Mission
The mission of the Gardnerville Main Street Program, in partnership with the Town, County, Business and Community, is to revitalize downtown Gardnerville utilizing design, organization, promotion and economic restructuring to develop the unique identity and preserve the historic nature of our community.
Vision Statement
Main Street Gardnerville - Experience the Past, Enrich the Present and Embrace the Future.
What IS Main Street?
Governed by a Board of Directors, Main Street Gardnerville is composed of business owners, employees, property owners and residents of the Downtown area, and others who are interested in the revitalization of our Downtown. Main Street Gardnerville is neither a business association nor a chamber, but rather, an association of people who promote and protect a place. We receive training and technical support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Main Street Approach
Advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets. The National Trust Main Street Program offers a revitalization framework that operates around four categories, providing the keys to successfully preserving and revitalizing historic downtown.
ORGANIZATION:
Builds consensus and cooperation among the many groups and individuals who have a role in the revitalization process to create a strong and sustainable organization. Assists with member recruitment, events, fundraising, strategic planning, goals and the Main Street Gardnerville Newsletter.
DESIGN:
Works to enhance the physical appearance of the Downtown area by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging supportive new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, and long-term planning.
PROMOTION:
Markets Downtown to customers, investors, new businesses, residents, and visitors by developing and carrying out image campaigns, retail promotions and special events. Brings promotional ideas to the organization and assists with events.
ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING:
Works to develop and implement an economic strategy to distinguish Downtown as a successful commercial corridor, to provide sustainable business opportunities for the merchants and to create job opportunities. Develops partnerships with other organizations, conducts surveys and seminars and welcomes new businesses to Downtown.
Vision Statement: Experience the Past ♦ Enrich the Present ♦ Embrace the Future
Experience the Past
In 1861, John and Mary Gardner homesteaded a large tract of land for their ranch. Around 1877, they sold seven acres of the tract to Lawrence Gilman.
Mr. Gilman purchased the Kent House in Genoa. In 1895 he moved from the Gardnerville. The Kent House became the Gardnerville Hotel and Gardnerville was born.
After observing the activity of the growing community of Gardnerville, the Harris family also decided to move their dry goods business from Genoa to Gardnerville in 1895. In the spring of 1896, Arendt Jensen erected a commercial building for his General Merchandise Store on Main Street. And they just kept coming – a butcher shop, a shoe store, a barber shop and more saloons to what had now become a thriving town and center of activity in the Carson Valley.
German, Danish, Swiss, Chinese and British immigrants were prominent figures in the town’s growth and popularity. Then in 1898, the Spanish and French Basques shepherds immigrated into the area, tending some 13,000 sheep in Carson Valley, increased to 25,000 by 1925. In 1918, several Basque restaurants and inns were opened. Basque dining has continued to play a prominent role in Gardnerville.
Enrich the Present
Today, you can still see and feel Gardnerville’s cultural heritage.
Take a stroll through the Main Street Gardnerville and read the plaques posted on various buildings throughout the district for a sense of the historical flavor of the district. Visit our shops – antiques, gifts, and clothing. Enjoy a great meal – from a full-course Basque dining experience to a gourmet sandwich. You’ll find it all on Main Street Gardnerville.
Whether fishing the waters of Lake Topaz, driving our country roads enjoying the view of Job’s Peak and century-old barns, or hiking the Pine Nut region in search of wild horses, you’ll find plenty of things to enjoy within 30 minutes of Main Street Gardnerville. Enjoy a day of sun at the beach or snowboarding at beautiful Lake Tahoe. Experience a thrilling glider ride soaring over the breathtaking scenery of Carson Valley and finish the day off with a wonderful dining experience at one of our restaurants.
Embrace the Future
Gardnerville began as a way station along a busy wagon road filled with miners on their way to Bodie, California over 125 years ago.
In the late 1800’s through the entrepreneurship of Danish, Swiss, Chinese, German and Basque immigrants, Gardnerville became a thriving town. They built their homes, raised their families, opened mercantile stores, butcher shops, hotels, saloons, and auto garages. Over the years, the dirt road was transformed into U.S. Highway 395 to Southern California. While the town has changed, its Western spirit and flavor remained.
We are committed to continuing the traditions of our past as well as creating new ones. Main Street Gardnerville invites you to come again. Main Street Gardnerville invites you to come again and enjoy the old with the new – Experience the Past, Enrich the Present, Embrace the Future!
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