The 1862 Restaurant & Saloon offers casual fine dining and a rustic bar setting to enjoy cocktails and craft beer on tap. The name is a nod to the history of the site and the menu includes offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The ambiance really does match the setting of the Sierra Nevada, and the saloon offers live music on most Friday and Saturday nights. The property is a popular site for weddings, banquets, meetings and private parties with full services, planning expertise and several spectacular settings with awesome scenic backdrops. The specialty is fine-dining dishes like filet mignon, prime rib and signature ribs, though you’ll also find staples like salads, sandwiches and burgers.
This resort nestled into the foothills at the base of the Carson Range is renowned far beyond the Carson Valley. The original owner, David Walley, came west in search of his prosperity, drawn by the promise of the Gold Rush and the Comstock Lode. He didn't find his fortune in precious ores, but rather with the therapeutic value of natural hot springs just a mile and a half south of the town of Genoa. He purchased the hot springs and surrounding property and charged 50 cents a bath. During this same time period the Pony Express route was still going strong; it abutted Walley's property. Riders made a point to stop at the springs to soothe their aches and pains from the rigors of the long ride.
The original resort was built in 1862 and included a 40-room hotel with 11 bathrooms, a grand ballroom, a large stable, a swimming pool and several bathhouses with a resident physician and masseur. It transitioned from a spot for weary miners to relax to a place of affluent renown, drawing high-society types including Mark Twain, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and a handful of U.S. presidents. Over the years the property has had a multitude of owners and survived a devastating fire, but several of the original buildings remain on site, as does one of the original stone soaking tubs.
Steeped in this rich history, the present-day resort offers the ultimate Nevada-style spa getaway. The idyllic spot is a year-round combination of health, beauty, vitality, relaxation and resort comfort. You can bask in the most relaxing medium of your choice. The resort features five natural hot mineral springs/pools, one outdoor heated pool, one outdoor seasonal pool, steam rooms, dry saunas, a fitness room, a playground, billiards and bike rentals. Accommodations range from studio units to three-bedroom cabins with many amenities and views of the surrounding mountain scenery. The accommodations also can be purchased on a time-share basis.
