Silver Springs offers outdoor recreation and a rural setting
Silver Springs rests along the banks of the Lahontan Reservoir, about 40 miles east of Reno and Carson City. “People come to the area because they want to get out of the big city. You can hear the coyotes and owls at night and the skyline is beautiful,” says Vida Keller, a longtime resident of Silver Springs, as well as the president and broker of Priceless Realty, Inc. “Some folks come for the price point, and then they see all the things they can do.” The reservoir and vast desert surroundings provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, including horseback riding and boating.
A relatively rural setting means that residents currently have to drive more than 15 miles away for weekly shopping trips or most career opportunities. However, industrial development to the north and a proposed Microsoft center within Silver Springs may bring amenities and jobs closer.
Lahontan Reservoir recreation and county parks
The Lahontan Reservoir is a section of the Carson River that was dammed in the early 1900s to store water for farming. Today, the reservoir is part of the Lahontan State Recreation Area, where people come to water ski, fish in the coves and horseback ride along the nearly 70-mile shoreline. Deer hunting is also allowed in some parts of the park. The large state park is not the only source of recreation, however. There are a few county-run parks with sports facilities, including Penny Park, Silver Springs Skate Park and Silver Stage Park. Keller says that some residents also enjoy exploring the desert on all-terrain vehicles and that many kids participate in the local Pop Warner football and cheerleading programs. Hikers can link up with the American Discovery Trail at Fort Churchill State Historic Park, a former military outpost and Pony Express stop.
Manufactured and ranch-style homes on various-sized lots
Though some Silver Springs homes date back to the mid-1900s, the majority were built in the 1990s or later. Manufactured homes generally sell between $150,000 and $500,000, and ranch-style houses may list from $260,000 and $525,000. Prices often reflect the lot sizes, which vary greatly. “Near Four Corners, where Route 50 and 95-A intersect, it’s mostly quarter-acre lots. It spreads out from there and the majority of our area has 5-acre lots — there are also some big 10s and 20s,” Keller says. “Many people have space for horses or a greenhouse.” Homes on quarter-acre lots are usually connected to community water and sewer service, but most owners with large lots maintain their own wells and septic systems. Silver Springs has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, compared to 4 nationally.
Close schools and an on-campus Boys & Girls Club
Silver Springs’ three public schools rest along Spruce Avenue. “The schools are all together, and it creates a tighter community,” Keller says. Silver Stage Elementary School earns a C on Niche. Silver Stage Middle School gets a C-plus, and Silver Stage High School receives a B. The Boys & Girls Club runs a clubhouse on the school grounds — it offers before- and after-school programs for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade.
A few stores and restaurants, driving to Dayton or Carson for more
Silver Springs is home to two small casinos, several gas stations and a few markets and restaurants. Diners can stop by 4 Corners Coffee & More for pastries, specialty coffee drinks and sandwiches. Dollar General and Family Dollar each stock some produce and dairy products in addition to their standard offerings. “When they came to town, it drove some of the smaller markets out of business, so they started carrying more fresh things,” Keller says. “If you’re doing weekly shopping, you go to Smith’s in Dayton or drive into Carson.”
Annual Silver Springs celebrations unite the community
The community hosts several annual events that bring residents together. Silver Springs Founders’ Day celebration is held each October. “We kick it off with a big parade, and there are vendors, games, car shows and square dancing,” Keller says. “Some years, we get a carnival, and it gets extended to three days.”In December, the annual tree lighting takes place at the Silver Springs Senior Center and Community Center. “Santa Claus comes down the road in a parade of lights,” Keller says. "Then we go inside for hot chocolate and a free raffle — adults and children all end up leaving with a gift of some kind.”
Car travel and nearby career options
Silver Springs is a car-dependent community. U.S. routes 95-A and 50 connect drivers to larger cities like Fallon, Fernley and Carson City. Some residents work for nearby technology companies, including Google and Switch, which have data centers along state Route 439. In 2023, Microsoft purchased nearly 300 acres in Silver Springs, and Keller says that they’re poised to start building soon.Emergency care is available at the Banner Churchill Community Hospital, about 30 miles east, in Fallon. The Reno-Tahoe International Airport is around 45 miles northwest.
Area considerations
Sierra Nevada snow melt and seasonal rains provide water to the Lahontan Reservoir and the Carson River that feeds it. The water levels can still fluctuate greatly — in some seasons, the reservoir and river are nearly dry, and in others, flooding may occur. During the silver mining boom of the 1800s, mercury was used to refine silver ore. Traces of mercury remain in the Carson River and Lahontan Reservoir, so fishermen are advised not to consume fish caught in either body of water.
