VIRGINIA CITY – Like many of Nevada’s tourism-driven communities, Virginia City has been hit hard by the COVID-19 shutdown and subsequent halt of tourism. But tourism officials say that “it takes a lot for a Comstocker to back down.”
The small mountain town, located a 30-minute drive south of Reno, has seen its share of ups and downs, booming with the Comstock Lode and busting to a near-ghost town. This time around, the community is taking steps to ensure a vibrant recovery.
This week Visit Virginia City released “Rise,” a video intended to celebrate the historic mining town’s past and its resilience.
“There are no chain stores, franchises or corporations in Virginia City,” Deny Dotson, tourism director for Virginia City Tourism Commission, said. “Every one of our businesses is owned by people in our community. These businesses are their livelihoods and, in many cases, their homes.
“The mandated shutdowns, while necessary, have had a serious impact on our local merchants and our town’s vibrant economy. As we begin these early phases to open businesses again, our hope is the visitors who love us and those who live in surrounding communities, will help by visiting, eating and drinking, shopping, staying the night and enjoying everything we have to offer.”
Virginia City is ranked among the nation’s top twelve most distinctive destinations and with that typically welcomes more than a million visitors a year.
