From Mammoth to Reno......

RV Adventure-2nd part

We stayed in Mammoth for 2 days, and now we have relocated to a new RV park in Verdi, Nevada. Our intention is to finalize a decision on property in Dayton Nevada where we want to build our dream home.  We are looking at lot 126 in the Santa Maria Ranch.  The draw for us is where this lot is, right on the Carson river.  Great location with a view of the river, and no neighbors in back to obstruct our sight!

The Carson River flows through Santa Maria Ranch and this will be the view from the back of our house.

The property we are looking at appears to be better than we remembered.  We will be putting an offer in this week, and hopefully we will have a Nevada address in the next few weeks!  Pictures of the property can be seen below:

Once again we spent some time in Virginia City, and actually had people at our favorite bar (The Bucket of Blood) decide that they thought we were acceptable neighbors!  A couple of years ago when we first started looking, some of the same people labeled us "California Cockroaches"!  

On the road from Virginia City to Dayton, there is an unincorporated area called Gold Hill.  This is where gold was mined in the last century, and the major business there now is the Gold Hill Hotel and Saloon.

This hotel is the oldest in Nevada, opened in 1861.

These are still a few of the many remnants of abandoned mines all over the area.  

We stopped in for a drink and dinner, but the restaurant was full, so we settled on a glass of wine. The bar service was excellent, and we met a nice couple at the bar from New Zealand who were current guests at the hotel.

New Zealand couple with Becky one of the locals on the left.

The hotel is managed by 2 men from California that have permanently relocated to Gold Hill.  They live right across the street from the hotel.  They are doing a great job, with the hotel booked solid and the restaurant and bar continuously crowded.  Both locals and tourists have embraced this place, and it looks like they have given this old hotel a new lease on life!  We wish them luck with their business.

A wonderful couple we met, Kevin and Becky who live nearby and gave us a lot of great advice about living in Nevada.

A few of the many reasons we fell in love with the area is the eclectic combination of modern and preservation of the history.  On Main Street you feel like you've stepped back in time with buildings just begging to be brought back to life and restored to their former glory.  One such place is J's Bistro owned by Jerry Massad.  He's there most nights to make sure everyone feels welcome.  One step inside and you are greeted by one of the friendliest faces in Dayton, Debbie.

Debbie at J's Bistro

She'll make you a drink and remember your name and before you know you're hooked!  The food is world class and it is clearly a place where you can feel like you are home.  The other old buildings there are waiting for the same kind of renewal.

The Union Hotel at 75 W. Main Street was built circa 1870.  It is now a private residence.

Dayton Courthouse

Aside from all this history there is also world class golf course to enjoy.  With a community built on it.  Dayton is growing in leaps and bounds, our only fear is that it will lose its charm along the way.

We reluctantly left Dayton Nevada Saturday and drove home to the hustle and bustle of Southern California, dreaming of the day we will become permanent citizens of the Dayton community...