With Burning Man taking place soon on the Black Rock Desert, the town of Gerlach receives a lot of attention due its close proximity. Some may wonder who was Gerlach.
Gerlach was named for German immigrant Louis Gerlach (1835-1921). He came to the United States in 1853, and in 1855, located at Stockton, California working as a butcher. He would later operate his own butcher shop. Gerlach then became affiliated with the Wagner Meat Company, that raised their own cattle, along with operating a slaughterhouse. This inspired Gerlach to branch out on his own in the cattle business. In 1884, he purchased Granite Creek Ranch, near the present town of Gerlach. As his operations grew, in 1892, he incorporated as the Gerlach Land & Cattle Company. His main focus was northern Washoe County, Nevada. In 1906, Gerlach acquired the Ward Land & Stock Company for $100,000. This included over 5,000 acres, and with it such places as Bare Ranch in Surprise Valley. Thus, a nucleus of an outpost was created at what is present day Gerlach. In 1909, the Western Pacific Railroad built its railroad through the area and established a station at Gerlach, and thus the formation of the community. After Gerlach’s death in 1921, his ranching empire was slowly dissolved.