Have you ever driven by this old, dilapidated cabin in Washoe City along Old Hwy 395 and wondered about it? It's located in front of the Canine Rehabilitation Center at 555 US 395 North. Almost totally obscured now by vegetation and surrounded by a chain link fence it has been a landmark and local mystery for over 80 years. A current photo is below:
In 2012, I did a story on it for my site washoevalleyorg.org but I have unfortunately lost it to time but I'll recreate it now.
"I have been asked several times about the history of the dilapidated log cabin on hwy 395 in Washoe City. This is the one on the north side of the highway in the old Cattlemen’s Restaurant parking lot. Word of mouth was that it was built as a movie set in the old days and is not an authentic original home.
I did some light research in the old papers and only found one circuitous reference so far but it backs up the story. In November 1959 a letter to the editor was published in the form of a eulogy to a Joe Farnsworth. Joe was apparently a long time resident and ex Virginia City cop and had quite a knowledge of the local surroundings and goings-on. The letter writer related the story of the cabin as he heard it from Joe. “Son, that cabin was put up by a movie company in the war years. Why they even installed electric lights so they could take night pictures. I watched them several times and they even invited me to be an extra with good pay, because I looked more western than any of those who were taking a part in the picture. Anyhow, I refused because I was never cut out to be an actor.”
Last week I was contacted by Rhonda G. Wait who has some family photos of the cabin. These photos taken circa 1944-45 seem to show that someone actually lived in the cabin at some point. There is an addition built on, a different overhang on the porch, curtains and a driveway gate. A little girl in the front yard."
Now, in 2026, the cabin is barely recognizable and probably won't exist much longer as another sliver of Washoe City history recedes into history.
A series of photos from 2020 at the excellent Nevada exploration site Nevada Expeditions showed the cabin in a better state of "arrested decay" then:
https://www.nvexpeditions.com/washoe/washoecity.php
It's quite a testament to respect for history that it exists to this day with the Cattleman's Restaurant being built and existing for many years on the property and the Canine Rehabilitation Center stewardship.
