Gold Hill

Nevada Author, Sandie La Nae will be selling her popular books at the Flying Pig Flea Market for your gift giving ideas.
Genre's include the "Weird" volumes, co-authored with Special Works Historian, Arline La Ferry, and the "Historic-Paranormal" books, featuring historic and haunted buildings in the Carson City area.

Titles include: WEIRD - "Carson City," "Reno," and the "Virginia City Trilogy."

Along with "St. Charles Hotel," "The Old Genoa Bar", "Alpine Hotel in Markleeville," "Buckland Station," "St. Mary Louise Hospital," "Wells Fargo Office," and others.

During the cold winter months in a pocket of the capital city, a bit of magic is sprinkled about on the historic rail that once transported gold from Virginia City to the mint in Carson City, but now transports elves, hot cocoa, and silver bells for a few special weeks each year.

The Polar Express rolled into town on Nov. 15 with the help of the historic V&T Railway Commission, and with it, a certain jolly old man and his magical helpers.

CARSON CITY — V&T Railway will bring its event-filled 2019 season to a close this weekend with a final 150th Anniversary train on Friday, Oct. 11, vintage steam trains on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 and a Toast of the Canyon spirits train on Saturday, Oct. 12 following the steam train.

During Thursday’s Board of Supervisor’s Meeting, the Board voted on a measure to transfer ownership of the site of the Brewery Arts Center into the hands of the Brewery Arts Center themselves. For the past 40 years, the City has held ownership of the property at 449 King Street, and has been leasing the property to the organization.

The site of today’s Brewery Arts Center has gone through several changes in its time. The Carson Brewery was first built in 1860 by John Wagner, who created the brewery during the Comstock rush to wet the whistles of all those hoping to become the next gold-rush billionaire, and it became Nevada’s longest-operating brewery to date.

Good morning Carson City and happy Saturday! Today we’ll see a high in the mid 80s and a low in the mid to low 40s, which to me sounds like Fall is right around the corner!

We’ve got a ton of great events today and tomorrow, so check them out below:

Heading into the weekend, there’s plenty of activities around the Carson City region to help the next three days breeze by. Events include an artists fair at Carson Mall, the 60th annual camel and ostrich races in Virginia City, a memorial run in Carson City, the 28th annual Oktoberfest in Gardnerville, a Veterans Resource Fair at Carson Nugget, history walks at Mormon Station Park, live comedy and more.

CARSON CITY — V&T Railway will hold auditions for the 2019 Polar Express season on Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 7 from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Eastgate Depot in Carson City. The railway is looking for actors, actresses and singers, age 13 and up to play roles from the popular movie including stewards and conductors, elves and Santa Claus.

For the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, the story of its future as part of Nevada’s living history will be guided by its illustrious 150-year past.

SPOONER LAKE, Nev. — Join a park ranger on a guided, self-driven vehicle tour through the Spooner Backcountry of Spooner Lake State Park. We’ll follow the remnants of the historic Virginia Gold Hill Water Company flumes and pipes, and discuss Comstock history as we enjoy the day driving through the scenic park backcountry.

On Thanksgiving Day almost forty years ago, a mentally ill woman carried out what would today be considered a terrorist attack on the streets of Reno.

Chautauquan Kim Harris will portray Lizzie A. Borden on Wednesday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m., and historian Mark McLaughlin will speak on “Lake Tahoe and the Comstock Era; Stories, Facts and Fun” on Saturday, July 13, at 10 a.m., at Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

CARSON CITY — Returning for the 2019 season, the V&T Railway’s popular Toast of the Canyon train rides kicks off on Saturday, June 15 and will feature area wineries, distilleries and breweries. The event, which runs every other Saturday through October, takes passengers into the Carson River Canyon to enjoy libations and appetizers.

Good morning Carson City and happy Saturday! It’s going to be another grey day, with a high of 64 and a low of 44. But hey, it could be freezing, or things could be on fire, so I won’t complain! On the docket today we’ve got day two of the Rib Fest, a Virginia City train tour, museum activities, a heroes parade, and more. Check below to see the schedule for the rest of Memorial Weekend, and stay warm!

As we head into a jam-packed Memorial Day weekend, activities and events around Carson City on Friday will help set the mood for what promises to be a tremendous few days ahead. Festivities include the opening day of the Rockin’ Rib Fest at Carson City's Casino Fandango, the planting of American flags on the graves of our fallen veterans at Lone Mountain Cemetery, a weekly open mic night at A to Zen, laughs at the Carson Comedy Club, live music and more.

Here’s an events lineup of what's happening around the Carson City region for the 2019 Memorial Day weekend. More events will be added as information becomes available.

Friday, May 24

Days after President Kennedy was assassinated, Frank Sinatra, Jr., just barely an adult, was in the midst of a tour getting his music career off the ground.

On his tour during a snowy Tahoe December, he performed at the Harrah’s Club Lodge in Lake Tahoe.

Little did he know he had a few followers trailing him from city to city, and they weren’t hopeful fans, but instead, hopeful foes.

On Fannette island in the middle of Emerald Bay, the only (official) island in Lake Tahoe, used to live a toeless hermit by the name of Captain Dick “Them’s My Toes” Barter, who some say still haunts Fannette Island to this day.

Vikingsholm, (literally meaning Viking island in the middle of a lake) named after its creator’s love of Scandinavia and viking culture, is a mansion on the shore of Emerald Bay, boasting 30 rooms and perfectly reconstructed viking treasures.

Lora Josephine Knight purchased the property where Vikingsholm now stands for $250,000 (which would be $3.6 million today) in 1928, and immediately began planning her creation. Lake Tahoe, she said, reminded her of the fjords and mountains of Scandinavia. Knight wanted to build a summer home that was reminiscent of the culture.

Most people forget that divorce wasn’t an easy thing to achieve up until the last part of the 20th century. So how is it that Reno, a tiny little railroad town in the middle of nowhere, became known as the place to flock to if you wanted to untie that knot?

People, even Nevadans themselves, often ask why Carson City is our beloved capital. It does seem odd, when you look at the “City,” half rural, half town. Reno has more than double our population, and Las Vegas even more. During the Comstock Boom, Virginia City was arguably the largest, most profitable city in the state.

So how did little Carson City become the central legislative hub of Nevada?

Legend tells of a terrifying monster that is supposed to reside in the depths of Walker Lake who has been sighted for centuries. For years, Cecil even had his own float in the Nevada Day Parade.

The legend of Cecil seems to have been first written down in the early-to-mid 1800s, when Nevada was first being explored by white settlers looking to spread out and maybe try their hand at finding gold or homesteading.

The Historic Gold Hill Hotel — the oldest Hotel in Nevada, first known as the Riesen House — can be found on the road to Virginia City from Highway 50, and is a popular location for weddings and events.

CARSON CITY — In the years since Tom Gray first set foot in his dad’s V&T Railroad shop in 1974, the world has seen many changes. “They’re paving over all the dirt roads, old buildings are crumbling,” he observed.

Every spooky Halloween or family friendly fall themed event in Carson City, Gardnerville, Virginia City, Reno, Sparks, Dayton, and more.

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.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Join a park ranger on a guided tour through the backcountry of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

We’ll follow the remnants of the historic Virginia Gold Hill Water Company flumes and pipes, and discuss Comstock history.

Please be prepared for a day of driving through the backcountry, and some short hikes as we stop along the way.

Vehicles are provided.

Bring lunch, water, sturdy boots and sunscreen, and dress for the weather.

The tour will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 22, and will end at the same location by 4 p.m.

Guy W. Farmer, the Nevada Appeal’s award-winning political columnist, will speak on “Frank Sinatra, Mobsters and the Cal-Neva Adventure” on Thursday, May 17 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Gold Hill Hotel in Storey County.

A 52-year-old man in custody at Carson City Jail on drug charges, had additional charges placed on him Saturday after the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team found drugs inside a room he had occupied.

A 39 year-old Carson City man was arrested Friday night at 9:34 p.m. in the 1700 block of North Carson Street on multiple felony drug offenses, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy reported.

Popular local entertainers, Cherie and John Shipley will fill the house with Irish sounds from The Irish Rovers, Clancy Brothers, and many more traditional and not-your average Irish tune. Along with enough toasts for every sip!