Minden combines community spirit with immediate access to the outdoors
Minden is an unincorporated community in Carson Valley, wedged between open desert terrain to the east and the towering ridgelines of the Sierra Nevada to the west. “If you love the outdoors, you will love this area,” says Jeanne Coerner, Realtor with eXp Realty, who has more than 20 years of selling experience in the area. “It’s absolutely gorgeous and there’s lots to do here.” Its access to outdoor recreation, including nearby Lake Tahoe, keeps residents busy alongside annual events that bring the community together, as do the local businesses that fill its center.
Recreation is abundant between community parks, nearby hiking and Lake Tahoe
Locals can fish at Seeman Ranch Park and hike trails like South River Fork Ranch spread across the valley. “During winter, you go to the trails on the east side because there’s less snow,” Koerner says. Several maintained green spaces with playgrounds like Westwood Park dot the community. Carson Valley Swim Center offers public access to its indoor and outdoor pools and runs programming for all ages. Carson Valley Inn Casino is open year round, and Carson Valley Cinema sells movie tickets for $5 every Wednesday. Residents also make frequent trips to the beaches of Lake Tahoe. “It’s just about 30 minutes west,” Koerner says. “We call it our backyard playground.”
Single-family homes, condos and townhouses offer a wide price range
Minden’s oldest homes line streets in and around the center of the town. While some date back to the early 1900s, most development occurred during the latter half of the century. Ranch-style homes appear most often but intermingle with Spanish Revival styles and occasional bungalows. Further out are a handful of newly built subdivisions featuring New Traditional styles. Commonalities across the residential landscape include neat grassy or pebbled lawns, sidewalks and two-car driveways. Homes typically sell between $450,000 and $750,000. Larger, more recently built properties can exceed $800,000 and top off at $950,000. Homebuyers will also find townhouses and condos that range from $365,000 to $590,000. Koerner says that Minden is growing, and new developments will continue to slowly pop up.
Residents dine locally downtown and shop retail in Gardnerville
More than a dozen restaurants sit downtown, back from U.S. Highway 395. Cook’d is a laid-back spot where patrons can enjoy a slice of pizza and a beer while catching a game. Great Basin Brewery is new to the community, providing typical bar grub and a selection of craft beer. “It has cornhole, picnic tables outside and an area for kids to play,” Koerner says. Specialty shops like Red Barn Antiques and Carson Valley Kids Store are available in town. However, most run errands in Gardnerville, a few miles southeast. Its shopping developments have grocers like Raley’s and Smith’s, and a Walmart Supercenter covers retail needs.
Douglas County High School students can earn college credits
Douglas County School District enrolls Minden children. The district has a B-plus on Niche, which ranks it the No. 1 best district in Nevada. Minden Elementary School and Carson Valley Middle School score B-plus ratings. Douglas County High School earns a similar score. It offers Career and Technical Education, where students can earn college credits within specific career pathways like agriculture, biomedical and engineering.
From Carson Valley Parade to Carson Valley Days
The Carson Valley Parade of Lights rings in the holiday season in early December. “Oh gosh, it’s huge,” Koerner says about the event. Residents line the streets of the town’s center to watch festive floats cruise by before gathering at Minden Park for live entertainment and refreshments. Attendees can also expect a visit from Santa and a grand lighting of the gazebo. She also notes Carson Valley Days, held in Gardnerville, as another annual staple. The weekend-long June festival includes a parade, carnival, a craft fair and more.
Getting around on U.S. Highway 395
U.S. Highway 395 connects the area communities to the southeast and Carson City, 14 miles north. State Route 88 is also easily accessible and leads south into California. Tahoe Transportation District services bus stops along U.S. Highway 395, with routes that stretch down to Gardnerville.
Written By
Matthew Simmons
