2055 Idlewild Dr, Reno, NV 89509

Idlewild Park

Park Description:

Idlewild Park is a 49-acre Reno park with year-round restrooms. The park is home to a number of facilities, including the California Building, the Sensory Garden at Idlewild Park, the Rose Garden at Idlewild Park, and the 53rd Whispering Giant sculpture carved by Peter Wolf Toth. Located along the Truckee River, the park offers access to the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail.

Park Amenities:

Playground, skate park, volleyball court, baseball/softball fields, swimming pool, exercise area, water play feature, rentable shelters, pathways, bike path, picnic shelters, barbecue area, and tables/benches.

Park Contact Information:

City of Reno - Parks & Facilities (775) 334-2417

Park Highlights

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Park History

Click the image to read each topic's full text!

General History

Idlewild park is a 49-acre park that was once just a few ranches owned by Bennett, Murray, and Ferris. In 1907, the property that is now Idlewild park was purchased by James Newlands (nephew of former US Senator Francis Newlands). In 1921, the City of Reno purchased this property from Newlands for $23,500.

There used to be a fish hatchery in Idlewild Park where the current day Snowflake Pavilion is now located. There also used to be carnival rides (now the Lion’s Den children's playground), an ice skating pond, a zoo (currently the Rose Garden), and (reportedly) Mark Twain's cabin (a cabin was transported in 1924 to Idlewild park from Aurora, Nevada that was reportedly Mark Twain’s. This cabin stood where there is now only an island of trees near the upper pond).

The California Building

The California Building was constructed for the 1927 Transcontinental Highway Exposition. This exposition was in celebration for the completion of the Lincoln (current U.S. 50) and Victory (current 4th street) highway crossing.

During the exhibition, the California Building hosted exhibits showcasing several areas of California. The Los Angeles exhibit featured the budding Hollywood movie industry while the San Francisco exhibit featured the ports and their tourist attractions. The Reno Arch was featured at Idlewild park for the 1927 exposition after which it was moved to its current location by the National Automobile museum. The California building is now owned by the City of Reno and is available as a rental location for events.

More information on renting the California Building can be found in the resource section below.

Wa-Pai-Shone/53rd Whispering Giant:

Idlewild Park is home to the 53rd Whispering Giant which is a statue carved by artist Peter Wolf Toth as tribute to the Washoe, Paiute, and Shoshone people of this region (which is where it derived its other name: Wa-Pai-Shone). This statue was dedicated in 1986, is carved from Douglas Fir, and stands at 17 feet high.

Peter Wolf Toth has carved 74 statues total in honor of indigenous people. He has carved at least one statue in each state as well as a few statues in Canada and one in Hungary in honor of medieval King Stephen. Peter Wolf Toth emigrated with his family from present day Hungary fleeing violence and persecution which lead to his eventual passion of carving statues in honor of indigenous people that have suffered persecution and whom he wanted to honor.

To learn more about Peter Thomas Wolf and his Whispering Giants see the reference section below.

Sensory Garden

The Sensory Garden in Idlewild Park is located next to the Lion’s Den children play area. The Sensory Garden was created by Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) and contains five planted bed sections that focus on each of the senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound).

Signs are posted at each station and describe how you can use your specific sense to interact with the garden. This garden also features fun tunnels that are created out of willow trees.

The Rose Garden

The one acre rose garden at Idlewild hosts around 200 rose varieties and over 1,750 individual roses. This garden is dedicated to Fred Gallaway (a former City of Reno horticulturist) who helped establish this rose garden. The Idlewild Rose Garden is the ONLY rose garden in Nevada to be certified by the American Rose Society.

Prior to the establishment of the Rose Garden in 1958, this area of Idlewild park was home to a children’s petting zoo (established in 1939) and before that, was the municipal zoo (built in the late 1920’s). During that time, the zoo was home to antelope, bears, pheasants, monkeys, and bison!

If you would like to see the rose garden in bloom, come between the months of June to September.

Idlewild Train

The Idlewild park train opens Memorial Day weekend. The train schedule runs Tuesday-Friday from 11am-3pm, and weekends from 11am-6pm and is open on Labor Day. After Labor Day, the train schedule is limited to weekends 11am-3pm until October 1st when it shuts down for the season. The train costs $2 per person (cash only) but children 2 years and under are free (riding on an adult lap).

The train tracks come from Virginia City and the train itself was brought to Reno by the Cihura brothers who built the train. Before landing in Idlewild Park, this train was a featured kiddy ride following the 1942 movie showing of Iron Horse in Trinidad, Colorado. The Cihura brothers then moved their train to Vallejo where it stayed as a kid ride for a number of years before being moved yet again to its’ final location in Idlewild Park. The train was formerly coal and steam powered, but was changed to a gas powered engine around 1976. The giant sequoia tree in Idlewild park was planted in Joe Cihura’s memory (who died in 1986) and stands in honor of his contribution to Idlewild park.

James D. Hoff Peace Officers Memorial

On October 22, 1988 the James D. Hoff Peace Officers Memorial was dedicated in Idlewild Park. This memorial pays tribute to the peace officers who have died during duty. James D. Hoff, whom the memorial is named after, was an undercover narcotics officer killed in the line of duty by the suspects he was investigating.

Research is still being done today to ensure that all Nevada officers that have fallen during the line of duty are honored at this memorial.

For more information on the James D. Hoff Peace Officers Memorial, see the reference section below.

Mark Twain's Cabin

In the fall of 1924, a cabin that was reportedly Mark Twain’s cabin was moved from Aurora, Nevada to Idlewild Park. The cabin stood for nearly 25 years in Idlewild Park. Nothing remains today of this cabin, instead in its place a parking lot island was built near the pond on the west side of Idlewild park.

People disagree on whether or not this cabin was in fact Mark Twain’s. The cabin was maintained for a while, during which time a wall was built around it for its protection. Unfortunately, people still dismantled the cabin for firewood and mementoes until there was nothing left but memories.

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Curious what's been seen in this park? Click the link below to see what species other have spotted!

Idlewild Park on iNaturalist

Contact:

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Want To Learn More?

References & Further Info:

City of Reno Parks & Facilities Directory - Idlewild Park
Information on renting the California Building can be found here.
National Parks Service, California Building History: https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/nevada/cal.htm
Reno Historical, Photos and History of the California Building: http://renohistorical.org/items/show/105
Reno Historical: “California Building” by Mella Harmon and Alicia Barber. http://renohistorical.org/items/show/105.
“A Brief History of Idlewild Park” by Rod Haulenbeek
“Twain’s cabin was in Idlewild Park for 20 years” By Patty Cafferata
“The Little Engine That Could (in Idlewild Park!)” by Ol’ Reno Guy, Karl Breckenridge
Video clip of Idlewild Park from 1946: https://youtu.be/6m9pqKrClZ8
Food Truck Fridays: https://www.facebook.com/RenoStreetFood/

Contributor(s):

Haley McGuire (history, ammenities, etc.)

Alex Shahbazi

Last Updated:

August 26, 2022 at 6:32:53 PM

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