Nevada Historical Landmark #120

Wandering home from the Petersen Shootout, I made a circuit around the Carson Valley stopping at a number of Nevada Historical Markers, including: Luther Canyon (Fay Canyon) [#118]; Walley's Hot Springs [#120]; Pottsville [#121]; Sheridan [#122]; Boyd Toll Road [#124]; Gardnerville [#129]; Minden [#130], and; Dresslerville [#131].

Walley's Hot Springs
Nevada Historical Marker #120
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This marker is located at 2001 Foothill Road, Genoa, Douglas County, Nevada. There are 17 other historical markers in Douglas County. The GPS coordinates for this location are 38° 58' 50.6" N 119° 50' 00.6" W.

Like many Nevada hot springs, these dot a fault break along which the mountains rise.

In 1862, along this Carson branch of the Emigrant Trail, David and Harriet Walley developed a $100,000 spa with 11 baths, a ballroom, and gardens. The thermal waters 1136 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit became well known as a cure of "Rheumatism and Scrofulous affections.

It sold for a mere $5,000 in 1896, but functioned as a hotel until 1935 when it burned. Its cool cellar you see is still in use.

In 1962, trial hydro-thermal power holes were drilled here as deep as 1,250': maximum temperature 181 degrees Fahrenheit.