4980 Susan Lee Circle Rd, New Washoe City, NV 89704

Wilson Commons Park

Park Description:

Wilson Commons Park is a Washoe County park without restrooms. The park contains 5-acres of historic ranch outbuildings, 20-acres of irrigated pasture, and several acres of developed parkland.

Park Amenities:

Picnic area, horseshoes, volleyball, tennis court, fishing pond, benches, and a historic barn and ranch buildings that are over 100-years old.

Park Contact Information:

Washoe County Parks and Open Space (775) 828-6612

Park Highlights

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Park History

Click the image to read each topic's full text!

Washeshu (Washoe) Tribe

This valley was originally occupied by the Washeshu or Washoe Tribe who enjoyed abundant food sources within the mountain streams and riparian areas around Washoe Lake. Washeshu roughly translates to “the people.” After the arrival of european settlers, the land exchanged hands many times, and by the 20th century, most of the tribe had been forced to move to reservations.

Washoe Valley is still an important area to the tribes and more information about the three tribes of this area can be found on the Reno, Sparks Indian Colony website, http://www.rsic.org/.

Image:
Washoe Indians – The Chief’s Family.

Source: Lawrence & Houseworth Publisher. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.

Early History of the Area

The history of this area goes back to the days before Nevada was a state. With its proximity to the gold rush in California and the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, the entire Washoe Valley was one of the earliest settled areas by immigrants in the state. During the late 1800’s, the valley was home to many quartz mills, and lumber harvested in the mountains was brought down to the valley in flumes, then transported to the Comstock mines.

The valley was also home to many ranches, raising cattle and growing crops to supply the growing population.

Image:
A logging flume running from Tahoe down to the valley below.

Image:
Also seen is the flume tender's house. Source: Stephen Gennerich, The Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection.

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Wilson Commons Park on iNaturalist

Contact:

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Want To Learn More?

References & Further Info:

Washoe County Parks and Open Space - Wilson Commons Park
Nevada Department of Wildlife: Wilson Commons Pond
100 years ago - 1873. (1973, August 3). Nevada State Journal, p. 5.
B. (1895, June 8). Flush times in Washoe. Weekly Nevada State Journal, p. 4.
Carlson, H. S. (1974). Nevada Place Names. Reno: University of Nevada Press.
Flumes. (1878, May 23). Reno Evening Gazette, p. 2.
McGee, W. a. (2004). The Divorce Seekers. St. Helena, California: BMC Publications.
Personal. (1878, May 23). Reno Evening Gazette, p. 2.
The best things in life are still free. (1998, June 21). Reno Gazette-Journal, p. 9B.
Voyles, S. (2000, March 21). Restored Washoe farm may become national landmark. Reno Gazette-Journal, p. 1C.
Washoe Co’s agricultural lands and products. (1881, December 17). Weekly Nevada State Journal, p.4.
Washoe County - No. 6. (1873, February 1). Nevada State Journal, p. 2.
Washoe County Commission. (1993, March 5). Reno Gazette-Journal, p. 3D.
Wood. (1873, July 29). Gold Hill Daily News, p. 3.

Contributor(s):

Jill Richardson (history)

Haley McGuire

Alex Shahbazi

Last Updated:

September 15, 2022 at 7:49:03 PM

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