"Verdi, Nevada" Verdi by al_mary

Verdi Travel Guide: 13 reviews and 35 photos

Old Time Mill Town

Location of Verdi: Truckee River Basin, Washoe County

We decided to stay at Boomtown Hotel / Casino in Verdi for a few days while
we were visiting Reno / Lake Tahoe. It turned out great for little side trips each
day as it is located right off I-80. Boomtown is the largest employer in Verdi.

Modern Verdi came into being with the construction of the Central Pacific
Railroad through Nevada in 1867-69. It became a major mill town and
terminal for the shipment of ties and construction timbers, with a network
of logging railways reaching into the timber north and west of here.

In 1860, a log bridge was built across the Truckee River near where Verdi
is now located. Known as O'Neil's Crossing, the site served as a stage stop
during the 1860's on the heavily traveled Henness Pass turnpike and Toll
Road and the Dutch flat and Donner Lake Road.

In 1864, the Crystal Peak Company laid out a town on the site some two
milesfrom Verdi's present location. The company owned mining and
lumbering interests near the settlement which was at the time called
Crystal Peak.

Verdi remained an active lumbering center into the twentieth century due
to the exertions of men like Oliver Lonkey of the Verdi Lumber Company.
A disastrous fire in 1926, plus depletion of timber reserves, resulted in
Verdi's decline ....

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The Verdi Nature Trail

The Verdi Nature Trail is located behind
the Verdi elementary school.

Verdi Nature Trail is approximatly a 1 mile
hike through varying habitats. Here where
the Great Basin meets the Sierra Nevada
you can easily see the riparian habitat,
upland habitat, and the desert &emdash,
montane habitats contrasting against the
mountain shadow.

This is a unique and exhilarating experience
for students and adults alike. There is also an
Aquatic Education Resource Center/Public and
School Library that opened 2001/2002 school year.

This resource is a cooperative project of Nevada
Division of Wildlife, Washoe County School District,
and Washoe County Library System.

Verdi Nature Trail is the gateway to the Great Basin.

Click On Picture To Enlarge

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Historical Fact

Great Train Robbery - 1870
Wells Fargo gold coin taken from the
Central Pacific Overland Express

A train robbery outside Verdi took place
a little after midnight on the night of
November 4 - 5, 1870, with 5 bandits
lead by a sunday school superintendent
by the name of John Chapman.

The train was Central Pacific Overland Express.
According to the report, $41,600 in gold coin was
taken and after a two state chase they were all
caught, tried, and convicted ....

Click On Picture To Enlarge

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