Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Santa Maria Ranch

    4.0 (1 review)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Santa Maria Ranch Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Santa Maria Ranch

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Santa Maria Ranch

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Parks 280 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Blackwell's Pond Park

    Blackwell's Pond Park

    3.7(7 reviews)
    13.5 km

    It's a nice park, but it's in an HOA community. I've seen people get kicked out of it before…read morebecause they didn't live there. I don't know what the laws are about that. Otherwise it's a very nice park with good play equipment for kids of all ages. (not a wheelchair access accessible playground)

    Google maps shows this park as "Spooner/Oxbow Park", but don't let that fool you it's true name and…read moreit's history, is much more mysterious. According to the historical marker placed at this site, "In 1902 Marion Jefferson Blackwell purchased 360 acres from the State of Nevada, 556 acres of adjoining land from Sweeney's Hot Springs and a lot with a house. He raised carp and catfish to sell commercially also hay and horses. Neighbors used the ponds for swimming and ice skating. Born 1847, in Hall County, Georgia he married Nancy Amna Mayes in 1866. While living in Jamestown, California his wife died. He then moved the family to the Carson Valley near Genoa in 1895. He married Martha "Mattie" H. Willey in Yerington in 1899, then moved to Eagle Valley in 1902. He resided here till his death in 1914. His descendants continue to live in the area." Besides its rich history, the park is a small neighborhood park with a covered picnic area, a small playground, and a--I want to say walking path but it's not because it literally goes no where into the grass (srsly why is this here?), so we'll just say--some concrete. Although it's now just mostly a manicured lawn, there are still remnants of the pond in the form of two sloughs that flank the park. Cattails and blackbirds abound! Be careful where you step here, because it's difficult to discern where the ground and water meet. Also, apparently someone was murdered here in 2016 over a drug deal done awry. So, maybe avoid the place at night.

    Photos
    Blackwell's Pond Park - Blackwell's Pond Park

    Blackwell's Pond Park

    Blackwell's Pond Park - Accessible from all three sides.

    Accessible from all three sides.

    Blackwell's Pond Park - Large green area for running around, frisbee, football, etc.

    See all

    Large green area for running around, frisbee, football, etc.

    Dayton State Park - Restrooms open to the public and handicap accessible.

    Dayton State Park

    3.3(4 reviews)
    2.9 km

    I think this is a gem of a local state park. Fees are very reasonable. Good facilities, trails,…read morepicnic spots, pet friendly. I think this would make a fine family gathering. Camping is available for a fee. A "beach" area along the river perfect for fishing. We have visited several times and it is always clean. I would definitely recommend if you want a place easy to access yet you feel away from the hustle and bustle. Potentially a perfect get away spot that is not packed.

    Dayton State Park is a lovely little park with a historic background surrounding silver mining in…read morethe area. There are only 10 campsites and until Covid-19 hit, you could almost always find a spot. That's no guarantee now but I suspect visitation will subside over winter with no hookups at the park. It does get quite cold here in the winter. The sites are gravel and largely level. The first half of the loop is more tent-friendly sized spaces and the latter half have a bit more room for larger rigs. They are all surrounded by majestic cottonwoods that are utterly glorious in the fall. The tree cover is great for summer shade but a challenge if you're managing a solar setup. There are some sites that are less shaded to offset that, though. There's central water, flush toilets, and trash receptacles. The dump station is open intermittently and I've yet to understand the pattern to when it is and isn't. There are two free dump stations I'm aware of in Carson City, though -- at the Maverik (at Hwy 50 and College Ave.) and the new Golden Gate (at College Ave. and Retail Dr.) The park is split by Hwy 50 with the stamp mill ruins on the west side and the campground and restrooms on the east side. There is a foot tunnel connecting the two bits but it's a bit dicey from a safety standpoint so I'd recommend strolling to the aboveground crosswalk a little down the road. Dayton State Park is a sweet little place full of potential but largely unloved and overlooked. As a former Dayton resident, I've gotten to witness the park's challenges over time. In talking with the park supervisor about it, she acknowledged Dayton has its struggles, sometimes involving crime, and that the Nevada park system is underfunded and understaffed like most public lands departments. I've not had any issues when staying there but have witnessed some questionable activity in the day use area. It seems the tide is turning as locals have begun to reclaim it in recent months and have been putting in substantial volunteer time to freshen it up and give it the love it deserves. I'm hopeful that effort will help Dayton SP become a destination instead of just a place to stop over for the night. We're looking forward to joining in after our post-full-timer lives once we get our house built nearby. A note about fires: this is a volatile wildfire area so charcoal fires and smoking outdoors are often banned much of the year. Don't count on being able to grill in any Nevada State Park during fire seasons. Have a backup plan or support some of the local business in my little town -- Js' Oldtown Bistro on Main Street is absolutely wonderful. It's my absolute favorite restaurant but since it's off the main drag (US 50), you might not notice it. And for scrumptious tamales and other Mexican fare, The Lady Tamales is right by the park. The Pizza Factory has also delivered to us in the park if you're looking for your dinner to come to you.

    Photos
    Dayton State Park - The group area. Plenty of table space, grills, electricity- pretty sure.

    The group area. Plenty of table space, grills, electricity- pretty sure.

    Dayton State Park - Very nice trail provided by the local Scouts.

    Very nice trail provided by the local Scouts.

    Dayton State Park - Adjacent to the Carson River not sure how this is controlled as it dumped into the river.

    See all

    Adjacent to the Carson River not sure how this is controlled as it dumped into the river.

    JohnD Winters Centennial Park

    JohnD Winters Centennial Park

    3.6(5 reviews)
    9.7 km

    Great fields, easy to miss entrance from highway 50…read more In fact, I really recommend turning left at Arrowhead where you have lights. Highway 50 is SO busy, and it's scary to turn north from eastbound traffic onto Centennial Park Drive. The park sign is really small and hard to spot on Highway 50. When you enter the park, softball fields 1,2 & 3 are on the left. Keep driving past Eagle Valley East golf course, the road will turn right and take you past the tennis courts and on to fields 4, 5, 6, and 7. The upper fields have bleachers, restrooms and snack bar. The entire park is clean and well maintained. It's a pleasure to watch games here. Plenty of head in parking available. I recommend parking in the upper portion and to the right - less chance of dings and broken glass from home run balls. All traffic is one way around the fields, returns to two way at tennis courts. No dogs or alcohol allowed, but snack bar serves beer.

    Second year in a row that I have spent my Memorial Day Weekend here for Midnight Madness:…read morehttp://www.allworldsports.info/territory/northern-ca-nv/softball/Midnight-Madness/index.cfm?territory=848700385 Its 3 days of softball, all starting at midnight. If you have never been then you better plan to be there next year. Make sure you bring lots of layers, blankets (comforters are best) and they say that beer and alcohol really helps keep you warm, LoL. Any ways, back to the parks, there are 4 fields on the upper level and 3 fields on the lower level. All pretty decent fields to hit on, play on or even just practice. The only problem is that the parking can become scarce during Midnight Madness. All in all, great place, especially with the netted playground for the kids on the upper level.

    Santa Maria Ranch - parks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...