Perched high in Nevada’s Virginia Range, Virginia City combines panoramic high-desert scenery with the remarkably intact streetscape of a celebrated Comstock mining town. Residents enjoy a close-knit mountain community, four distinct seasons, and convenient access to Carson City, Reno, and the recreation of the Sierra Nevada. Its steep terrain, historic setting, and open views create a distinctive environment for carefully planned custom homes.
Why People Are Building In Virginia City, NV
Mosscreek, the Right Designer
Building a MossCreek designed home creates the perfect way to live in harmony with your surroundings. Every home is designed to fit carefully within its natural setting while offering the best in contemporary living. See “Custom Design” in our menu above to learn more about us and how we can help you realize a MossCreek designed home.
Finding a Builder
MossCreek has a network of builders that we regularly work with and would be glad to introduce you to them. We are also happy to work with the builder of your choice.
Build Here for Scenic Beauty and More
People build in Virginia City for sweeping basin-and-range views, a quiet rural atmosphere, and proximity to Northern Nevada’s employment and cultural centers. Homesites around the historic town can offer privacy, acreage, and dramatic elevation changes, while the area’s mining heritage gives the community a character unlike conventional suburbs. Thoughtful siting and design are especially important because of the terrain, weather, utilities, and historic context.
Nearby Natural Gems:
Fishing
Virginia City’s mountain setting places anglers within reach of the Truckee and Carson rivers as well as productive urban and valley fisheries around Reno, Sparks, and Washoe Valley.
Top-rated fishing outfitters and guides:
Popular fishing locations:
Museums and Galleries
Virginia City’s museums and historic sites preserve the art, architecture, technology, and personal stories of the Comstock era.
Highlights include:
Hiking
Historic roads, rugged grades, and nearby state-park trails let hikers experience the open slopes and broad views of the Virginia Range and surrounding valleys.
Popular hiking trails:
- Jumbo Grade: A rugged historic route through the Virginia Range.
- Washoe Lake State Park Trails: Valley paths with lake, wetland, and mountain views.
- Dayton State Park Trails: Short walks along the Carson River and historic mill ruins.
Shopping
Virginia City’s shopping is centered on locally owned stores along historic C Street, with Western goods, antiques, gifts, and regional art.
Top shopping destinations:
Restaurants
The local dining scene pairs the atmosphere of the historic district with Southwestern cooking, saloon fare, and casual gathering places.
Standout restaurants:
Where People Are Building In Virginia City, NV
Where People Build in the Virginia City Area
Set on the steep slopes of the Virginia Range, Virginia City offers a rare combination of National Historic Landmark character and open high-desert acreage. New construction inside the historic town is limited and subject to careful review, while the Highlands north of town provide the clearest opportunities for custom estate homes on larger parcels. Buyers should account for wells, septic systems, propane, road access, wildfire exposure, winter weather, and Storey County permitting when evaluating a site. Developments in and Around Virginia City
New Developments
- Virginia City Highlands Unit 1: One-acre homesites in an established property-owners association where owners submit individually designed new-house plans for review.
- Highland Ranches: Ten-acre custom-home parcels offering privacy, mountain views, and current build-your-own-home opportunities.
- Virginia Ranches: Large rural parcels within the broader Highlands area suited to individually designed residences and secluded estates.
Growing Neighborhoods
- Virginia City Highlands: The area’s primary custom-home growth corridor, with continuing construction across one-, ten-, and forty-acre parcels.
- Virginia Highlands: A broad acreage neighborhood characterized by varied custom architecture, workshops, equestrian properties, and open-space living.
Other New Construction Opportunities
- Virginia City Highlands Land: Community-level inventory of acreage and homesites for custom residences beyond the named association areas.
- Virginia City Historic Townsite: Limited infill opportunities where new homes must respond to the town’s historic setting and site constraints.
Where People Build in Surrounding Areas
The communities within the surrounding areas of the city of Virginia City offer additional settings for custom homes, including valley neighborhoods, rural acreage, and established regional centers.
Communities and towns to consider include:
The surrounding region includes both established neighborhoods and rural homesites, with differing requirements for water, wastewater, access, grading, and wildfire-resilient construction.
