Experience Our Colorful Past

Because of its location along the route to the Esmeralda Mining District and Bodie (where a major gold strike in 1878 heralded a mining boom), Gardnerville soon came to serve as a feed stop for the 24-horse freight teams traveling between Carson City and the mining camps. German, Danish, Swiss, Chinese and British immigrants were prominent figures in the town’s growth and popularity.

For the first five years of its existence, the new settlement of Gardnerville changed little. By 1885, the fledgling town had begun to grow along with the farming industry in the valley. The town prospered as more hotels, shops and saloons opened their doors along Main Street. In1898, Spanish and French Basque shepherds immigrated into the area, tending some 13,000 sheep in Carson Valley. By 1899, Gardnerville had become a center of commerce in the Carson Valley and a hub of community activity in the valley.

Today, you can still see and feel Gardnerville’s cultural heritage along Main Street. Take a stroll and read the historic marker plaques posted on various buildings throughout the district for a sense of the historical flavor of the district. Visit our shops and enjoy a splendid meal—Basque dining continues to be  favorite in Gardnerville. You’ll find it all on Main Street Gardnerville.

Annual fundraisers help raise funds for revitalization projects and include such annual events as Third Thursday Wine Walks, Freedom 5K Fun Run, Main Street Fall Fest, and the Coffin Races. Our Heritage Park Gardens offer programs for those wanting to learn more about gardening and rental plots if you want to grow your own vegetables. For upcoming events and programs, please visit our Events Calendar.

Embracing the Future

Gardnerville may have begun as a way station along a busy wagon road, but we are striving to make Main Street Gardnerville a destination! We know the future of Gardnerville is bright and will provide a friendly town that weary travelers will look forward to exploring. From our trail heads to our downtown, from the country roads to the foothills, we know Gardnerville will leave everyone wanting more.

Main Street Gardnerville invites you to enjoy the old with the new!