Washoe Lake State Park
| Washoe Lake State Park | |
| Nevada State Park | |
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| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| State |  Nevada |
| County | Washoe |
| Nearest city | Carson City |
| Elevation | 5,033 ft (1,534 m) |
| Coordinates | 39°14′42″N 119°47′06″W / 39.24500°N 119.78500°WCoordinates: 39°14′42″N 119°47′06″W / 39.24500°N 119.78500°W |
| Area | 8,053 acres (3,259 ha) |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Management | Nevada Division of State Parks |
  Location in Nevada
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| Website: Washoe Lake State Park | |
Washoe Lake State Park is a state park of Nevada, USA, on Washoe Lake. It is between the cities of Carson City and Reno near U.S. Route 395 and just east of Lake Tahoe. It is in the Western Nevada Region of Nevada State Parks. The park is open for year-round recreation including, hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. The area around the park is known for its high winds making Washoe Lake a popular destination for windsurfers.
The first known inhabitants of the area in and surrounding Washoe State Park were the Washoe people. The Washoe would generally spend the winter in the lowlands of the Washoe Valley and summer on the shores of Lake Tahoe. The Washoe used cattails and willows from the shores of Washoe Lake to make baskets.
White settlers arrived on a permanent basis in the area soon after the discovery of silver in the near Virginia City in 1859. The find brought thousands of traders, loggers, and miners to the Washoe Valley.Franktown, west of Washoe Lake, was established by Mormon pioneers in the same year. Two silver processing mills were built near the lake. Ophir Mill was built on Washoe Lake's western shore and the New York Mill was built beside Little Washoe Lake. The remnants of both mills can be seen today.
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad was built through the valley in 1872. It connected Reno with Carson City. This railroad remained in operation until 1950. The mining boom was over by the end of the 1870s and many of the early settlers left the area. Those that remained began ranching and farming the land. The Washoe people were not fully displaced from their traditional lands until the farms and ranches took hold in the Washoe Valley.
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