Virginia City and Reno Hot August Nights

OK, while we volunteered at the 2015 Barracuda Championship, a PGA Tour event in Reno, we did a little running around and sight seeing.

These wild horses were everywhere around the hotel in Carson City.  We were told to keep our distance as the stallions were protective of their mares and colts.

We took a train ride around Virginia City, and was treated to more wild horses and a nice narration of the history of the area and the big mines that are still in operation today.

From Wiki:  Virginia City sprang up as a boomtown with the 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode, the first major silver deposit discovery in the United States, and numerous mines were opened. At the city's peak of population in the mid-1870s, it had an estimated 25,000 residents. The mines' output declined after 1878, and the city declined. As of 2010 Census the population of Virginia City was about 855, with 4,000 living in Storey County.

I can't remember all the names of the mines and there owners then and now, but many of them are still in the hands of the descending families.

Some old workhorses from days gone by...

And more wild horses..

and of course, the RVing Beach Bums...

From the web:  Hot August Nights is a celebration of everything to do with classic cars, vintage rock 'n roll, and the American era of the 50s and 60s when cruising, sock hops, and high school proms were all the rage. Hot August Nights is a party that takes over the town during its run. Classic cars fill the streets, rock 'n roll fills the air, and entertainment galore makes Hot August Nights the premier fun festival in Reno and Sparks. Hot August Nights 2015 is the 29th anniversary of the Reno area's biggest event of the year, which will run from Tuesday, August 4 through Sunday, August 9. What began as a local party at the Reno Sparks Convention Center in 1986 now draws over 800,000 people during its run. 

Well, when you have 7500 classic cars a mere 10 miles away in Reno, you just know they'd be here one day in Virginia City, and boy were they ever.  The City opened there arms, cafes and bars, and even the parking on main street.

Again, I will share my photos of the many classic cars I was able to get my lens pointed at, but I'll keep my comments to near nil.

Wow! A '57 Nomad! And it was immaculate!

I can only imagine the blood, sweat and years these folks have put into these beautiful machines of yesteryear, not to mention the bank rolls.  And that about wraps up our visit to these most interesting cities of our American West and their storied past.  This blog was written and published contemporaneously from Cordele, GA, at the Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park.  Till the next blog, RVing Beach Bums signing off.