Photo courtesy Chase International Real Estate, Reno
HISTORIC HOMES
Reno’s Mansion on the Hill Reno’s Old Southwest neighborhood is as architecturally diverse as they come. From twobedroom bungalows, to sprawling ranch-style residences, to stately mansions, if you’re searching for a particular size or style of home, you’re bound to find it. The Old Southwest is also where you’ll find Reno’s king of all historic mansions, the George S. Nixon estate, sitting high above the Truckee River on California Avenue. Completed in 1907 as a statement piece for U.S. Senator George S. Nixon, this 17,964 square-foot residence sits on 2.03 acres. The Nixon family lived in Winnemucca for a number of years before starting construction on the home, paying $10,000 for the lot with construction costing another $100,000. Following his death in 1912, Senator Nixon’s wife Kate sold the home and relocated to California. Several owners and many years later, a massive fire in 1979 left the interior uninhabitable. The home sat 14
HERITAGE
vacant and in disrepair until 2002 when Carla and Harry Hart purchased the estate and meticulously restored the property inside and out. Interesting interior features of the home include eight bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, a formal dining room with seating for 60 people, butler’s pantry, a library, a ballroom, a river-view bar, and an 1,800-bottle wine cellar and tasting room. The home also includes an elevator, one of the first homes in Reno to have such a thing. Despite its impressive historic appearance, a number of modern convenices have been added. The awe-inspiring ash tree just outside the home’s main entrance is more than 100 years old and is cared for annually by the Arbor Association. This home is currently on the market for a modest $13.9 million. But with so few comps and no recent sales history, real estate website Zillow can’t even guess at the home’s true market value.
