Hidden Valley isn’t quite Mayberry. But it’s close.
The neighborhood connected to Reno only by two streets — Pembroke and Mira Loma drives — resembles the setting to an Andy Griffith Show episode with its serene golf course, friendly neighbors and seclusion from the city.
This Saturday, though, the usually quiet neighborhood will bustle with bargain-hunters for the 21st annual Hidden Valley Community Garage Sale.
Nearly 200 homes are expected to participate at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Each house pays $15 to enter the community event organized by the Hidden Valley Homeowners Association. The event will also include Rosewood Lakes and the Lighthouse Baptist Church this year.
“I’ve had people from as far as Vermont ask about it,” said Sue Ehrlich, the event’s director.
In past years, everything from antiques to actual homes sold as a consequence of the Hidden Valley Community Garage Sale.
“We put a for-sale sign in our front yard the day of the event, I’d say about 18 years ago, and it sold the following week,” said Allison Dykes, who moved into another home in Hidden Valley after the sale.
Ginny Nelson, the woman who purchased the home, was informed about her future dwelling by a friend who was at that particular garage sale. Nelson remains a resident nearly two decades later.
Some garage sales even display cars for sale.
“I bought a Buick (at one of the garage sales),” said event founder Karen Johnson.
Johnson moved to Hidden Valley in 1990 from Ventura County in California. She had always loved community garage sales and felt Hidden Valley was a perfect location for the event.
“A higher-end community like Hidden Valley can provide a wide range of items for sale,” said Johnson, who started community event with 67 homes in 1990, the year she moved to Hidden Valley. “It has a great variety of items.”
Mary Savage has participated in the event nearly every year since its beginnings.
For the past few years, Savage has accepted item donations from members of the neighborhood with proceeds going to the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protective Group, a nonprofit organization that benefits wild horses in the area.
“Several houses pick organizations to donate to for the garage sale,” Savage said.
Other organizations include the Salvation Army, For Pet’s Sake, the Reno Problem Gambling Center and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.
Savage also opens a hot dog stand on the western corner of her house by Hidden Valley and Tamarisk drives for $2.50 each.
“I’ve had up to 70 people in my yard at one time,” Savage said. “It really is a popular event. Some people in the neighborhood really get involved. Others actually leave for the day because there are too many people here.
“It really is the biggest event for our tight-knit community.”