The city of Sparks in the Truckee Meadows of northern Nevada has quite an intriguing history. The town came into existence in the early 1900s by order of the Southern Pacific Railway Company to serve as a big switching yard. The company made a generous offer to its employees on the old yard in Wadsworth: land would be laid next to the new roundhouse, and the railroad would give everyone deed to a lot. Further to the offer, the company was willing to pack up and ship every house in Wadsworth to the new town, free of charge. And just like that, Sparks was born.

Today, the city has come a great distance from its humble railroad roots. It has gained a distinctive reputation as a leading special events venue, with annual attractions in downtown’s Victorian Square that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors. The Hometown Farmers Market, Nugget Best in the West Rib Cook-off, Hot August Nights and Hometown Christmas events are eagerly anticipated and exceedingly well-attended every year. Sparks also has a very well-designed parks and recreation system that includes numerous neighborhood parks, a range of regional sports facilities and an abundant selection of enjoyable recreational programs for children and adults alike. The Sparks Marina Park is a notable example. The nicely-sized lake is just a few miles from downtown and offers superb swimming, boating, fishing, scuba diving and picnicking. Mountain views abound from the Marina and the city of Sparks itself, which shares the picturesque Truckee Meadows with its sister city, Reno.