Kevin Shaddy-Your Reno Realtor

Reno Area History:

Reno was Born from a Desert Oasis

Hundreds of Years before the white man discovered the lands we now call Northern Nevada, an ancient tribe of people called the Paiutes, centered their existence around a Great Magical Desert Lake teeming with incredibly large Cui-Cui fish.

On January 10, 1844, the first band of white explorers stumbled happily upon this great desert lake, after struggling for weeks through the inhospitable deserts to the north. They pitched camp on the eastern lake shores near a magnificent 400 foot high rock island outcropping which they thought resembled the Great Pyramid of Egypt. They were enchanted by the stone needles, pinnacles and steaming sulfur springs at the North end of the lake, which are still held sacred by the Paiute people today.

Fremont and his men met the native Paiute Indians camped on the southern lake shore, who lived prosperously on the abundant lake trout. They eagerly traded articles with the Paiutes for the lakes delicious trout.
The Fremont Party then headed southward through what is now called the Truckee Meadows, which is now present day Reno / Sparks. They entered the Sierra Nevada Mountains at the Carson River and soon became the first white men to glimpse the world's Largest and Most beautiful High Mountain Lake... Lake Tahoe... the Source of the Truckee River, the Source around which Reno Sprang Up like a weed, and the Source of waters that fill the Desert Oasis of Pyramid Lake.

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribes' Reservation is located thirty five miles northeast of Reno, Nevada in a remote desert area, with excellent access from Reno on Highway 455. Pyramid Lake is one of the most valuable assets of the Tribe and is entirely enclosed within the boundaries of the Reservation. Visitors are welcomed by the Paiute Tribe, to enjoy the magic, cool waters, fun, beauty, serenity of Pyramid Lake. There is a modern marina, RV park, grocery store, gas station, lakeside camping and picnic grounds. The lake is considered to be North America's Most Beautiful Desert Lake, and is rated as one of the Best Trophy Trout Fisheries in the World. Pyramid Lake is approximately 15 miles long, 4 to 11 miles wide and 350 feet deep at it's deepest point. There are more than 70 miles of sandy beaches, making Pyramid lake ideal for picnicking, boating, fishing, skiing, jet skiing and other water sports.

In 1844, The same year that Fremont Discovered Pyramid Lake and Lake Tahoe, another emigrant party entered the desert wilderness of North Western Nevada seeking passage across the Final Barrier to California, the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They met a Paiute Indian who's name sounded like "Truckee". The Indian drew a crude map in the sand indicating a river and possible pass over the mountains. When the emigrants found the river, out of gratitude to the Indian who befriended them, they named the refreshing stream the Truckee River. They followed the Truckee River up into the Mountains and became the first settlers to open "The Truckee Pass" into California. The Pass was renamed 3 years later after the tragedy of the Donner Party in 1847, when 80 settlers were trapped by winter snows and 36 died.

The Truckee River and the meadows it flowed through were like an Oasis to the emigrant settlers who had traversed the barren deserts of Utah and Eastern Nevada, as they made their long trek to their Promised Land on the other side of the High Sierra Nevada Mountains. The flowing river and restful meadows renewed them before they began their final Challenge of crossing the towering mountain passes.

The California Gold Rush began in 1848, and the Truckee River and Meadows became an Oasis watering hole and brief rest stop for thousands of weary settlers along the well traveled California Trail. It is estimated that 22,500 settlers passed through the Truckee Meadows in 1849, then 45,000 in 1850 and up to 52,000 in 1852. Gold and silver prospectors began combing the barren lands of Northern Nevada and in 1859 a rich outcropping of gold and silver, the Comstock Lode, was discovered 40 miles from the Truckee Meadows. Virginia City sprang UP over night.

The Virginia City BOOM brought a flood of traffic through the Truckee Meadows. Stage coaches, pack trains, mule and ox teams, prairie schooners, carrying settlers, miners, foodstuffs, lumber, mining equipment, etc. to Virginia City and they all needed to cross the Truckee River. Charles Fuller built a wooden bridge near the present site of Reno's Riverside Hotel, and charged a Toll to everyone and everything that crossed his bridge. His bridge was washed away several years in a row by spring flooding and finally he SOLD OUT to Myron Lake in 1861. Myron Lake rebuilt the bridge and added a Tavern and Inn near the Bridge (site of the present day Riverside Hotel). Soon he added a gristmill, livery, a kiln... and by 1862 a small but thriving village was in place. The trans- continental Railroad was soon to arrive and give new life to the Biggest Little City In the World.

Kevin Shaddy

REALTOR/Relocation Manager

ALL STAR REALTY

E-mail: Renohomes@nvbell.net

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Office: (775) 722-6969 Cellular: (775)-722-6969)

Fax: (775) 786-7168

7 Winter Street

Reno, NV 89503