Red Rooster Emporium A Must-See Nevada Treasure

The Red Rooster Emporium in Yerington, Nev. 

by Glenn Franco Simmons

Red Rooster Emporium is a refuge from the daily grind, a time-lapse in real time.

Located in Yerington, it is much more: a vintage antique shop that has expanded its offerings that appeal to diverse interests in antiques, collectibles and more.

At 37 North Main St. in Yerington, you will be greeted by the friendly owner and welcoming owner, Jane Montalbano. On my last visit, her daughter, Chrissy Montalbano, was there.

The business located within a historic 115-year-old building that originally served as the Farmers Bank of Yerington.

It features a blue two-story façade, with “Red Rooster Emporium” in red letters, white trim and a hand-painted rooster sign above the entrance. Its two large display windows are updated seasonally.

“The business, formerly known as Red Rooster Antiques, rebranded to Red Rooster Emporium in 2022 to reflect its expanded inventory of antiques, vintage jewelry, Western collectibles, local artisan pieces, and gift items,” according to Grok AI.

It's open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Ms. Montalbano leased the building in 2015 and opened the store on or around Black Friday 2016 after an 18-month restoration,” Grok noted.

“The project included repairing pressed-tin ceilings, refinishing original fir floors, and converting the old bank vault secured by the original 1907 Mosler safe door,” according to Grok. “Ms. Montalbano, listed as the sole proprietor in 2020 records, co-owns the business with her daughter as of 2024.”

The emporium draws locals from Yerington's population of 3,100, as well as visitors from Carson City, Fallon, the Bay Area and from many other places ~ some far away.

Its Red Rooster Emporium Facebook page could use more followers, so please visit it and like it!

The collection emphasizes Nevada history, including gold-mining tools from the Pine Grove and Ludwig districts, 1930s’ casino tokens from defunct Yerington establishments, and Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall ashtrays from before the 1960s. (Please note, some items may or may not be there.)

“On Nov. 9, 2025, the store held its ninth annual ‘Yerington Christmas Story’ open house, covered in the Nov. 13 Pizen Switch Times,” according to Grok. “The event featured a 1940s’–1950s’ holiday setup with four operational Lionel train sets around a 20-foot tree, more than 200 Shiny Brite ornaments, and mannequins in period attire sourced from the Lyon County Museum. Attendance exceeded 400 people more than four hours.”

The Pizen Switch Times also has another excellent article, which I recommend reading. If you are interested in Yerington, Mason Valley and surrounding areas, be sure to visit the nonprofit newspaper (more on that, I hope, in a future story.) It features excellently written journalistic articles.

Writer Richard Massey included in his story some of the building’s history.

“First the Bank, then Crawford’s jewelry store and beauty salon, a delicious deli, and the Bank Club Bar, before becoming a vacant store front housing theater props for the local dance studio,” he wrote in his article that has some really good photos. I recommend reading it.

Inside are roosters, many different signs for kitchens, homes, barns, etc. There are countless knick-knacks.

Red Rooster also has World War II-type era army men that are offered for free. I have one from my first of several trips there from Carson City.

The front windows showcase holiday items. The store extends hours to 6 p.m. on the two Saturdays before Christmas.

On weekdays, Jane or Chrissy typically handles transactions at the counter, using a 1930s’ National cash register.

Reviews describe the proprietors as kind and patient, with one 2019 Yelp account noting a female staff member assisting a child with vintage marbles selections.

I can attest to their friendliness.

A 2025 review highlights the owner's helpfulness in gift selection.

Coffee is available, and the 1907 bank clock on the wall maintains accurate time. Plus, sometimes the shop smells heavenly with an onion fragrance that permeates everything, thanks to some yummy fresh rolls.

“The emporium has become a local landmark, referenced in community milestones like the 2020 reopening after COVID-19 closures, when Montalbano wheeled out a 5-foot-tall metal rooster statue to signal operations resuming,” Grok noted.

A rooster remains outside. Not for sale.

The tile floor, laid in May 1915 with assistance from boxer Jack Dempsey, is the last surviving example from that era in Yerington, according to Mr. Massey’s article.

(Photos inside taken with permission. Photos © Glenn Franco Simmons. CC 4.0.)

Donkey Rides & More At Desert Rose Ranch

Big Ben Franklin, a Mammoth donkey, and Amanda at Desert Rose Ranch.

by Glenn Franco Simmons

Settle in at whimsically crafted picnic tables, hop aboard donkey-led carriage rides, try your hand at authentic gold panning, embark on artifact scavenger hunts, and admire masterful woodcarvings.

You can do all this and much more at Gold Hill’s Desert Rose Ranch.

With delights tailored for grown-ups and children alike, this enchanting Comstock oasis truly has it all.

Nestled along the historic Highway 341 on Occidental Grade, the ranch is a charming, old-school roadside gem designed to enchant visitors of all ages.

Goats, rabbits and chickens are a great way for people of any age to meet farm critters.

Even though the picturesque ranch is located a few stones’ throw from Fourth Ward School on the Truck Route (not Highway 342), this is Gold Hill, not Virginia City.

In a joint statement on their website, Paul and Amanda, a devoted husband-and-wife team, said, “We built our small ranch on top of the overburden piles from the Ward Mine which operated in the late 1800s. We are open Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and we’re looking forward to sharing all of the fun on the Ranch with you!”

A beautiful vista.

From atop the mine piles, you will enjoy priceless vistas of the serene Carson River Watershed and the majestic, purple-hued Sierra Nevada peaks in the distance.

Amanda and Paul have transformed Desert Rose Ranch into a welcoming haven complete with ample parking, open picnic areas, and endless family-friendly adventures.

A beautiful vista & a place to look for gold. All photos: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Desert Rose Ranch may use any photos for any purpose.

I have covered small communities for years, and something like Desert Rose Ranch is a one-off in my journalism (now retired) career. It really is. Local schools would be wise to tour it, if they don’t already. It really is a Comstock treasure.

Walking a short distance with Amanda, I was pleased to see a first-class donkey riding arena stocked with rescued BLM burros. The donkeys all had names and stories, Amanda said. (I would like to do a full feature or two on Desert Rose Ranch, so I’ll save what I learned for a more thorough and formal interview, so I get the names and stories accurate, if Amanda and Paul are willing.)

Carriages purchased from the Amish.

Nearby is the gentle giant Big Ben Franklin ~ a huge but gentle and Mammoth donkey ~ plus chickens, rabbits and really friendly goats.

“All donkeys but our Mammoth Jack Donkey have been adopted from the Bureau of Land Management, gentled and trained to pull wagons,” they noted on their website. “We have a smooth path that meanders around the ranch that our donkeys pull a wagon on. This is a safe, contained space to experience a wagon ride with your family and learn a little about donkeys, wagons and the Ward Mine that is also on the property.”

And those wagons? Ordered from the Amish in Pennsylvania. No, kidding. Quite amazing, isn’t it? What a special place.

Julia Bulette.

When I was there, I also saw goats, chickens and bunnies.

“All of our farmyard animals were adopted, rescued or donated and provided a safe and loving existence here at the Ranch,” they noted. “All of our small barn animals were born and/or raised around people and are very gentle. There is an intimate small barn corral where the pigs, goats, chickens and bunnies enjoy being petted and fed. The animals like to be petted and fed to each person’s comfort level.”

That corral is the perfect place for anyone of any age to go in and interact with traditional farm and/or ranch animals. Worthy of school trips, for sure.

In terms of gold prospecting, Paul found a piece of ore with some gold and gave it to me. He kindly looked at some rocks I had gathered earlier on Six Mile Canyon Road, and he said they had gold in them. He was able to tell by a small magnifying glass, but I couldn’t see it because of my eyesight. But I am sending the rocks to my twin grandsons.

The V&T, always a welcome site.

He also demonstrated how to break ore down, so be sure to ask him to show you how to do that.

Their commentary on the website also explains why such ore can be found: “We are located on a mountain of old mine tailings and overburden piles that contain quartz crystals, placer gold and a vast assortment of other rocks and minerals,” they noted. “We provide a small kit, rock identifier map of the Ranch and instructions on how to prospect on the Ranch. It is self-guided, and we are bordered on all sides by BLM land, so you have an unlimited area to explore. It is not hard to find assorted minerals including gold, but it does take some intention and patience, but it does pay off. Yes, gold is found and yes you get to keep all that you find.”

“Placer gold is a form of naturally occurring gold that has been eroded from its original hard rock (lode) source through weathering, water flow, or glacial action, and deposited in loose sediments like riverbeds, stream gravels, or alluvial plains,” according to Grok AI. “Unlike lode gold, which remains embedded in quartz veins or ore bodies, placer gold appears as flakes, nuggets, or dust in these unconsolidated deposits, making it easier to extract without heavy machinery.”

Paul is also a talented woodcarver who carved the beautiful wooden sculpture of Julia Bulette at the yummy Virginia City Canvas Café. There is an excellent Press-Democrat article about Paul that is worth reading. You may also view some of his sculptures on his Instagram page.

Roadside Mural Memorializes Judith Ann Baxter

© SSBR. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. A roadside mural. A wonderful legacy. (2024)

by Glenn Franco Simmons

A roadside mural remains colorful against the dust-kissed siding, whispering of a woman’s legacy that unfurled across decades of multiple generations.

Imagine the hands steadied, the imaginations sparked, by Judith Ann Baxter — Judy to the folks who claimed her as kin and/or friend — through her Crafty Needle & Tole, that alchemy of shop, heartbeat and hands-on community hub, pieced from the sparse digital breadcrumbs I have chased down.

I took this photo in 2024, along that lonesome two-lane stretch of US-395, where it clings fierce to the cragged Eastern Sierra Nevada’s flank, right at the sun-scorched lip of Antelope Valley’s vast, untamed sprawl.

“Judy was born in Bridgeport, CA to Roy and Betty West on March 28, 1944,” according to a Sierra Wave obituary. “She resided in the area for most of her young adulthood before briefly moving to Carlsbad, NM. Returning to Walker in 1973, she remained a friend to many of the city’s residents.

“Judy had a great love for animals and especially horses. Judy could be seen horseback riding in the beautiful Antelope Valley and participating in local gymkhanas. As a young adult, she led horseback tours around various locations in the Sierra Nevada mountains. She also worked as a dealer at Topaz Lodge before starting her own business.”

The obituary said Crafty Needle & Tole was “a staple of the community.”

“With an artistic flair, she taught tole painting for many years before branching into a professional embroidery business,” the obituary stated, adding that Judy also attended “quilting retreats with her good friends, and making intricate quilts for her loved ones.”

“The business became a cornerstone of the community, offering supplies and classes focused on tole painting — a decorative technique for hand-painting metal surfaces with floral and folk-art designs,” Grok AI stated.  “With her innate artistic talent, Judy taught tole-painting workshops for many years, fostering a sense of creativity and camaraderie among locals.”

Judy shared her life with her husband of 45 years, Don Baxter, and was a devoted mother and grandmother. At 77, she passed away in the house where she had lived for 65 years with her loving family beside her.

Even though The Crafty Needle & Tole has since closed, her influence undoubtedly left an indelible impression on many people. If you are one, please let me know in the comments.