Movers in Pyramid Lake

Pyramid Lake is the large desert lake north of Sparks, and its two Census communities, Nixon at the south end and Sutcliffe on the west shore, are small, mostly owner-occupied places. The figures above show homes built in the late 1970s and early 1980s, low home values and long roads.

Two communities, two roads

Nixon has about 136 households and Sutcliffe about 141. In Nixon, 79 percent own and 89 percent of homes are single-family; in Sutcliffe, 91 percent own and only 52 percent are single-family, so manufactured homes and small cabins are common. Median home values are about $66,400 in Nixon and $55,000 in Sutcliffe, among the lowest in the service area, and median ages are 35 and 46.

Both are tiny populations, so the Census figures are estimates with a wide margin; the in-home estimate shows what your move really looks like.

Getting there

Sutcliffe is 35.8 miles from Sparks, almost all on SR 445 (Pyramid Highway), about 61 minutes in free flow. Nixon is 44.6 miles and 54 minutes via I-80, SR 447 and a short local road. Pick the route for your address; the office confirms it on the phone. Watch Nevada 511 in winter.

Tribal land and access

These communities are within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. Ask your landlord, housing office or the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe about any access rules for a moving truck before the day. The move itself stays inside Nevada under O'Brien's Nevada authority.

Desert weather and prep

Elevations run from 3,888 feet at Nixon to 4,574 feet at Sutcliffe. Summers are hot, winter wind blows across the open lake and the roads can be icy. Crews start early on warm days and pad furniture against dust. To pick a window, see the time of year to move.

O'Brien's carries boxes and wrap at the Sparks office, and vault storage is from $40 per month.

Prepare for dust and distance

Seal boxes with tape, wrap upholstered furniture and keep a few clean blankets handy. If you pack yourself, collect supplies at the Sparks office before the day. Tell the estimator how the last miles of road are surfaced, because a gravel or dirt approach changes how the crew parks and carries.