Virginia City
Known as the oldest “living” ghost town in Nevada, Virginia City has a lot to offer to its visitors! Take a step back in time and wander the streets to visit one (or more) of its many saloons, stop at a museum, explore historic buildings, cemeteries and the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. You can spend the night at a quaint (haunted) bed & breakfast or choose from hotels and motels.
The Virginia City Visitor Center offers a Comstock Adventure Pass that includes a mine tour, exploring the historic buildings and a discount to ride on the V & T Railroad. Visit www.virginiacitynv.com for more information.
Throughout the year, there are activities to celebrate all occasions. Watch our calendar for special events!
You have two choices from either direction: East of Reno or South of Carson City, exit off Hwy 395 or Hwy 50 onto Hwy 341.
Use caution in the winter months as the highways can be very treacherous
Make sure your camera batteries are fully charged – there’s lots of photo ops!
Parking can be a bit of a challenge – and a tad expensive
In August of 1861, Virginia City had a population of 2,704 people. With the Comstock boom and its proximity to the silver mines, in a short period of four years, it became a thrifty and populus city. The population had increased, tripled and quadrupled with its citizens organizing community groups, fire brigades, churches, fraternal orders, theaters, newspapers, numerable saloons, a minors’ union and schools. There were large, substantial fireproof buildings, a multitude of comfortable houses and a great number of costly mills and reduction works.
In 1868, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad was built to carry ore from the Comstock silver mines of Virginia City to the processing mills along the Carson River. The following year, the service was extended to Carson City and then on to Reno in 1872 where it intersected with the Central Pacific Railroad and the transcontinental railroad. The Virginia City & Truckee Railroad, nowadays referred to as the V & T Railroad, still runs and steam rides on weekends and during special holiday events.