LaVere Redfield
The history of Arrow Creek Park is very interesting in that it is tied to a man described as Reno’s version of Howard Hughes…an eccentric millionaire by the name of LaVere Redfield. Unlike Hughes who was born into money, LaVere Redfield was born into a poor family but amassed millions during his lifetime through his own business prowess and penny-pinching ways. As a result, he died in 1974 leaving a substantial amount of land (including the land on which Arrow Creek Park is located) and other assets in Reno worth $70 million.
A shrewd businessman, philanderer, gambler, hoarder, and extremely frugal, LaVere initially earned his money by investing in the stock market during the Great Depression. While many people lost everything in the crash of the stock market, LaVere became fabulously wealthy. He moved to Reno from California in 1935 to avoid the personal income tax that was being put in place in that state. In fact, Nevada seized the opportunity of California’s income tax to attract millionaires to our state with a “One Sound State” campaign promoting Nevada’s lack of state income tax, corporation tax, and inheritance tax.
Once LaVere and his wife Nell moved to Reno, they purchased a large stone mansion on Mount Rose Street from where LaVere could walk to the casinos in his old flannel shirt or overalls (he didn’t want to waste money on new clothes or gas for the car).
Over the years, LaVere quietly amassed many acres of land around Reno (often in the name of his niece so as to avoid attention). LaVere’s desire to keep a low profile did nothing to keep him from being robbed several times, including one incident that landed him in the hospital in 1948. He distrusted banks and the government and frequently argued with the county over property taxes. He ended up in prison for several years when he was convicted of tax evasion in 1958. After his death in 1974, 400,000 silver dollar coins were found in the basement of his house on Mount Rose Street.
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