Gerlach, Nevada
Gerlach is a small census-designated place in Washoe County, Nevada, and is part of the Reno–Sparks metropolitan area. As of 2020, about 130 people live there. The town covers around 3.1 square miles, all land, and sits at an elevation of about 3,944 feet. The climate is a dry steppe type.
Gerlach was founded in 1906 during the construction of the Feather River Route of the Western Pacific Railroad. It was named after the Gerlach Land and Cattle Company, owned by Louis Gerlach, and its post office opened in 1909. The nearby gypsum town of Empire was a major local employer until its gypsum plant closed in 2011 and later reopened under new ownership in 2016. The area gained fame in 1997 when the Thrust SSC set a world speed record nearby, an achievement later revisited at a reunion in 2017. The Fly Geyser is a notable nearby attraction.
The economy in Gerlach relies on tourism, hunting, and private businesses that often operate online due to the town’s remote location. The nearby Black Rock Desert hosts events like Burning Man, which has helped boost local commerce since 1990. By 2023, the Burning Man Project owned about half of the area’s commercial property. Gerlach also hosts a UP switching station and public services provided by Washoe County, including a K–12 school and a public library on the school grounds. The town is accessible mainly via State Route 447, with several former routes (Jungo Road and others) in the area. An old dirt airfield exists but is not for public use.
Two community radio stations serve Gerlach, KFBR 91.5 and KLAP 89.5. The town has a rich history in film as well, with a few early movies shot nearby.
Quick facts
- Population (2020): 130
- Area: 3.12 sq mi (all land)
- Elevation: 3,944 ft
- ZIP code: 89412
- Area code: 775
- Located about 100 miles north of Reno
- Main road: State Route 447
- Time zone: Pacific (PST/PDT)
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:35 (CET).