County, said. “In fact, our town is just days away from what appears to be a record breaking weekend event with the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry and we hope that the detour doesn’t dissuade visitors from traveling. It’s also important to know that the businesses that fall in the detour area remain open and need our community’s support now more than ever.”

Access to the Virginia City Inn, Comstock Motel and the Gold Hill Hotel and Bar and other businesses located along the detour are made by traveling past the detour sign located at the south end of Virginia City. There are three ways to get to Virginia City: Geiger Grade, State Route 341, from Reno, Nev.; Six Mile Canyon from Dayton, Nev.; and State Route 341’s Truck Route from Carson City’s U.S. Highway 50. Each route is fully operable and provides access to Virginia City.

State Route 342 is being realigned around the pit and historic Silver Hill shaft (1919) that caused the detour in mid-February. The realignment is scheduled to occur over two phases. Phase 1 completion is expected to take 10-12 weeks with the State Route 342 by-pass opening on or before June 6, 2015, pending weather and unforeseen conditions.

During Phase 2, there will be a brief road closure during December in order to finish connecting the new alignment to the existing road. The Nevada Department of Transportation will continuously monitor the realignment with oversight and collaboration continuing between NDOT, Storey County and Comstock Mining, Inc.

For more information on Virginia City, Nev. or the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry visit VisitVirginiaCityNV.com or call the Virginia City Tourism Commission (VCTC) at 775-847-7500.