Lahontan

Nearby Communities

• Fallon
• Hazen
• Silver Springs
• Stillwater

Lahontan is an unincorporated community in Churchill County, Nevada, located near the western edge of Lahontan Reservoir. The area shares its name with the reservoir and the ancient Lake Lahontan that once covered much of western Nevada during the Ice Age.

Lahontan today is primarily a rural residential area and recreational gateway, best known for its access to boating, camping, and off-road adventures around the reservoir and dam.

Quick Facts

• **Status:** Unincorporated
• **County:** Churchill County
• **ZIP Code:** Shares 89406 (Fallon)
• **Nearby Highway:** U.S. Route 50
• **Named for:** Lahontan Reservoir and prehistoric Lake Lahontan

Recreation and Natural Features

• Lahontan Reservoir – A major feature of the Newlands Reclamation Project, this man-made lake provides irrigation, fishing, and water recreation
• Lahontan Dam – Completed in 1915, the dam controls water from the Carson River and forms the reservoir
• Off-roading, hiking, and dispersed camping are popular in the surrounding public lands

Local Economy and Land Use

The area around Lahontan is mostly made up of **rural homes**, **recreation-related services**, and **agricultural fields**. Many residents work in Fallon or Silver Springs, commuting via U.S. Route 50.

History

The name Lahontan ties back to Lake Lahontan, a vast Ice Age lake that once filled this region. Remnants of the prehistoric shoreline can still be seen in the basin’s terrain. The community developed in the 20th century as part of regional water and power infrastructure tied to the **Newlands Project**.