Yerington blends history and modern amenities
Yerington's access to water and relatively flat landscape brought farmers to the area in the late 1800s. In the early 1900s, a copper mine opened west of the river, and the city rapidly expanded to support the miners. Mining operations stopped in the '70s, but traces of Yerington’s history remain throughout the city, along with a blend of newer amenities. “It has some great Mexican restaurants, fun boutiques and a couple of casinos,” says Christine Newell, a Realtor with Re/Max Gold who has lived in the region for more than 35 years. “It appeals to people looking to raise a family or retire away from the hustle and bustle of big city life.”
Local shops, Mexican restaurants and a few chains
Yerington has a mix of locally owned businesses and chains. Rebellious Rosé, on North Main Street, is a combination wine bar and women’s clothing store, and the Red Rooster Emporium sells antiques. People can shop for groceries at Raley’s, a California-based chain, or at Supermarket Chapala, a long-standing, mom and pop market with an in-house butcher and taqueria. Sherry's Stage Stop Restaurant & Saloon is known for its steaks, and its wood-paneled walls and rustic decor lend a Wild West feel. Many of the sit-down restaurants specialize in Mexican food. “My daughter and I recently had lunch at El Alteño, and everything was so fresh and delicious,” Newell says. Reno, about 70 miles northwest, offers outlet malls, big-box stores and more dining options.
A variety of housing and lot sizes
Sidewalks and tree-shaded yards line many of downtown Yerington’s gridded streets. There are some private driveways, but on-street parking is relatively common. Outside of central Yerington, there are a few pockets of development, as well as more rural sections, where homes rest between large expanses of open farmland.
Housing also varies throughout the community. “Closer to downtown, there are smaller starter homes that were built for farmers and miners,” Newell says. Compact workers’ cottages and manufactured homes may sell between $150,000 and $420,000. In the $300,000 to $800,000 range, buyers might find late 1900s ranch-style houses, post-2000s homes with front-facing garages and residences on multiacre properties. “There are a few really upscale places with enough land for horses,” Newell says. Prices for these custom-built homes sometimes top $1 million.
Yerington schools are centrally located
The city’s three public schools are just a few blocks from Main Street, which allows some parents to walk their kids to school. Yerington Elementary School gets a C-plus rating on Niche, and it serves prekindergarten through fourth-grade students. From fifth through eighth grade, students may attend Yerington Intermediate School, which holds a B-minus. Yerington High School earns a C. The high school’s electives include Future Farmers of America and several performing arts classes.
City parks and indoor recreation spaces
Yerington is home to several parks, including the Joe Parr Sports Complex and Veterans Park, both along North Oregon Street. There are ballfields where Little League teams practice, playgrounds and even a skate park. During the summer, residents cool off at the Mason Valley Swim Center. “Some people love riding horses or driving around in their off-road vehicles, and there’s so much BLM land nearby where they can do that,” Newell says.
The city also has several indoor recreation spaces. The Yerington Senior Center provides opportunities for older residents to stay connected with their friends, and Boys & Girls clubhouses offer activities for young children and teens. Teenage Boys & Girls Club members also help run the Yerington Movie House, a small movie theater in the Pioneer Crossing Casino. The Yerington Theater for the Arts, in an old schoolhouse, hosts concerts and performances.
Yerington’s summer festivals feature music and rodeo
The multiday Lyon County Fair & Rodeo takes place in August, with kid-friendly competitions like mutton busting, as well as live music in the evenings. Country music fans also make their way to Yerington in July for the Night in the Country festival, which is held at a campground on the eastern edge of the city. “It’s like country Woodstock — but it’s not crazy like Burning Man,” Newell says.
Car travel along U.S. 95 ALT, and Lyon County offers transit as needed
Lyon County offers on-demand transportation to grocery stores, medical appointments and senior centers, but most residents rely on cars for travel. U.S. Route 95 Alternate is the main thoroughfare toward Reno and Fallon, both about 70 miles away. The closest major airport is Reno-Tahoe International Airport, in Reno. The South Lyon Medical Center, on South Whitacre Street, provides emergency care and local employment.
Concerns over water and soil quality
The Anaconda Copper Mine, to the west of the Walker River, is an open pit mine that was most active from the early 1900s through the late ‘70s. The pit and the land around it are now listed as a Superfund site. The EPA has tested the nearby groundwater and soil for arsenic and other contaminants, but remediation efforts are incomplete.
Another concern is water quality. In 2023, the city of Yerington detected higher-than-recommended levels of uranium in one of the city’s wells. The well was decommissioned, and in 2025, work began on a replacement well.
