The Legends Mall, 1310 Scheels Dr. in Sparks — a short drive east of Reno — is officially called Outlets at Legends, although not all of the shops there are actual outlet (discount) stores.
Among the outlets at Legends are Adidas, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Carter’s, Gap, Guess, Jones New York, Lane Bryant, Old Navy, Skechers and more. Non-outlet stores include Scheels, Best Buy, Bath and Body Works, Forever 21, Game Stop, Lowe's and more.
Dining at Legends ranges from cheap, fast food (Taco Bell, Subway, Popeye’s, etc.) to moderately-priced restaurants such as Olive Garden, Fuddruckers and BJ’s Brewhouse.
My family has never had real success shopping at this mall. The outlet merchandise isn’t dazzling and the non-outlet stores don’t have much that we couldn’t buy at the more conveniently-located Summit or Meadowood malls in South Reno.
History buffs and outdoor art fans, though, might appreciate the tributes to Nevada Legends scattered around the open-air Legends Mall. Plaques and sculptures honor such figures as Mark Twain, Pony Express riders and big horn sheep.
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| Mark Twain |
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| A Pony Express rider, traversing the state of Nevada |
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| Big Horn Sheep |
The Legends Web site includes links to local casinos, hotels and RV parking.
It is hard to believe that anyone would consider Legends a tourist destination, but perhaps folks who are passing through Northern Nevada or staying in Reno/Sparks for other events might enjoy a few hours looking for outlet bargains.
Very near Legends is the Sparks Marina Park. Located at 300 Howard Dr., Sparks, the park’s focal point is a small lake that came about accidentally.
The site was a gravel pit, operated by the Helms Construction Company from 1968-1995. In 1987, toxic waste was discovered at the site and a comprehensive cleanup ensued. In 1996, the City of the Sparks took over the property — by then, decontamination had been fully completed — to create a municipal park with a recreational pond. The plan was to fill the gravel pit with approximately 30 feet of water. But the Truckee River flooded in 1997, filling the pit.
Presently, the average depth of water in the lake at Sparks Marina is 60 feet. Some parts are as deep as 120 feet. As such, different areas of the lake are designated for activities including swimming, fishing, boating and even scuba diving.
In warm-weather months, the Sparks Marina Park is very busy. There are walking trails, picnic and playground facilities, volleyball courts and special events with music and other entertainment. A perfect example of making lemonade out of lemons!
For more information about Legends Mall, call (775) 358-3800 or visit http://www.experiencelegends.com/ .
To learn about the Sparks Marina Park, visit http://www.cityofsparks.us/residents/parks-and-facilities/sparks-marina .
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