DOUGLAS COUNTY
County Offices
1616 Eighth Street
Minden 775-782-9097
www.douglascountynv.gov
Chamber of Commerce
169 Highway 50
Stateline 775-588-1728
http://tahoe.tahoechamber.org
Scenic Douglas County is nestled in the heart of the Carson Valley, easily accessible via Highway 395 just 15 miles from the Nevada State Capital, Carson City. This area is also a 15-minute drive from the internationally famous Lake Tahoe recreational area, where one of the world’s most beautiful lakes is surrounded by the splendor of the Sierra Nevada and Pinenut mountains.
Services
State-of-the-art healthcare facilities and services for Douglas County residents are anchored by the Barton HealthCare System with its flagship institution, Barton Memorial Hospital, in South Lake Tahoe. In the early ’90s, Barton HealthCare joined a regional partnership in building a new medical center that could provide inpatient and outpatient care in the Carson Valley. The Carson Valley Medical Center in Gardnerville has grown along with Douglas County over the years, adding more services, staff members, physicians, and advanced technologies. The CVMC Critical Access Hospital provides 15 acute-care beds for patients who require hospitalization but not intensive care. More recent CVMC facilities include the Topaz Ranch Medical Clinic, providing routine family and walk-in medical care for residents of Topaz Ranch Estates and the surrounding area. The Merry Medical family practice complex now houses the CVMC Urgent Care at Merry Medical facility in Minden Village.
Parents will be pleased to know that Douglas County residents are strong supporters of a quality education system and take great pride in the academic and athletic successes of local students. Servicing more than a dozen schools and numerous operation centers, Douglas County School District is the fifth largest district in the state. This system consists of elementary, middle, and high schools along with administrative and support operations located in the Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley regions. Private schools are available for those who prefer alternative learning environments and the options for higher education within a short commute are excellent. Douglas County is home to Western Nevada Community College, serving more than 6,000 students each semester and offering more than 50 academic degrees. Students of all ages can enjoy affordable opportunities to launch a four-year degree, continue their education, learn new skills, or explore exciting career fields.
Lifestyle
Douglas County’s close proximity to the high Sierras enhances the year-round climate, creating an arid atmosphere with warm summers, moderate winters, and cooler nighttime temperatures throughout the four seasons. More than 295 days of sunshine each year ensures abundant opportunities for outdoor adventure in an area that boasts some of America’s most spectacular recreational sites for hiking, biking, boating, and skiing. Some of the finest downhill skiing and snowboarding resorts in the nation are nestled in the Lake Tahoe region. Residents are able to enjoy common and extreme sports including glider flights, all-terrain vehicle riding, horseback riding, golfing, tennis, ballooning, hunting, trap shooting, fishing and every imaginable water sport. Boutique shopping, fine dining, or wine-tasting events are options for more relaxing days.
Newcomers to Douglas County will discover a rare quality of life, combining small-town friendliness and comfort with “at your doorstep” excitement. The entire Lake Tahoe region is alive with art and culture, from fine galleries and open studios to the performing arts, poetry readings, children’s programs, and cinematography. Festivals are frequent and colorful, whether honoring the past, celebrating major holidays, inviting recreational competition, or showcasing the arts. Two regional highlights include the Tallac Historic Site with three sprawling summer estates that were built and frequented by wealthy San Franciscans in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Lake Tahoe Community College offers the Halden Art Gallery features with rotating exhibits of historical and contemporary artists. Closer to home, the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center displays local and Native American history in a quaint, historic building. The Genoa Courthouse Museum features historical displays including an original courtroom and jailhouse. Genoa is also home to the Mormon Station, offering a museum and picnic areas at the site of an original trading post. With a location near a world of amenities and attractions, Douglas County is the ideal place to call home.
Town of Gardnerville
Town Hall
775-782-7134
www.gardnerville-nv.gov
Chamber of Commerce
775-782-8144
www.carsonvalleynv.org
The town of Gardnerville is nestled in the high desert, surrounded by alpine beauty. The elevation of 4,750 feet offers an ideal four-season climate between two panoramic mountain ranges for exceptional recreational opportunities. Both Gardnerville and nearby Minden were originally founded to serve the agricultural population of Douglas County, one of the earliest settled and most productive of California’s bountiful agricultural regions. Growth between the two towns has nearly joined them into one community. Many local parks are available for recreational activities close to home, including Martin Slough Nature Park with its wetlands preservation, wildlife viewing opportunities, and outdoor learning center. Heritage Park is another community favorite, often hosting celebrations and community events. Gardnerville is the location of Lampe Park, the largest county-maintained site with tennis courts, a baseball diamond, the county’s parks and recreation office, senior center buildings, and a charming duck pond. Just 20 minutes to the west, Gardnerville residents can enjoy the arts community, cultural activities, and world-class recreation for which Lake Tahoe is globally known.
Town of Genoa
Town Hall
775-782-8696
www.genoanevada.org
Chamber of Commerce
775-782-8144
www.carsonvalleynv.org
Nestled at the base of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains just 25 miles east of Lake Tahoe, the town of Genoa is also an hour’s drive south of Reno. This area boasts a rich history and two of Douglas County’s historic attractions. The Mormon Station Memorial State Park with its museum and picnic area on the site of the original trading post actually commemorates the settlement of Nevada. Genoa was Nevada’s first settlement in 1851 when it was founded by Mormon traders from Salt Lake City, Utah. Other remnants from the past include the Genoa Courthouse Museum, the Genoa Cemetery, and the infamous Hanging Tree. Newcomers will find the friendliness and warmth of a small town graced by natural beauty and historic charm. The west side of Genoa is particularly appealing in the preservation of forested land and the frequent sighting of wildlife like mule deer. Residents enjoy a relaxed pace of life in a tranquil small town just minutes away from exciting casino resorts or the world of cultural enrichment and world-class recreation in the Lake Tahoe region.
Town of Minden
Town Hall
775-782-5976
www.townofminden.com
Chamber of Commerce
775-782-8144
www.carsonvalleynv.org
Serving as the Douglas County seat of government, Minden is a neighboring community of Gardnerville and shares the same idyllic location surrounded by spectacular mountain beauty. Using binoculars on a clear day, residents can see skiers on the Heavenly Ski Resort slopes above Lake Tahoe. The Douglas County campus of Western Nevada Community College is located in Minden, offering an easily accessible location for students of all ages. Minden is nationally well-known for a location that favors glider soaring, since the terrain combines high mountains and foothills with a high-desert valley. Outdoor adventures are virtually unlimited in the surrounding area, from snowboarding and downhill skiing to water sports, hiking, biking, camping, backpacking, and fishing. The truly adventurous may want to visit the casino in Minden, the Carson Valley Inn. Reno is a 45-minute drive away. The internationally famous Lake Tahoe region is just 20 minutes from Minden, adding a wealth of cultural and recreational attractions. Providing an urban center for the surrounding agricultural region, Minden draws newcomers to country pleasures and a warm small-town feeling.
