Hundreds of acres of scenic land in Nevada for sale to public

SAN FRANCISCO -- Ever dream of becoming a land baron or baroness? Reality could be closer than you imagine.

Several hundred thousand acres of raw, scenic land in Nevada are being sold to the public for the first time since the days of the Wild West.

One hundred parcels are being offered to the highest bidders in a sealed bid auction -- one of several upcoming chances for homeowners and investors to purchase property at what auctioneers contend will be below-market prices. The former railroad right-of-way land -- much of it now used for grazing -- is located within 20 miles on either side of Interstate 80 between Reno and the Utah border. Each parcel contains roughly 640 acres, the equivalent of one square mile, and mirrors the Nevada landscape. Parcels include range land, salt flats, meadows, desert and mountainous areas. Some of the land is located in developed areas like in Washoe County, and some areas are so untouched that "there are no houses for 100,000 acres," said Jeff David, president of Nevada Land and Resource Co. "This is the first time in history the public has the opportunity to own a part of this rich heritage," he said. "Considering the boom northern Nevada is enjoying -- especially in many cities along the I-80 corridor -- the timing is ideal." Minimum bids for the parcels start at $39,960 and range up to $200,000 for land backed up to national forests with snowcapped mountains. "But there's not a lot on the high end," David said. "Most of the stuff is clustered between $40,000 and $60,000." David said the auction, which he's calling the Nevada Land Rush, has generated substantial interest from people looking for potential retirement or recreational homes. "And some are speculating," he said. The land has been owned by railroad interests since the 1862 Land Grant Act. Originally, every other square mile was granted to the rail barons so that tracks could be laid through Nevada and west to San Francisco. Over the years, checkerboard sites totaling about 3.5 million acres were sold to large developers. David's firm bought the remaining 1.5 million acres two years ago. The parcels can be purchased with 10 percent down and a 15-year mortgage. The deadline for submitting a sealed bid is April 2. For a free color catalog, call 1-800-966-0610.

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