When it comes to treating Mom on Mother’s Day you can take her to brunch, lunch or dinner, but why not surprise her with something completely different: tickets aboard the V&T Railroad.
Bring the entire family and climb aboard the V&T on Sunday, May 13, 2012 for a train ride of a lifetime designed especially for Mom. This special edition diesel ride from Carson City to Virginia City comes with spectacular scenery, Wild West history and plenty of shopping and dining opportunities in Virginia City. Mom is even honored on the train with a long-stem rose.
Once aboard, the V&T iron horse will roll through 16 miles of train track re-opened in August 2009 after 70 years of non-operation. All train rides includes scenic vistas of the Carson River and majestic Sierra Nevada, passing through two tunnels, by abandoned mine shafts, old cemeteries and even offering occasional sightings of wild mustangs. The historic train travels the same silver route paved by the miners of the infamous 1860s Comstock silver boom.
The V&T offers an exclusive one-of-a-kind Mother’s Day special.
The Mother’s Day train departs the Carson City Depot, 4650 Eastgate Siding Road, at 10 a.m. sharp. Book in advance because this popular train ride does sell out. The cost is $35 for adults, $20 for children 16 and under and $31 for veterans and senior citizens, 65 years and up. Gift Certificates are now available by calling the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau (775)687-7410 or 800-NEVADA-1.
Another great factor about the Mother’s Day train is that it also provides train enthusiasts a sneak peek into the 2012 V&T season. Opening weekend RailFest activities begin Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28 and will highlight steam and diesel engines with round trip and one-way rides from Carson City to Virginia City. There are plenty of Wild West festivities all weekend long at the event. V&T trains will run weekly, Saturday – Sunday through October 21.
Packed with enough arts, museums, restaurants and culture to go against any U.S. metropolitan area, our very own Carson City stands out as a place we’re extremely proud of to call home. Take a walk through Carson City’s historic district or a tour of the Legislative complex on Carson Street and you’ll see why.
When the Nevada Commission on Tourism launched its Nevada Treasures contest as part of its “Discover Your Nevada” campaign, it was a no-brainer for us to vote on those Capital City places and events that are favorites not only among visitors but fellow Carsonites. We all
have our favorite stops, funky coffee shops and museums we want the world to know about. So why not tell the rest of Nevada and the world which places in Carson City stand out and that no one should miss when they’re here.
Vote for your favorite places through 5 p.m. Friday, March 30 and be sure to tell your friends to vote, too. The top 20 treasures in each territory will then go on to round two, which begins at 9 a.m. April 2 and ends at 5 p.m. Go here to vote. The list is long, so be sure to scroll through it.
Carson City was named the country’s No. 3 Family Destination for its old west heritage, special events and value by away.com, one of the nation’s premier vacation planning websites.
Feel like bowling a few frames? Well there are two places in town to do just that. Carson Lanes Retail Center has it all: restaurants, billiards, darts, games and plenty of lanes making it an ideal place for the entire family. This smoke-free center is a great place to celebrate birthdays, graduations and family reunions. 4600 Snyder Avenue.
Bright shoes and neon lights are only part of the fun of bowling.
Another favorite place to bowl is the 32-lanes at Gold Dust West in Carson City. The Bowling Center is ideal for families and friends looking to catch the spare or try their luck at bowling that perfect game. Birthday parties and group specials are available. 2171 East William.
Starting up again in the summer are rides on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, Nevada’s most famous short line which connected Reno with Carson City, Virginia City, and Minden. Visitors today can enjoy a vintage steam train ride over nearly 16 miles of the original line on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, once the country’s richest short line. The route includes scenic vistas of the Sierra Nevada and Carson River as riders pass through two tunnels and by abandoned mine shafts and old cemeteries, while being treated to occasional sightings of Nevada’s wild mustangs. The V&T travels the same silver path paved by the excesses of the Virginia City mines of the infamous 1860s Comstock silver boom.
Don’t forget in the summer there are an abundance of outdoor events from car shows to ghost walks.
What’s your favorite family place in Carson City?
Don't miss your opportunity to ride the V&T train this summer.
The McKeen Motor Car at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City has been recommended for a National Historic Landmarks listing. A decision could be made this year. “If the nomination clears the remaining hurdles, this will be the first piece of railroad equipment to win an individual place in the list,” said Ron James, chairman of the National Historic Landmarks committee. The committee will deliberate on 15 properties.
In May 2010 the car returned to Carson City as a 100-year commemoration of the first time it was used as a transport in Nevada.
Recommended nominations will subsequently appear before the Advisory Board for the National Park System, which then recommends nominations for listing by the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar. James also sits on the Advisory Board and serves as the state historic preservation officer for Nevada.
Restored McKeen Motor Car Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City with Chris DeWitt, Lee Hobold and Rick Stiver. Cira. 2009
Peter Barton, the administrator for the Nevada Division of Museums and History appeared before the committee to present the nomination, which was drafted by Michael “Bert” Bedeau, district administrator of the Comstock Historic District Commission.
“Listing of the McKeen Car will boost our efforts to gain national recognition for this important resource,” said Barton. The McKeen Car was previously granted the lower level of recognition by being listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Other locomotives and rolling stock are listed as parts of districts. Seven other sites – including Virginia City and Hoover Dam – are listed in Nevada, and there are fewer than 2,500 landmarks listed nationwide.The McKeen Motor Car, built in Omaha, Neb., in cooperation with E.H. Harriman of the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads, is significant as a rare example of William McKeen’s effort to use internal combustion engines for rail travel, which previously had only used steam propulsion. McKeen also experimented with streamlining and use of lightweight metals for his motorized railcars. This resulted in lower capital and operating costs and had the effect of preserving passenger and express service on lightly-populated railroad branch lines across the United States.
Porthole windows line the interior of the McKeen passenger car. Photo: Rod Hanna
Approximately 160 McKeen Motor Cars were built from 1905 to 1920. Nevada’s example of the McKeen Car served on the famed Virginia and Truckee Railway after the turn of the 20th century. Once retired in 1945, the vehicle was converted into restaurant and then retail space in Carson City. In 1995 it was donated to the Nevada State Railroad Museum, where staff spent years restoring the McKeen Car, the nation’s only survivor of its kind that is able to move under its own power.
“Nevadans should be proud of this rare artifact and of the exemplary efforts of the talented staff at the Nevada State Railroad Museum,” James said. “With this first level of approval, I am hopeful that listing can occur in 2012.”
What is your favorite aspect of the Nevada State Railroad Museum?
With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, there’s a Polar Express to catch that will take you around the corner, up the block, and all the way to the North Pole , Nov. 25 – Dec. 18.
Boarding passes are going fast for The Polar Express™ train ride, with more than 7,000 sold in a month and 30 rides already sold out.
Here is a video of the Polar Express™ along the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge from 2009.
The classic Christmas tale comes to life in Carson City this holiday season aboard the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, Nov. 25 through Dec. 18.
Do you Believe? The historic diesel train, complete with decorated passenger cars and Christmas music, leaves Carson City and travels nearly two miles before staging at Santa’s mythical North Pole retreat.
Cocoa and cookies will be served on board; there’s a recorded reading of The Polar Express by its author Chris Van Allsburg; and upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa will greet the kids and just as in the story, kids of all ages who believe will receive their own silver bell. There will be caroling on board during the return to the depot where official Polar Express photos with Santa Claus will be available for purchase.
Based on the holiday feature film from Warner Bros. Pictures and the beloved children’s book, by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express™ is about a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
Ticket Prices and Reservations:
Tickets are free for children two and under, $25 for ages 3-12 and $34 for 13 and older. To book tickets in advance call (775) 687-7410 or here.
Lodging Deals:
Gold Dust West in Carson City is offering a $49 Express Room Package in promotion of the holiday train festivities. Best Western Carson Station Hotel and Plaza Hotel & Conference Center is offering a $59 Polar Express weekend special room rate. While staying at the Best Western families can access the movie on their house channel. Any guest who shows their Polar Express ticket at the Carson City Courtyard by Marriot or Hampton Inn and Suites will receive a discounted room rate.
More Info:
The train leaves the Carson City Eastgate Depot (located seven miles east of Downtown Carson City) and travels nearly two miles before staging at Santa’s mythical North Pole retreat. The Polar Express™ departs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., or 8:30 p.m., Nov. 25 – Dec. 18.
When it comes to the holidays Virginia & Truckee Railroad has something special cooking this fall and beyond – from the Pumpkin Patch and Halloween Express rides to the Polar Express™, the famed railroad offers a number of options.
The V&T continues to run through the October with some great rides planned along spectacular autumn weather, changing of fall colors and a great train ride aboard the V&T Pumpkin Express, Oct 15-16, 22-23 (Sat and Sun) at 11:20 a.m., 12:30 and 3 p.m. and departs from Virginia City. As an added bonus, everyone gets to pick a jack-o’-lantern from the pumpkin patch.
Do you love Halloween – in fact, it’s one of my favorite holidays? It’s spooky and haunted on the Halloween Express, Oct. 31. This 35 minute train provides thrills for all ages and departs Halloween evening at 4, 6, 7 and 8 p.m. from Virginia City.
Carson City’s Old West meets the North Pole as the Polar Express™ train will take weekend railway runs across the frosty Northern Nevada landscape Thanksgiving through Dec. 18.
The Virginia & Truckee Railroad is one of the officially licensed Polar Express Train Ride events nationwide this holiday season. This historic 100-year train, complete with decorated passenger cars and Christmas music, leaves the Carson City Eastgate Depot (located seven miles east of Downtown Carson City) and travels nearly two miles before staging at Santa’s mythical North Pole retreat. The Polar Express™ departs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The trips last about an hour.
The Polar Express train rides are based on the holiday feature film from Warner Bros. Pictures and the beloved children’s book, by Chris Van Allsburg, about a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. The Virginia & Truckee Railroad has partnered with Rail Events Inc. (through Warner Brothers Consumer Products, Inc.) to bring the officially licensed train ride event to Carson City this holiday season.
Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, pajama clad passengers will relive the magic of the story as this nighttime train whisks families away for an unforgettable ride to the North Pole.
During the journey, the Conductor will punch tickets and chefs serve hot chocolate, followed by a reading of Van Allsburg’s classic. At the North Pole, Santa will board the train and greet the children! And Santa has a gift for those who truly believe – a silver sleigh bell. Tickets are free for children two and under, $25 for ages 3-12 and $34 for 13 and older. Early reservations are recommended due to the universal popularity of the attraction early as these trains are expected to sell out quickly.
What’s your favorite holiday? What themed train would you like to see on the V&T?
RIDE THE ONLY MOTOR CAR OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD
Nevada State Railroad Museum is operating its McKeen Motor Car on Sunday, May 8, with departures every 40 minutes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The McKeen car is a 70-foot gas powered passenger rail car and is the only operational car of its kind in the world. The McKeen runs again on July 4 and Oct. 29 for Nevada Day. www.NevadaCulture.org.
FREE FOR MOMS ON MOTHER’S DAY
Moms ride free all day on Mother’s Day at the annual RSVP Mother’s Day Spring Fair at Mills Park. The fair begins Thursday and runs through the big day. It features carnival rides, games and concessions, arts, crafts, novelties and an assortment of food and vendors. Everyone is welcome Thursday and Friday May 5 – 6, starting at 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, May 7 – 8, at noon.
THE SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP
“‘Oklahoma!” the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic that changed the face of American musical theater, is playing at the Carson City Community Center for a Mother’s Day matinee performance at 2 p.m. General admission is $22, students and seniors, $20 and $18 for youth. The show is a presentation of the Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company and director Stephanie Arrigotti. For more information, www.wnmtc.com or call (775) 445-4249.
Trains, the king of railroading publications, included a major feature article on the Virginia & Truckee, the queen of shortline railroads in its August 2010 edition.
“It doesn’t seem real: this apparition of a steam locomotive and two coaches bursting out of the darkness and into the dawn of the Nevada desert. But this is indeed a ghost train of the legendary Virginia & Truckee, the filthy-rich gold-and silver-hauling short line that beguiled followers, back from the dead. After an investment of more than $40 million, 17 miles of it is among the living again despite being torn up almost 70 years ago. How it came back is one of the most amazing tales of American railway preservation.”
The Historic V&T Railroad
So began the piece by Jim Wrinn, and what followed was a six-page spread with glorious photos detailing the background of the famed railroad’s reconstruction and recent opening along the original route between Virginia and Carson cities and its role as the area’s newest major tourism attraction. The monthly magazine reaches an audience of 92,110 readers and the advertising equivalency – what the space editorial space would have cost if purchased as advertising, was $22,032. The story also details the dedication of the Gray family through the years to keep the V&T operational, as well as the efforts over the past 15 years for its “back to the future” saga. A sidebar included information on the numerous appearances of V&T trains in Hollywood films, including Cecil B. DeMille’s classic, Union Pacific,” as well as mention of the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City where two engines, the Inyo and No. 25 reside.
The story, entitled, “Virginia & Truckee Lives!” waxed poetic of those original days in 1859 when the discovery of gold, then silver, started the boom. Mills processing ore needed better transportation than horse and wagon to remain economical, hence the birth of the V&T in 1869 to haul lumber, mining timbers, and fuel into Virginia City and the ore out. After its completion in 1872 between Reno, Virginia City and Carson City, the V&T stretched over 52 miles and averaged 36 trains daily, including first-class that connected with Central Pacific to San Francisco. It earned the nickname, “richest railroad in the world” paying dividends of $15,000 a month. By 1875, when most of the finds played out, the region’s economy plummeted. The Great Depression forced the railroad to abandon the line between Virginia City and Carson City in 1938, with the tracks lifted in 1941. Hollywood saved the railroad in the ‘30s and ‘40s, highlighting the antique steam locomotives, but it wasn’t enough, with thelast train running to Reno in 1950.
Lucius Beebe, railroad author, journalist and syndicated writer, who edited the Territorial Enterprise in Virginia City, wrote, “Railroads such as the V&T do not die, but live on in the hearts of men forever.” He called it right: The V&T is living large. To read the V&T article in Trains, THE magazine of railroading, click:
VIRGINIA & TRUCKEE RAILROAD NEW CARSON PASSENGER CAR, NEW RIDES AND EXPANDED 2010 SEASON – 2010 Weekend Operations Will Extend Through December 18
Our 2010 schedule now includes a new Carson City passenger car and “Colors in the Canyon” trip along its historic track Friday – Sunday through the end of October.
The season continues with extended weekend operations offering rides on vintage trains, Saturdays through December 18.
Restored Carson City Pullman Car, built in 1917
The “Colors in the Canyon” ride will depart Saturdays at 5pm from Carson City, Sept. 18-Oct. 31. The train ride includes narration and splashes of fall colors set against the area’s Wild West landscape. The V&T “Sisters in History Route” between Carson City and Virginia City was set to operate through Nevada Day (Oct. 31), but due to popular demand as evidenced by many sold-out weekends, the 2010 season has been expanded for an additional six weeks, through Dec. 18. Vintage diesel engines will run every Saturday Nov. 6 – Dec. 18. Tickets are $29 departing Eastgate Depot at 10 a.m. To secure tickets in advance or for more information, visit www.VisitCarsonCity.com or call 800-NEVADA-1.
The V&T Railway, the richest short-line in American history, originally operated during the raucous silver strike era of the infamous Comstock Lode from 1869 to 1938. When completed in 2011, the reconstructed track traces all 16.7 miles of the 19th century route between Carson City and Virginia City and is expected to serve as a major tourism attraction to the area. Train rides can be packaged with lodging stays and award-winning restaurants to link the area’s fabled past to the present and shape its promising future as a prominent vacation destination. The Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau and Carson City have pledged $21 million and Storey County has contributed $2 million to the $54.9 million project.
Summer still has plenty to offer with events and activities like free concerts, affordable ghost walks, vintage train rides and golf getaways.
A fun family weekend awaits with the 25th Annual Bowers Mansion Bluegrass Festival in Washoe Valley, August 13 – 15. The festival features bands in the picturesque setting of Bowers Mansion Regional Park on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. Shows take place Friday and Saturday evening at the Davis Creek Campground. Tickets are $15 for adults and $3 for children ages 2 – 12. www.bowersbluegrassfestival.org.
There’s plenty of reasons to get jazzed up for the Carson City Jazz Festival as more than 100 artists and 25 bands will perform throughout the month of August. Free and low costs shows, from big band to swing. Visit http://jazzcarsoncity.com for tickets, performer and concert details.
For the more adventurous, rafting and kayaking excursions follow a stretch of the Carson River Aquatic Trail, through scenic Carson River Canyon with historic relics of Comstock gold mining. A 9.3-mile float on the Carson River ventures through Class II and Class III whitewater, bringing explorers downstream to Santa Maria Ranch River Park in Dayton, Nev. Call Great Basin Sports 775-450-3446 for information and reservations.
Ghost Walk Tours are a delightfully spooky way to relive Carson City’s Victorian Era. Madame Curry, one of the city’s founding ladies, comes to life to lead guided walking tours of the downtown district’s historic homes August 21 and September 25. Ghost hunters of all ages can learn about lingering spirits of the past, with haunting surprises.
Take a ride through time on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad’s vintage steam and diesel trains along 16 miles of newly restored track between Carson City and Virginia City. Operating though Oct. 31, the “Sisters in History” route includes scenic vistas of the Sierra Nevada and Carson River, passes through two tunnels and by abandoned mine shafts, old cemeteries and offers occasional sightings of wild mustangs. The V&T travels the same silver path paved by the excesses of the Virginia City mines of the infamous 1860s Comstock silver boom. For tickets, www.VisitCarsonCity.com or 800-NEVADA-1.
Ongoing summer activities include two local farmers markets, every Wednesday at the Pony Express Pavilion in Mills Park and Saturdays at Third and Carson Street. Carson City’s Wine Walks feature a stroll and sip tour of local eateries, the first Saturday of every month. More at www.VisitCarsonCity.com/events.
The last Friday of every month, the Nevada State Museum, home to the Carson City Mint, fires up Coin Press No. 1, a 12,000 pound minting press built in the 1860s, providing minting demonstrations for museum goers. Tickets are $8 per adult. Call 775-687-4811×239.
The Divine 9, nine acclaimed courses around the Carson City and Carson Valley area offer year round deals with quality golf and stunning views of the Sierra Nevada. www.DivineNine.com.
A complete list of events is available on the events page. Those staying the night have a choice of 1,700 rooms at a variety of hotels, bed and breakfasts, RV parks and more. An array of culinary delights await visitors, with dining options for all tastes and budgets.
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