"A Great Place to Live, Work and Play" just outside Reno
Located equidistant from the scenery of Pyramid Lake and the entertainment scene of Reno, and with a growing manufacturing industry, the city of Fernley, Nevada, calls itself “A Great Place to Live, Work and Play.” This city was founded in 1904 as new irrigation techniques enabled the Reno metropolitan area to expand beyond the Truckee River. Still it was not until the 1960s that Fernley developed its tradition of industry with the arrival of a cement factory. Today, a Tesla Gigafactory, powered by renewable energy, in turn powers this city’s economy. This thriving business climate, together with a competitively priced housing market and easy highway access, have established Fernley as a more accessible alternative to the pricier Reno-Sparks area.
The front gates to the Tesla Gigafactory, one of Fernley's largest employers with around 12,000 people working inside.
Established in 1904, the City of Fernley retains a strong visual sense of it's Old Western heritage.
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Older ranch-style homes mix with new developments
The average streetscape in Fernley is a grid-patterned side street with sidewalk access, sizeable driveways and an abundance of ranch-style homes built from the 1970s to 2020s. These properties have sold for between $157,000 and $790,000, with age and location determining the price. Fernley’s average home value has risen from $292,000 in 2020 to $423,000 in 2024, closely mirroring the national trend. The development of secluded subdivisions like the Farm District has helped diversify Fernley’s housing stock and price range. Realtor Sandy Gabrielli with Re/Max says, “It has more of a draw than other Western Nevada exurbs because of its proximity to the Tahoe-Reno industrial complex, which offers a lot of employment. People are mainly driven here because of the relative affordability and proximity to employment opportunities.” Most homes costing more than $600,000 are concentrated along the city’s western and southern edges, where homebuilding continues to take place. Ranch-style homes remain Fernley’s dominant aesthetic, but these newer homes tend to feature Mediterranean and Spanish Revival influences.
With the continuous demand for new homes, Fernley has seen a large construction boom since 2020 yielding new communities such as this.
Throughout the City of Fernley, many homes exist against the edge of the desert wilderness which has a unique sense of beauty.
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A history of industry
With a strong industrial heritage, Fernley serves as a major employment center for western Nevada. The city’s industrial park hosts companies like UPS, Sherwin Williams and Lowe’s Home Improvement. Halfway between Fernley and Sparks, the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center became home to Tesla’s solar and wind-powered Gigafactory Nevada in 2018, which employed 12,000 people by 2022 and continues to pioneer sustainable industrial production.
Those employed at the Reno Tahoe Industrial Park will often see wild horses runnng in between factories.
Fernley's Industrial Park has seen mountain moving development over the last decade with new warehouses under construction.
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Local parks and pools bring the community together
Tucked between Highway 50 and Farm District Road, the Fernley Out of Town Park serves as this city’s main outdoor recreation venue. In addition to a playground and a dog park, it also features five baseball fields and the county’s rodeo arena. At the town’s southwestern edge, the Fernley Swimming Pool offers swim programs for both adults and kids, whether for learning how to swim or for getting into an aquatic exercise routine.
The Fernley pool is open to the public, and acts as a great exercise option for locals in the winter.
Fernley's Out-Of-Town Park is the central athletic facility in the city, hosting recreational sports like softball and the annual rodeo.
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Small restaurants serve up diverse flavors
Though Fernley is not known for its culinary scene, plenty of small businesses have cultivated loyal followings. Main Street is home to three Mexican restaurants known for their festive decorations, their traditional Mexican fare and their margaritas, while the Fernley Village Marketplace off Interstate 80 hosts chain restaurants as well as the local Chinese takeout spot and a Western-themed sports bar. This same shopping center serves as Fernley’s main marketplace for home necessities. Gabrielli says, “They have a Walmart and a Home Depot, as well as small casinos, but, other than that, they come to Reno for bigger shopping outlets.”
Fernley boasts a large number of owned Mexican restaurants like La Fiesta found on Main St.
The Village Marketplace is the main commercial hub in Fernley with large box stores like Raley's for grocery needs.
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Getting around by bike or car
Fernley is often endearingly called “Ferntucky” by its residents and even some local businesses, referencing its out-of-the-way location within the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area. However, Interstate 80 connects Fernley to Reno within a 35-mile and approximately 35-minute drive. Reno-Tahoe International Airport is accessible within the same distance and time. Within Fernley, several main roads feature bike lanes, and the city’s level terrain makes for easy cycling routes through quiet neighborhoods.
College prep opportunities at Fernley High
The Lyon County School District, anchored in Fernley, receives a C rating from Niche. Fernley is home to two elementary schools, two middle schools and Fernley High School, which participates in dual enrollment programs with Western Nevada College.
The football field at Fernley Highschool
The front entrance to Silverland Middle School.
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Public safety in Fernley
Fernley doesn’t have a police force of its own but is instead covered by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office. According to the FBI, Lyon County’s violent crime rate is above the national average but below the state’s average. The property crime rate is below both
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
Photography Contributed By
Jeremy Jensen
Video By
Brandon Flash Craigie
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