Overview

Today's town has something for everyone. Churches from the main denominations are surrounded by immaculately kept lawns and gardens. The old fire hall has become the local town hall. There are two main museums, parks and plenty of activities for families and tourists alike. People come from all over to celebrate festivals, national holidays and crafted talents. Others prefer the pleasant backdrop of rural scenery for weddings and family picnics.

Location

Historic Genoa, Nevada, is nestled at the base of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Range, just 25 minutes east of beautiful Lake Tahoe, and one hour south of Reno.

Services/Amenities

The small town of approximately 250 residents and many local amenities and shops, welcomes visitors for a day trip or longer restful stay. The area in and around Genoa offers spa resorts, hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns, campgrounds, and RV parks. Lodging options are available to accommodate any budget. In the true Nevada tradition, the valley also plays host to casino resorts that include great dining and well-appointed rooms.

Activities

With so many Nevada winter and summer recreational opportunities, it is always buzzing with happy tourists. Genoa is located in an area of Nevada known as Carson Valley. Fishing for rainbow, German brown, or cutthroat trout is popular at Topaz Lake, the Carson River, and streams and ponds in the valley. Hikers enjoy lush green trees, vibrant wildflowers, and abundant wildlife.

Nearby, Lake Tahoe is home to ski resorts and sandy beaches, and boasts some of the world’s best terrain for climbing, hiking, and biking. The Minden-Tahoe Airport, a general aviation facility, is known as home base for one of the best places in the world for gliders and soaring. Glider and hot air balloon rides are available most of the year.

Attractions

• Davie Walley’s Hot Springs
  David Walley’s Hot Springs is one of Carson Valley’s most historic establishments, while at the same time offering modern amenities for both visitors and locals. Taking advantage of the rich hydrothermal activity along the base of the northern Sierra, David Walley and two partners founded a health resort just south of Genoa in 1862 with only a tent for shelter and mineral baths selling for 50 cents.
• Courthouse Museum in Genoa
  The original Douglas County Courthouse from 1865 to 1916, later serving as the Genoa School. Exhibits highlight Native Americans, the Emigrant Trail through Nevada, the Pony Express, and Snowshoe Thompson, as well as an old-fashioned parlor, a post office, a school classroom, and the original courtroom and jail.
• Mormon Station State Historic Park
  Mormon Station was originally a trading post established during the 1849 Gold Rush as a place for California-bound travelers to rest and purchase supplies before tackling the Sierra Nevada. It was the first permanent non-native settlement in Nevada and was later renamed Genoa.
• Genoa Candy Dance Festival
  The Genoa Candy Dance began 91 years ago in 1919, when the tiny town of Genoa (Nevada's first town) badly needed streetlights. To raise the money, the town put on a "candy dance" for residents. Women of the town made delicious homemade candy to pass around at a town dance, as an incentive for more people to turn out. It has now become a well known craft festival.
• Genoa Bar
  The Genoa Bar, billed "Nevada's oldest thirst parlor", was patronized by Mark Twain, Teddy Roosevelt and Johnny Cash and was used in John Wayne and Clint Eastwood films,

Getting Here

From the shores of Lake Tahoe near Stateline, NV, it is only 17 miles and only 30 minutes to Genoa. It is a beautiful drive through forested mountains and green lush valleys.