wild west

The 2016 Virginia & Truckee Railroad season chugs full steam ahead starting Memorial Day weekend, May 28-29. Authentic period steam trains ride through the heart of Nevada’s 1860s silver boom towns where legends of the Wild West were born and live on today along the original 16-mile route between Carson City and Virginia City, Nevada.

Mom, long stemmed roses and the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. The annual Mother’s Day weekend rides on the V&T Railroad are set for Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8. The first excursion of the season is also one of the most popular as families spend the day together celebrating mom.

Since the early 1980s, May has been a month for celebrating historic preservation and archaeology in Nevada. This year, the theme acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, which helps to stabilize neighborhoods and downtowns, contributes to public education, attracts investment, creates jobs, generates tax revenues, supports small business and affordable housing, and powers Nevada’s heritage tourism industry.

A special event to benefit the Carson Tahoe Health Auxiliary includes a voyage to Virginia City on the V&T Railroad paired with local food and beverages, April 16.

Known for its Wild West traditions and old miner Comstock legends, Virginia City has its authentic Nevada history and quirky, outlandish special events that keep people from around the world coming back for more.

This year is no different as the town’s 2016 special events calendar includes fan favorites such as the International Camel and Ostrich Races, the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry and several parades as well as a brand new event, a western rodeo in September.

Back by popular demand, the Gold Hill Hotel offers a revitalized dinner and lecture series. Held each Thursday evening starting Sept. 17, the Gold Hill Lecture Series provides a glimpse into the history of Gold Hill and the Comstock. Kicking off the series is Virginia City’s own John Tyson.

Chautauqua performers Chuck Baldauskas and Doc Durden will present “Buffalo Bill & Wild Bill: Pals Together Again” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday September 2, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

The third annual City Wide Short Film Competition kicked off Saturday evening with a red carpet event and then a screening of the short films. Seventeen teams created short 1 to 10 minute films to be shown to the public and voted on. All movies were required to use the same line of dialog, prop and sound effect.

The winners are:

Chautauqua performer Lisa Bommarito will present “The Extraordinary Life of Eilley Orrum Bowers” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday August 5, at 6:30 pm.

The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Plan a date night on a wine train or enjoy the steam-rolling melodrama “Run to the Roundhouse Nellie” with a barbecue this summer aboard the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad, Nevada’s window seat into the 1860s Comstock-era.

Thin Veil Investigators, a Carson City based Paranormal Investigative team (since 2005) are participating in the Battle Born "Brews, Bikes & Bubbly" event, on June 26 and 27 (Friday & Saturday) 2015 with hosting a tour and investigation at the famous St. Charles Hotel in Carson City, Nevada. TVIers will talk about the history of the building, and accompany guests on a tour/investigation of the hotel.

While virtually the entire town of Virginia City remains true to its 1850s heritage, today’s visitor is now able to connect with the past through the future with the integration of free Wi-Fi. The “VC Visitor” access provides free 24-hour access with a simple email login for visitors in the business district.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. This report is from May 20 to May 27, 2015.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of May 13 and beyond.

Gold Hill Hotel, Nevada’s oldest operating hotel, established in 1861, and restaurant re-opens May 15 after a three month renovation and remodel of the restaurant, lounge, bar and hotel.

When the whistle blows Memorial Day weekend it will be full steam ahead this summer aboard the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad, Nevada's authentic train ride through the 1860s Comstock-era Wild West.

What’s up, Carson City? Hopefully you’ve got your taxes wrapped up for the year. If you’ve left it until the last moment, you can get them filed online or head to the post office until 5 p.m.; for those who need a last minute postmark, the Reno Main Post Office at 2000 Vassar Street will accept tax returns for postmarking up to 12 midnight.

WEDNESDAY: Tax Day

• Oral Health Awareness Day at the Legislature
• Customer Appreciation Month: free glazed donut with medium drink at Dunkin Donuts
• ‘The Observation and Conclusion’ by artist Joseph Watson at the LXS Gallery in the Legislature Building

If you're using Google today you will notice its latest Google Doodle, which celebrates the 155th year of the Pony Express and, notably, was celebrated April 3 in Carson City with the launch of the nation's first active station of the Pony Express, now in Carson City at the Nevada Day Store and Trading Post.

Google animator Nate Swinehart gives more about the history of the Pony Express and documents the doodle process in the video below. He writes:

With a rhythmic choo-choo the Virginia and Truckee Railroad will come alive this Mother’s Day weekend as the vintage diesel engines offers a chance to take a trip back to the Wild West.

The legendary 1860s mail carrier trail known as the Pony Express, which used horses and riders to deliver letters and parcels from Sacramento to east of the Rockies, remains a big part of Nevada's Wild West history because the trail went through the Silver State. Beginning next month the Pony Express will become a permanent fixture and a Carson City visitor destination.

It’s finally here, Nevada’s Big Give. Nevada’s Big Give is a 24 hour online donation push for non-profits, charities, and causes around the state. Plus, a world record attempt at the longest speech is taking place at the Brewery Arts Center. Ian Hill is raising money for the girls of CPAC soccer; they have been invited to represent the USA in a competition being held during the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada.

It’s finally here, Nevada’s Big Give. Nevada’s Big Give is a 24 hour online donation push for non-profits, charities, and causes around the state.

Once upon a time in Nevada, a Reno tailor named Jacob Davis wrote a letter to Levi Strauss about his pocket rivets, and thus the blue jean was born. Coincidentally, today is Strauss’ birthday. Once upon a time in Nevada, Buffalo Bill Cody was just a kid riding for the Pony Express. It’s his birthday, too. Fun fact: Cuba Crutchfield, a trick-rope cowboy with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, is buried in Carson City’s Lone Mountain Cemetery. Once upon a time in Nevada, a man was shot in Reno.

The governor may be the state’s most popular politician, but that doesn’t mean he can corral the firebrands in the Legislature. If history is any indicator of what’s to come, expect fireworks this session. These are some of the people, issues and places that will dominate the conversation in Carson...

Buying a vehicle is now an even better deal for Nevadans who get their financing from Greater Nevada Credit Union. Through a partnership with CU Direct, Greater Nevada has received exclusive rights to launch the region’s first AutoPREMIER auto buying service and has already signed on a variety of preferred-partner dealers.

Now that Autumn has arrived, it’s a great time to explore the areas east of Carson City. These trails and back roads can be impassable in the winter, muddy in the Spring, and too hot during the Summer. This time of year, though, the dry conditions and mild temperatures make it the perfect time to go. One of our favorite Fall rides is the off-road route up to Virginia City via the American Flat Toll Road. With the area’s fun and lively Old West history, this ride has started to become an annual event.

The deadline to submit applications for Official and Signature Nevada 150 events will be 5:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12. Over 400 events have been held across the Silver State since Nevada Day 2013, in celebration of Nevada’s Sesquicentennial, with many more ahead. To submit an event application please visit www.Nevada150.org. For questions or additional information please contact Scott Carey, events and community relations manager, at 775-687-0645 or shcarey@nevada150.org.

The following events will be held Sept. 1 through Sept. 14.

Visitors to the Lake Tahoe Summit on Tuesday, August 19 will notice new gateway signs along three Nevada highways leading into the Lake Tahoe Watershed. Installed near Daggett Summit on Nevada State Route 207, Spooner Summit on U.S. Highway 50 and on Nevada State Route 431 the Mount Rose Highway, the decorative gateway signs read, “Entering the Lake Tahoe Watershed — Help Protect It!”

A outdoor feast with the main course arriving straight out of Lake Tahoe, plus an indoor muscle and fitness protein fest will be the ultimate flex and fry events of the summer on Aug. 23 at the South Shore.

The second annual Boil 'n Fry Day Festival at MontBleu Resort, Casino and Spa is Lake Tahoe's version of an old fashioned New Orleans crawdad feed, complete with live music at the resort's outdoor event center, carnival games, hot wings, barbecue, cold crafted beer and all the fried, boiled or barbecued fresh water crustaceans festival goers can eat.

Lots of shady trees, a nice gentle breeze and plenty of ice cold beer were enough to keep the heat down a notch Saturday at the High Sierra Regional Chili Cook-Off and Craft Fair in Carson City.

The two-day event at Glen Eagles Restaurant, which continues through Sunday, has brought dozens of the best chili cookers from around the region hoping for a chance to win prize money, bragging rights and a trip to Las Vegas for the World Chili Cook-off Championship. The public is invited to Sunday's event and sampling costs next to nothing, organizers said.