Located next to the park’s eastern boundary, the 1.36-acre Kinsey Property features the three-story brick Kinsey House, one of the oldest surviving homes in Nevada. Built between 1855 and 1856 for Stephen and Sarah Kinsey, the home stands as a rare example of gable-front, side-hall Greek Revival architecture in the state. Stephen Kinsey, nephew of John Reese, the founder of the original Mormon Station trading post in 1851, was an early Carson Valley settler and a key figure in establishing Nevada’s first permanent non-Native settlement.
In the late 1800s, the Kinsey family’s property, known as “Kinsey’s Gardens,” became a lively community gathering spot, hosting picnics, dances, and celebrations. Those traditions of gathering and community spirit still echo through Mormon Station’s mission today, making the property’s addition a natural fit for the park.
“This acquisition connects us to some of the earliest days of Nevada’s story,” said Bob Mergell, administrator for Nevada State Parks. “The Kinsey House represents not just architectural and cultural history. It’s an important part of Genoa and of the state itself.”
The acquisition was made possible through a partnership between the Nevada Division of State Lands, the Nevada Division of State Parks, and The Conservation Fund (TCF), a national nonprofit with a Nevada chapter dedicated to acquiring at-risk land for long-term conservation partners. Without TCF’s quick action, millions of acres of important spaces and cherished places across the country could be lost forever.
In this case, The Conservation Fund purchased the Kinsey Property on behalf of Nevada State Parks while the agency secured funding for the acquisition. During that time, TCF allowed the state parks team access to and maintenance of the property until the transfer was finalized. The final purchase was split evenly between the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Conserve Nevada Program.
“The Conservation Fund is proud to have played a role in protecting the Kinsey House, a place rich with Nevada history,” said Gavin Kakol, field representative at The Conservation Fund. “By working alongside Nevada State Parks and the local community, we’re helping ensure this historic structure not only endures, but continues to serve as a place of learning, connection, and stewardship for generations to come.”
Over the next few years, Nevada State Parks plans to preserve and restore the property in phases, beginning with structural stabilization and interpretive planning. Long-term goals include opening the Kinsey House as a historic house museum and integrating the property with Mormon Station’s existing interpretive and visitor areas.
For more information about Mormon Station State Historic Park, visit parks.nv.gov.
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