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Best in Nevada: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.
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RV/tent sites (dispersed)
1 site
Instant book
Model Farm
84%
(41)Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Reviews
84% Recommend41 ratings · 37 reviews
Model Farm is great if you have pets and young children. You can camp along the pond pretty much anywhere you'd like — don't expect clearly marked sites. At Julie's suggestion, we set up camp on the south side of a small chapel, which gave us a bit of privacy, and the chapel's east side provided a wind break for cooking. That was a relief, since there was a lake wind advisory and it blew 20 mph sustained for hours each afternoon.
For the kids, the wildlife was a blast. We saw birds, ducks, geese, squirrels, frogs (thousands of them), hawks, a tortoise, and what we were later told was a Great Blue Heron — it was massive. There was a group of three ducks that would sneak into camp whenever the dogs were away or not paying attention and eat their food. Once the dogs noticed, they'd chase the ducks into the water, then come back out. It turned into a running game for both sides, ending in what felt like an uneasy truce by the end of the trip.
If dogs barking and ducks quacking bother you, this might not be the place for you. But if you came to unwind, let the dogs run around, and let the kids catch frogs, this is the place.
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Gianfranco G.
2 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2026
16 ft travel trailer · With kids ·
Model Farm
Quick stop for overnight and Julie went out of her way to ensure our accommodations worked for our needs-thanks!
Robyn L.
4 months on Hipcamp
We didnt stay, there was no signage stating where campsites were. The pond was blocked by a golf cart. We sent several messages to host- which responded 4 hours later! By then we had to find an alternative.
Extremely disappointed! No communication, no signage, no direction, no campsites. If anyone wants videos or photos, i can post / send. Highly suggest to book somewhere else.
Yes hipcamp has been notified
Stacy B.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2026
Tent · With pets ·
Model Farm
We really loved this space. It's magic is subtle--an oasis in the middle of a dry, flat stretch of land north of Reno. I don't know how it would be any other time of year, but in May there were so many birds on and around the pond--a nest of hawks with two parents and two juveniles, a wide array of ducks and five handsome ducklings, red-winged blackbirds and yellow-headed blackbirds, these little running birds that had the tiniest little running babies, doves in the trees and nesting under the bridge, also frogs and koi and yes, lots of dogs, though they are a sweet bunch for the most part. We brought our paddle board, which seemed silly for such a small body of water but turned out to be the best part. Julie was a sweet host and clearly loves her land.
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Matthew O.
2 reviews
Mixed feelings
· September 2025
Tent ·
Model Farm
This place was decent for an economic location when visiting Reno. Pyramid lake is cool.
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Evan M.
6 reviews
The Model Farm was an oasis in the desert. I’m from the East Coast and it was refreshing to camp on the pond and hear such vibrant birdlife after several weeks on the road. The site is just outside of town so it’s a convenient location to resupply if you’re on a longer trip!
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Greg R.
10 reviews
Fun night at the Model Farm. Rustic but charming, highlighted by the pond full of ducks and all the birds! Julie and Tom were flexible about where we wanted to set up - we chose across the pond as a windbreak and for more privacy. Yes, there are a lot of dogs, but after their raucous welcome, no problem with sound or interfering with our dog. Thanks for your hospitlity!
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Karol N.
15 reviews
Not recommend
· November 2024
19 ft Class A ·
Model Farm
Host was not responsive. To questions so we ended up making other arrangements- still got charged, though
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Nancy O.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
Tent ·
Model Farm
Julie's place was great.
I set up my tenr near the pond and was pleased to NOT experience any mosquitos or bugs (yes, that's always a concern for me :-). On the night I stayed, the sunset was very beautiful and added to my lovely evening. The dogs have a presence, but to me, that's a plus.
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Bruno C.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
Tent ·
Model Farm
Beautiful spot! Camped next to the pond, baby frogs jumping everywhere and ducks in the water. Bathhouse was clean and easy to get to.
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Bridget B.
12 reviews
Mixed feelings
· April 2024
30 ft pop-up camper ·
Model Farm
I have so many mixed feelings about this property. It is a great property and as advertised but as other have said...There are too many dogs running around. My wife and I like dogs and get along fine with them but sheesh. Wake up in the morning and stick your head out the trailer and there is a big brown pit staring you down the same one that growled at my wife when she tried to walk around the pond. Not cool. Now the wide variety of water fowl hanging around were excellent. But again, don't need to two little yipper dogs barking at me heading to the bathroom in the morning. Nice place though.
Tim M.
33 reviews
Recommends
· March 2024
Tent ·
Model Farm
Well, its not the Ritz, but its pretty cool - i would camp here again!
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John C.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2023
Tent ·
Model Farm
Beautiful land, friendly people, cute dogs and ducks. Really enjoyed it!
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Gabriel W.
5 reviews
Recommends
· August 2023
35 ft Class A ·
Model Farm
Beautiful farm/ camping spot located 35min north of Reno. Quiet, secluded, nice bathroom/decent shower (no hot water when we were there). Friendly host and groundskeeper. Plenty of room to set up whatever camp site you would like. We are artists heading to burning man, and needed a place to work on our sculptures before heading to playa. We had plenty of space and Julie and Tom were very accommodating. Will definitely stay again!
Josh C.
3 years on Hipcamp
Are you a nature lover? Has it always been your dream to sleep with the coyotes? Then this is the place for you! We camped at the far end of the pond next to Julie's expansive land. Throughout the night I listened to the call of the toads, the coyotes howling, the ducks quacking, and the other wildlife bristling around. It was very beautiful. Julie's backyard truly has its own ecosystem. During my morning walk, there were hundreds of adolescent toads hopping around the pond. I said hello to the ducks and watched her sweet dogs roam the land and take a dip. Julie allowed my husband and I to shower before taking off - the water was cold but refreshing. If you dislike insects, wildlife, amphibians and canines then this is not the place for you. :)
Lauren H.
7 reviews
Overall the experience was fine and the site is truly so beautiful. Our issue was that the dogs on the farm were aggressive to us / our dog. The host resolved it within a few minutes once informed. Noisy at night.
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Laura G.
3 years on Hipcamp
Gorgeous views of the surrounding area. Located in a peaceful sagebrush habitat with some wildlife. There was even a nest of owls about to fledge!
Only about 15 to 20 minutes from the supermarket and gas stations.
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Marla K.
3 years on Hipcamp
Reflecting other reviews on here, the site is not as advertised. There was a bathroom/shower area, but no running water in the sinks, toilets, nor shower, and no obvious way to turn them on. What looked like it might have been the water supply had a broken line to it. I contacted the host about this through Hipcamp, and received no reply during our stay and still haven't heard anything. I spoke to one of the tenants there, and she didn't know about the water. If there was wifi, trash, and a kitchen available none of that was obvious nor was anything about those amenities communicated to us.
Fortunately there's good Verizon coverage at the property so we were fine for internet, and we scooped up pond water to fill the toilet with, but I don't think that's what one would expect from the services listed.
Finally, it's noisy here between ducks, geese, and dogs barking, including through the night. While the listing is dog friendly, there are a handful of loose dogs (and geese) roaming the property and persistent barking (and honking) on premises, if those are things that would bother your dog (or your sleep).
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Scott J.
3 years on Hipcamp
Not recommend
· November 2022
10 ft car · With pets ·
Model Farm
I do not recommend this location. The host was so drunk/under the influence that she could not communicate with me to help me. I had to find a hotel at 8pm that night with my two dogs. Terrible experience.
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Courtney M.
2 reviews
Recommends
· October 2022
Tent · With pets ·
Model Farm
😀🙏🐶⛺🦆♥️👍😀
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Jason H.
3 reviews
Recommends
· October 2022
Tent · With pets ·
Model Farm
Great
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Jason H.
3 reviews
The host, Julie is a kind considerate person. It is a nice place, the property is spacious and the pond is calming. I can see it continuing to develop and it will be even better next year. The ducks and the dogs are nice, my dog loved it. I am very thankful. God bless you.
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Jason H.
3 reviews
I spent two lovely night camping on Julie's peaceful and serene Model Farm. I parked my pop-top VW Westfalia camper right next to the Duck Pond. I borrowed a table and some chairs and cooked right on the edge of the pond while watching the sun set. It is private, but I also met other campers nearby and we shared food and stories. Julie is very friendly and helpful with whatever needs I had. The bathroom is very nice and there are group / social areas near it that I didn't use, but look nice if you have a group of people. I checked out Pyramid Lake that wasn't too far away. I would recommend this spot if you want to get away from it all and relax in a serene setting.
Chris Z.
10 reviews
Nice spot, friendly host. The bathroom was nice and surroundings gorgeous. Our camping neighbors were a bit loud but that wasn't anything the host could do much about. Had a peaceful night here after a day touring Reno. My son was entranced by the howling coyotes!
Kari K.
4 reviews
What a wonderful stop! We loved pitching the tent beside Julie’s lake after a long day driving across Nevada. The sunset here was so beautiful. Waking up to the birds, ducks and geese was delightful, a little oasis!
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Penelope M.
4 reviews
I had such a fun stay here! Julie’s property is beautiful and so creative and eclectic. I slept next to a chapel made from a neighbor’s scraps of wood. Being in the desert North of Reno was surreal and so so cool. I was traveling alone but could have imagined this spot would be great for families and young children too.
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Liz I.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2022
19 ft travel trailer ·
Model Farm
Fabulous dog loving family, great site
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Linda C.
4 years on Hipcamp
What a delightful place to stay to start our holiday journey. Beautiful and peaceful setting. Julie, our host, could to have been a batter hostess. We had a special place by the pond and could listen to the birds all night. Very relaxing. Would definitely stay there again.
Ginny B.
16 reviews
I loved tent camping on Julie's land! The campground felt private but also comforting not being too far in the wilderness for my boys. The pond nearby was beautiful at dusk along with the ducks, birds and frogs we got to see. This was my first time camping and I would definitely return! The stars are breath taking and Julie was such a sweet and welcoming host. We had two friends join us last minute to help set up and Julie was very accomodating with this request. Even in the summer the weather felt cooler at night and the sunrise behind the mountains was worth waking up to see. We also used the boat by the pond and saw a few koi fish in the water. There is a hydrant next to the bathrooms that needs to be on for the toliets to flush just something to keep in mind. Dogs were friendly and seemed to really enjoy our company as much as we did theirs. Wifi was also pretty good which I was not expecting given the more rural area. We also had a chance to check out the chapel next to the campsite which was adorable. If you're in Nevada or close to Reno I highly recommend checking out Julie's spot!
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Sabrina G.
4 years on Hipcamp
This is a beautiful little farm and we had a lovely and relaxing time the two nights we stayed! Julie was also very nice and accommodating.
The one criticism we had is that it did feel more like remote dry camping (with a flush toilet) then what we expected based on the amenities listed. For instance, potable water, picnic tables, a kitchen, bins, WiFi, a shower. The actual spot set up for camping is just a gravel pad. We ended up asking about a table and were told we could move an event table from one part of the farm over to our camping area. We asked about water for drinking and washing dishes and she said “I guess in the bathrooms!”. Mind you the bathrooms are a walk from the camping area (you have to carry all your dishes over there) with standard bathroom sink faucets. So it’s basically impossible to actually get a dish under the water to wash it. We ended up using gallons of water to clean our dishes. There were no garbage bins provided to us. Also no kitchen we were made aware of. We couldn’t get the WiFi to work and the shower was cold. We do a lot of backcountry camping so we were not bothered, but we both felt like the listing vs reality in the amenities department was a bit underwhelming compared to other Hipcamps we’ve been to. I’m in marketing and we live by the concept of advertising less, delivering more. I kept thinking that this listing sort of does the opposite. If less was advertised we would have been super happy. It was those darn expectations.
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Kelsey T.
6 years on Hipcamp
Location
Reno, Washoe County, Nevada, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Julie B.
Joined in October 2021Things to do nearby
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