Sparks, Nevada: History and Description
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Wellington &
Smith Valley
Nevada Web
Travel Pages
Was it a dream, or was it Wellington? That’s a question I’m still
asking after my most recent visit to this enchanted village.
Wellington is a scatter of mostly old, some quite antique structures along
a mile or two of Nevada Route 208 at the southern end of Smith Valley.
Reach it from Gardnerville or Topaz Lake on the west via Holbrook Junction.
Or, it’s not quite an hour’s drive from Yerington on the northeast.
This comfortable little settlement dates back to the 1860s when this road
was the main artery of commerce between Carson City and Aurora.
Stagecoaches and freight wagons creaked through in an endless parade. By
the late 19th century, Smith Valley had become highly productive farmland
and Wellington transformed itself into an agricultural community rather
than a way station serving highway travelers.
The beautiful green valley is stippled here and there with cottonwood
trees, barns and farmhouses, there are chalky brown hills beyond, and the
brilliant sky dappled with bright, silver-white clouds overhead.
If you arrive around lunchtime, head straight for the Wellington
Mercantile. Norma, the proprietor of this shrine to small town general
stores, not only presides over the shelves of groceries and dry goods –
including the galvanized tubs and buckets hanging from the rafters – she
serves a fabulous lunch. Everything here is home-made, including the apple
pie (recipe available upon request).
After lunch walk (or drive) as far as suits you up the dirt road alongside
the Mercantile building. It leads you on a pleasant tour of the meandering
course of a road built for horsepower in its purest sense. If you walk
you’ll be climbing gently as you go, so it’s downhill on the way back.
Once you’re back in town your destination is the CG Cafe across the street
from the Mercantile for refreshment after your stroll.
The Heyday Inn, down the road about a mile, occupies what was originally
Pierce Station, a competitor to Wellington Station. It was also operated
with a dance hall upstairs, and served temporarily as both a schoolhouse
and a post office. In 1945 it was transformed into the Heyday Ranch Inn,
and the present owners opened the completely remodeled the building.
Delightful dinner, with cocktails available from the bar.
Wellington offers two B&Bs.; One, the 1875 Hoye Mansion, is alongside the
Wellington Mercantile with five magnificently furnished upstairs roomsThe
other, Dr. Mary’s house is a few miles out of Wellington, almost to Smith.
It’s formally called the Smith Valley B&B;, but it’s best-known as the home
and office of Dr. Mary Fulstone. For 65 years Dr. Mary practiced medicine
in the office off the dining room. She delivered thousands of babies over
those years. The house isspacious and pleasant, with lawns and flowers
outside, as well as the old farm buildings- slaughterhouse included-to
explore.
There are also two RV parks, the Wellington Station Resort at the west
edge of town, and the out of the way but quite cosmopolitan Walker River Resort on the way to Smith.
Welcome to Smith Valley
Resorts
WALKER RIVER RESORT
Smith Valley. 702-465-2573. Explore Nevada’s hidden
oasis! On the river, big shady trees, 130 RV sites, cliff side lounge,
deluxe cottages, the friendliest people! Old time country store, large
clean laundromat, we do ice cream socials, movies, fishing; heated swimming
pool. Enjoy horseshoes, volleyball, swapmeets. Competitive rates. Visa,
Mastercard, Discover, American Express. Call 1-800-446-2573.
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Nevada Travel Pages
David W. Toll
Nevadaca