V&T Railroad

Mothers will be the star passengers Sunday, May 11 on a special edition train ride from Nevada's capital, Carson City to the 1860s boom-era mining town of Virginia City.

Tickets are on sale now for a window seat into Nevada's Old West aboard the historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad. The ride features storytelling, history and lore, shopping, a long stem rose for mom, and brunch opportunities in Virginia City.

Read the full text of Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell's State of the City speech, after the jump.

The Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched the first of several video promotions on Youtube.

Produced by THS Visual Production's Todd Simon, who also does video production for the Nevada Commission on Tourism, the 2 minute, 53 second spot is a seasonal highlight of Carson City, said Joel Dunn, executive director of CCCVB.

As an "Old Timer" who was born and raised in Carson City, the Nevada Day celebration has always been something special in my life.

Through many years of living in Carson City, I have enjoyed many of the activities associated with the celebration of our state's admission to the Union, way back on October 31, 1864.

Empowered Lives Through the Cancer Journey Fundraiser Event - Spirit Train V & T Railroad "F" St. Train Depot Virginia City Evening of Fun ! Night includes a train ride, music, beer, wine, appetizers, silent auction, raffle, costume contest, MUST BE 21 or older to attend $55.00 per individual or $100.00 for 2 For tickets or more information contact Crystal Lopez @ (775) 883-3336 or email crystal@sierracancer,com

ALL PROCEEDS goes directly to helping local cancer patients & their caregivers

Take part in a special evening of historic trains, spirits (beer, wine), music, and special treats for adults 21 years of age and older to help local cancer patients and their caregivers.

The non-profit foundation, Empowered Lives through the Cancer Journey, housed at the Sierra Nevada Cancer Center, is hosting this adults-only fundraising event – an evening of Halloween fun and gaiety. The event is scheduled for October 19, 2013 at 5 p.m., at the V&T Railroad, F Street Station in Virginia City.

Returning with more rides and seat options for its third season after two consecutive years of sold-out tours, tickets to the Carson City Polar Express aboard the historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad are on sale now for the 2013 holiday season.

With just 30 trains in the U.S. that travel to the North Pole, the Polar Express aboard the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad has captured the hearts, minds and imaginations of children, their parents and grandparents making the train tour into a holiday tradition for Carson City area families.

Nevada residents receive 25 percent off a round trip train fare on the historic V&T Railroad in August. The discount is good for adult, child and senior/veteran fares for the Sunday 10 a.m. steam engine departures. (Twenty-five percent discount with online ticket purchases by using the code: NEVADA).

On track with summer vacation, the historic V&T Railroad now offers adventure-seeking children 12 and under the chance to climb aboard and ride a diesel train for free every Friday through summer.

UPDATE: A funeral service for Janice R. Ayres, a longtime Carson City resident and champion for the elderly and disabled in Nevada, will be held today, Friday, in Carson City at the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of Musser and Division streets.

A gathering for family and friends of Ayres will follow at Cafe at Adele's, 1112 North Carson Street.

Ayres was 92 when she died May 27, 2013.

Janice R. Ayres, a tireless advocate for the elderly and the disabled, an unshakable Democrat and former member of the Carson City Board of Supervisors died Monday morning at Carson Tahoe Hospital after battling cancer. She was 92.

Ayres was the executive director of the Nevada Rural Counties RSVP Program, a position she held since 1979. RSVP Board member Charlie Abowd confirmed her passing and said directors will meet Tuesday afternoon to discuss arrangements.

The summer season for the V&T Railroad opened Saturday with nearly 190 excited people boarding three historic passenger cars lined up behind the V&T No. 18 steam engine.

Time is running out for you to submit your photo or photos for the “Carson Memories” contest. The deadline is Friday, March 22, 2013. Photos selected will become part of an historic mural exhibit on display at the Carson Nugget. The mural is being painted by renown Gardnerville artist, Beverly Caputo.

The three top submissions selected will win prizes; 1st is $500; 2nd is an iPad; 3rd is a Kindle Fire.

Nevada's window into the Old West is now wide open with tickets available aboard the historic Comstock-era Virginia & Truckee Railroad which launches its 2013 season in May with runs from Carson City to Gold Hill and Virginia City through October.

A fan club of the TV Show "Bonanza" has announced it will hold its 2014 Bonanza Roundup Convention in Carson City at Gold Dust West.
The event is set for June 26-30, 2014 and marks a return to the Silver State, which hosted a similar Roundup in 2009.

According to the official Bonanza Roundup website, Carson City organizers have planned to open up many locations and homes that were a part of the popular TV show that ran from 1959 to 1973 with 430 episodes.

The white walls on the second floor, outside the banquet rooms of the Carson Nugget, are in the process of being transformed. Right now they contain the mural paintings of Kit Carson, V&T Railroad, Dat So La Lee, the Carson Mint, Carson Nugget, Roosevelt’s Speech Capital Building, Carson Brewery and Capital Building; but soon those walls could contain so much more.

“The hope is to show Carson City’s uniqueness as well as the love and pride we have for our home and community,” said Gardnerville artist Beverly Caputo.

After 21 years serving as executive director of the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Executive Director Candy Duncan has announced her retirement.
She will officially retire on Jan. 1, she told the board in a letter. During her tenure, Duncan oversaw the transformation of Carson City as a travel destination, changing the tourism paradigm by highlighting the area's rich history and modern amenities as attractive attributes to luring visitors to the capital city.

As an "Old Timer" who was born and raised in Carson City, the Nevada Day celebration has always been something special in my life.
Through many years of living in Carson City, I have enjoyed many of the activities associated with the celebration of our state's admission to the Union, way back on October 31, 1864.

All aboard the V&T Railroad for an unforgettable Halloween train ride where the living spirits of Northern Nevada can lift and embolden cancer patients and their care givers.
The Oct. 27 Halloween V&T train is a fundraiser for the nonprofit foundation Empowered Lives through the Cancer Journey, an organization established to support, encourage and empower both the patient and their caregivers throughout their cancer treatment.

The 1905 Baldwin Steam Locomotive No. 25 at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City will ride the rails again Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21.

Aspiring young actors have two audition opportunities in Carson City and one in South Lake Tahoe beginning this weekend.

This Mother’s Day, take mom on an historical train excursion via the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Sunday, May 13.
This special edition train ride from Carson City to Virginia City will provide mom with a long stem rose, Wild West history, storytelling, shopping and dining in Virginia City to go along with the spectacular scenery. The train features a 1953 ALCO heritage diesel locomotive leading 100 year-old Pullman coaches displaying the distinctive yellow and green of the V&T.

There will be work at the following locations as a result of the Freeway Landscaping Project. No closures are expected, but traffic control will be in effect. A description of the work being done at each location is included below.

• College Parkway in the vicinity of the Freeway – The Comstock Lode is the theme at College Parkway where images of ore veins will be complimented by steel cutouts of miners working under the bridges.

Prior to the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau board voting last Monday to continue running the V&T Railway for an additional three years, Project Coordinator Kevin Ray said this:

Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell announced today that he will see reelection this fall.

Here is the statement he released:

More than 4,168 seats have already been sold for rides on the Polar Express.The V&T Railroad will begin the program the day after Thanksgiving and continue through Dec. 18 with three rides each Fri...

Charlie Cross, with the V&T Railroad, talks with Miss Chinese Cosmos contestants, Shanyi Yang, left, and Wei Guo during the group's tour of Virginia City, Nev., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011.
Photo by Cathleen Allison

Follow friendly spirits on a two-hour stroll through the eerie historic district of Carson City. Fact and spooky legend combine for colorful tales, told by pale apparitions. Discover the secrets of those who lived (and died) in the 1800s Victorian-style homes along our Kit Carson Trail.

Tours depart from 3rd and Carson St. next to the circa 1900 St. Charles Hotel. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the walk. To get yours before they vanish, stop by the Visitors Center, 1900 S. Carson St., or call (775) 687-7410 or 800-NEVADA-1.

Floating down the Carson River in a raft on a semi-warm spring day, the beauty of blooming wildflowers dotting the canyon walls, it's easy to forget the sometimes-bad reputation this area has attained over the years.

Except for the gunfire.

State tourism and Carson City officials are anxious to show off the new Carson River Canyon, a place being transformed into a destination for whitewater adventure and sightseeing, rather than a dumping ground for homeless people and appliances.

The film "Water for Elephants" opened Friday night at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in a gala showing as a benefit for the V&T railroad group at $15 per head. Reason is that old No. 18 of the V&T more or less stars in the movie. More on the benefit later.