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The Washoe City cemetery at the corner of Joy Lake Rd and Old US 395 in Washoe City is one of the last remnants of Washoe City that was once the biggest town in Washoe County in the 1860s. By the 1870s the town was already in decline and the cemetery was not far behind. But many pioneers remain there to this day.
In early 2017, Sparks resident Sam Metz contacted me about his interest in the cemetery and his research on the graves. He noted it was in bad shape and wanted to organize a cleanup. My research indicated a cleanup was down by a youth group in the 1960s. We organized and Waste Management donated a dumpster for the day. We had about 20 participants and did a great job filling the dumpster. Several descendants came by to give their thanks for the effort. After, the cemetery went back to its slumber.
This year, Brooke Laugheed of Minden noticed the cemetery and its overgrown state. She organized another cleanup on Facebook and Nextdoor which took place on March 29, 2026. The group spent hours carefully and respectfully trimming the overgrowth from the graves. They hope to make it an annual project.
In an email to southwashoe.com Brooke had this to say: "The recent cleanup at Washoe City Cemetery was a community-driven effort to help restore and preserve a historic site that means a lot to many local families and descendants. Over time, the cemetery had become overgrown, and the goal was to come together, clear brush, and make the area more respectful and accessible again.
During the cleanup, volunteers worked on cutting back overgrown weeds and brush, removing debris, and clearing pathways throughout the cemetery. We were very mindful not to touch or disturb any of the headstones due to their age and fragility.
It was really meaningful to see people come together and take pride in preserving a piece of local history. As I’ve said, “This is just the beginning. My goal is to turn this into something lasting so the Washoe City Cemetery is never forgotten again.”
This is something I would love to continue doing, possibly turning it into a regular or annual effort. I also think forming a Washoe City Cemetery Benevolent Society would be a great next step to support ongoing care, research, and preservation.
We have another cleanup scheduled for Sunday, April 12th from 7 AM to 1 PM, and anyone interested is welcome to join."
Thank you again for helping bring awareness to the cemetery and its history.
We're looking forward to another fun day of cleanup and respect for Washoe Valley's amazing history. See you there!
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