Carson Valley Neighborhoods…
Downtown - Minden and Gardnerville
The two towns of Minden and Gardnerville have grown together since the early 1900s and make up the commercial and retail center of rural Carson Valley as well as being home to many of the valley’s residents. “In-Town” Minden/Gardnerville is distinct from Gardnerville Ranchos, which is located about 3-4 miles south of town and is described in this site as a separate neighborhood.
Minden/Gardnerville are located along Hwy 395 in the flat, central agricultural part of the valley at about 4750′ elevation. Both towns have their own post offices with zips 89423/89410 and there are 2 elementary schools, one middle and one high school which serves the Carson Valley part of Douglas County. With approximately 3000 homes, the combined population is about 7000. The towns are accessed from Carson City to the north, by Hwy 395, which continues south to Topaz Lake and the CA state line. Hwy 88 runs south from Minden into the Sierra for various CA and San Francisco Bay destinations and Hwy 207 goes west from Minden to Lake Tahoe.
Many homes “In-Town” date back to the early 1900s and in the case of Minden, are centered on an old Main Street (Esmeralda St) with a small business district and a town park with a band stand and lots of old trees This part of town has a variety of home styles and ages, with “Arts and Crafts” being very popular. Gardnerville has its own selection of streets with older homes, located between Hwy 395 and the farm land to the south.
Since the mid 1980s, a number of new subdivisions have added to the housing stock in town, with a variety of home sizes, mostly on smaller, town-sized lots. In addition, patio homes (very small lots) offer an easy care alternative for anyone who likes to travel, or as a second home. A few homes are on lots of 1 acre or more, mostly being on the agricultural land or bordering the Carson River.Here is a summary of some of the Minden/Gardnerville developments, beginning at the north end of Minden and going south along Hwy 395.
Westwood: If you take the first street going west as you arrive in Minden from the north on Hwy 395, you find Westwood occupying the area between the highway and the Carson River. There is a variety of home styles, mostly single story but with a few larger 2 story ones. Most were built in the 1990s and are in the general size range of 1600sf to 2200sf, with many exceptions. Prices for these homes range from about $300,000 to $475,000. A number of custom-built large homes on 1 acre lots are along the Carson River and these are of much higher value.
Two collections of “Patio Homes” are here also. These offer low maintenance and lower cost living in 2 or 3 bedroom options. Prices of these homes currently range from $225,000 to $300,000.
Winhaven: North of downtown Minden, this area offers about 300+ homes on regular town-sized lots and about 110 patio homes. Built between 1989 and 2000 all are located in mature landscaping with walkways and ponds and many homes enjoy great views of the Sierra or Valley. Prices for patio homes are currently about $250,000 to $300,000 and the larger homes $300,000 to $400,000. Winhaven is quiet and peaceful and is one of Carson Valley’s most popular living environments.
Adjacent to Winhaven are two new developments; La Costa offering one and two story Mediterranean style homes from about $480,000 up and Monterra, with larger floor plans in the French Country-style from $500,000 up.
Mackland: South of the old part of downtown Minden, this area borders active farmland and again, many homes have great valley and mountain views. Most were custom built homes, so there is a wide range of size, style and age with prices currently $300,000 to $600,000+
Chichester Estates: This is the largest development in Gardnerville with approximately 700+ homes. Three different builders created a range of floor plans and home sizes from about 1200sf up to 2200+ sf, mostly single story homes, but with a few 2 story included. These are on 1/6-1/4 acre lots. “The Estates” has larger homes on 1/4+ acre lots. Estates homes are currently in the $380,000 - $480,000 range, while the smaller homes are from $220,000 - $380,000+
Adjacent to Chichester is Stodick Estates which is offering homes from $300,000 to $450,000+ with a variety of floor plans from 1600sf t0 2500+sf.
Another Gardnerville option is Arbor Gardens with smaller homes on lots that provide garage access from a rear lane. A few larger 2 story homes are also available. Prices range from $220,000 to $320,000+ for homes of 1350-2000+sf.
Minden/Gardnerville has many other fine residential areas offering a wide range of home styles and prices. Please contact your RE/MAX Realtor for specific answers to your questions about Minden and Gardnerville.
Johnson Lane
Johnson Lane is the name given to a rural area in the north east corner of Carson Valley about mid-way between Minden and Carson City. It covers about 20 square miles at 4800′ elevation, with about half of that area featuring homes on 1 acre and smaller lots and the remainder being larger farm and ranch type properties. There are about 2000+ homes with a population of approximately 5000. Johnson Lane is serviced by the Minden Post Office and the zip code 89423. Pinion Hills Elementary school is there for the young families and the Johnson Lane Store provides for conveniences and gas.
The area is accessed from Hwy 395 by Johnson Lane on the south, Stephanie Way on the north and East Valley Road from the eastern and south part of Carson Valley. The terrain rises slowly from Hwy 395 going east and is mostly flat with the usual mix of sagebrush and agricultural crops. Some home sites are on the higher elevations and provide excellent views of Carson Valley and the Sierra and Pinenut ranges.
The earlier home sites in Johnson Lane from the 1960s and before, were usually ranchettes on 1 or more acres with a number of larger parcels that have since become subdivided. Many of the older homes are small and start the market price range for Johnson Lane at about $225,000. Through the 70s and 80s many of the existing streets were developed with homes on 1 acre lots which today are priced from around $300,000 and up. In more recent times a number of subdivisions have been created to cater to the influx of more affluent out-of-state retirees and feature home types and designs that are contemporary and innovative, with emphasis on easy maintenance and lifestyle quality. These homes are generally in the $400,000 and up range. Almost all are 1 story and the newer developments have underground utilities and front yard landscaping that keep everything looking tidy and well cared for.
Here is a summary of some of the Johnson Lane developments. Many other parts of the area have individually built and designed homes, so there is something for everyone!
Meadowgrass: This is the first subdivision you meet on Johnson Lane at Wildhorse Lane. The homes are mostly 1500 -2200sf and are on 1/3-1/2 acre lots and are currently priced in the $320,000 to $400,000+ range.
Wildhorse: North of Meadowgrass, and with similarly sized homes, this subdivision contains a variety of home styles on lots that are 1/4-1/2 acre, currently in the $350,000 to $400,000+ range.
North Fork Trail: This is a collection of about 40 homes located just off Stephanie Way. The development is gated and fenced and the homes were built since 2004 with floor plans and sizes to cater to more affluent buyers. Prices are currently above $550,000 with several homes being quite a lot higher.
Saratoga Springs: This is the largest development in Johnson Lane and was begun around 1994. The last remaining lots are now being built on. There are several hundred homes of varying size and style, with the emphasis on the needs of retirees and families. Originally intended to be a golf community the space for the golf course now is home owner association owned and has walking/biking trails, a children’s playground and lots of open space. Many of the homes back to this open space and enjoy privacy and open views. Prices range from $350,000 to $650,000+
Mission Hot Springs: Mostly on 1acre+ lots these homes are located at the base of Hot Springs Mountain in the NE part of Johnson Lane. Many enjoy elevated sites that allow valley and mountain views. The homes have a range of styles and size and are generally in the $400,000 - $650,000+ range.
Bramwell Homestead: A newer development of homes on 1 acre sites, mostly custom built. Some vacant lots are for sale. Unlike most of Johnson Lane, these are not “horse properties” and the mild CCRs are keeping the area looking tidy and prosperous. All lots are fenced in white vinyl for uniformity, but the wide range of home styles gives a non-subdivision look. Homes are currently for sale in the $550,000 to $750,000+ range.
Skyline Ranch: Built on elevated land in the NE corner of Johnson Lane, many Skyline homes back to BLM land and have excellent mountain and valley views. Most are 2000-3000+sf and built by one builder/developer have a consistency of style and quality that makes Skyline the first choice of any new Carson Valley residents. Lots are 1 acre and all homes are well landscaped and the streets tidy with underground utilities and white vinyl fencing. Prices are currently from $550,000 to $750,000+
Many other parts of Johnson Lane appeal to horse owners or to outdoor enthusiasts with access to public land and back-country trails or with larger lots for livestock and hobby farms.
Please contact your RE/MAX Realtor for specific answers to your questions about Johnson Lane.
Chambers Field
The general area near the Chambers Field Subdivision has been designated “Chambers Field” for the purpose of the local MLS. The Chambers Field area lies in the south central portion of the Carson Valley. This neighborhood was historically used as ranching land and now maintains both urban and rural areas. The residents enjoy the picturesque agricultural fields and the panoramic views of the pine-covered Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west. There are two elementary schools and one middle school that are shared with the Gardnerville Ranchos to the east. Within this area are several separate and distinct subdivisions that each have their own characteristics. An example is the Silveranch Subdivision with a combination of two areas of newer homes on either quarter acre parcels or one acre or more lots. Adjacent to Silveranch is the Pleasantview area which also contains two separate neighborhoods. There are homes in the original Pleasantview area with mature landscaping and Pleasantview West with a new collection of a pleasant and congenial group of residents in upscale homes on approximately 1/3 acre lots. Rocky Terrace, Cedar Creek and Rainshadow Ranch are all new subdivisions that have been created within the last few years. Construction is still continuing in these areas with contemporary homes, view lots and easy access to Lake Tahoe and other recreational areas. Also, within a short 5-10 minute drive the available downtown facilities of shopping, schools, restaurants, and churches are handy and convenient to the homeowners in this area. Chambers Field is a fine choice for the best of Carson Valley living.
Fish Springs
Fish Springs is Carson Valley’s easternmost residential area where 700 residents live in the shadow of 9413 foot high Mt. Siegel, monarch of the once gold-rich Pine Nut mountain range. It is a beautiful valley at an elevation of 5000 feet and is secluded behind low-lying hills to the West, which enhances the ambiance of country living even though it is just 10 driving minutes from downtown Gardnerville. Home prices range from mid $300,000 to well over $1,000,000.
Fish Springs has been a popular place to live for over 40 years, which explains the wide diversity of style, size, age and technology incorporated into the homes built there. It is commonplace to see newer homes interspersed with older residences, which is indicative of areas growing one-home-at-a-time instead of many homes of similar size, age and appearance born of a subdivision.
Fish Springs is considered a “horsy” community, and parcel sizes of one acre, 2 acres and larger were originally established to accommodate livestock. The residents enjoy the luxury of not having to trailer their stock anywhere unless they want to, because folks in Fish Springs can just saddle up and ride! Residents living there, don’t need horses to enjoy the western way of life. There always seems to be a wild horse herd that takes up residence in Fish Springs, and they’re sure to come visit. They are part of our colorful heritage around here and most folks enjoy them.
Fish Springs is a typical Nevada high mountain valley with an arid Steppe climate; four seasons, the possibility of light to heavy snow in winter, beautiful Springs, moderate summer temperatures that may hover around 100 degrees for a few days in August, then always cooling nicely at night, and spectacular autumns when brilliant Fall colors compliment the blue Nevada sky. We enjoy about a 5 to 6 month growing season and Fish Springs is in the U.S. hardiness growing Zone 6 (-10 degrees to +51 degrees F.)
Although Fish Springs folks have to come to town for groceries and fuel, they are well-protected in emergency situations. They have their own fire department manned by well-trained men and women operating state-of the-art equipment, who can be augmented by all other engine companies and agencies in the area if ever needed. The Douglas County sheriff Department prides itself on its situational response time. Officers responding to a Fish Springs emergency generally have less than a 10 minute estimated time of arrival (ETA). Medical situations are met by one of the finest paramedical teams in America. They also have access to the resident Care Flight jet helicopter which can transport patients to a regional hospital from anywhere in the county within “the golden hour.”
Ruhenstroth
The name, “Ruhenstroth,” pronounced Ruin strawth, by itself, is one of the only surviving remnants of the early-day ranch that once occupied the portion of this southeast corner of Carson Valley that bears its name. Well, the name itself, the old ranch house built in 1910, and an occasional sprig of alfalfa poking through a Ruhenstroth homeowner’s lawn represent about all that is left of the area’s yesteryear. Today, according to its 200 plus residents, this beautiful basin is a horse lover’s neighborhood, and has been so for the past 40 years or so.
Bounded on the West by U.S. Highway 395, and by the Pine Nut Mountains on the East, the Ruhenstroth is a highly desirable place to live. Homes in the area range in age from about 40 years old to new, and are priced from $350,000 to over $800,000 in the Thompson Ranchos subdivision, which is contiguous to the Pine Nut Mountains.
The Ruhenstroth is an area which is almost a mirror image of other Carson Valley rural areas like Fish Springs. Most of the properties are on one acre parcels, however, there are also larger, 2 and 5 acre parcels, all of which are zoned for horses. Tall trees, mature landscaping, and lush, green lawns provide an enticing “curb appeal” for people looking to purchase a home.
The Ruhenstroth is situated at approximately the same elevation as the Carson Valley floor - 4750 feet. The folks who call Ruhenstroth home have their own volunteer fire department which is reinforced by any and all emergency departments that may be necessary to a situation. Medical response time to the Ruhenstroth is immediate, and the same emergency tools, equipment and personnel available to all other rural Carson Valley areas are also available to inhabitants of the Ruhenstroth.
The Ruhenstroth is approximately 10 driving minutes from downtown Gardnerville. The area is accessed by two roads from U.S. Highway 395, Palomino Drive and Wiseman Lane, ¼ mile further south. There is another - secret way in and out of the Ruhenstroth. It is a road created like many of Nevada’s roads. People just started driving over it. It’s dirt; it’s rough; it’s impassable in wet weather. It’s probably not even legal, so if you move to Ruhenstroth - you find it!
