The Winters Ranch
(Rancho Del Sierra)

"It takes some strong footing to hold your ground here in Washoe Valley -- home of the infamous Washoe Zephyr, a fierce easterly wind that occurs almost daily. And then there's the Winters Ranch, which has no doubt withstood its fair share of zephyrs. Now the old homestead is as synonomous with the valley as Bowers Mansion, Franktown Road, and even Washoe Lake itself. Washoe wouldn't seem right without it. #94 conquered." -- August 2007

[94]       

Along US 395 ALT, 11.4 miles north of Carson City

Reno & Washoe County
  39.309776, -119.823663

Original Date Visited: 8/14/07
Revisited: 10/19/22
Signed: No

Marker History: This marker went missing in 2009 during re-construction of the I-580/US 395 freeway interchange in Washoe Valley. The once-quiet road junction was converted into a major on-ramp and overpass from Old US 395 ("the old road") onto I-580. Now designated as US 395 ALT., the old road is a necessary bypass route to the busy 580 freeway in between Reno and Carson City mainly for navigating the valley's notorious once-a-week Washoe Zephyr. Workers removed the marker for its safety and kept it in the care of NDOT maintenance yards until construction was complete in spring of 2012. Its re-dedication came just in time for Nevada's State Sesquicentennial (2014) celebration and was hand-picked as one out of thirty markers statewide re-vamped in 2015 in celebration of "Battle Born, 150th: A State Sesquicentennial" (as evident by the campaign's logo on the plaque).

Street View

Here's what you'll see!

Exact Description:
This large carpenter-Gothic style structure, completed about 1864, was the ranch home of Theodore and Maggie Winters and their seven children. Originally this area was settled by Mormons, and the ranch was purchased from Mormons by Winters and his brother, from the proceeds of the Comstock. Theodore Winters immediately set out to enlarge his property and built the mansion you see. The ranch, at one time, consisted of around 6,000 acres.

Winters raised outstanding race horses and raced them here. He also had a large dairy operation, raised beef cattle, work horses and sheep.

Theodore Winters was active in politics, being elected territorial representative in 1862.

Walk to the turnout at Winters Ranch to find this clamper marker. The owners of Winters Ranch are extremely gracious enough to provide a park bench, so please avoid trespassing onto the pond behind this clamper.

Next Marker

BATTLE MOUNTAIN

Related Links & Markers:

 - 13 - Comstock Lode   - 114 - Franktown 

Have you been to this marker? Tell us all about it here!