Guinn summit dedication honors late Nevada governor

By Kristen Kniep  

Nevada News and Views

Drivers traveling between Reno and Carson City on I-580 may notice something new: a summit named after one of Nevada’s most respected governors.

On July 30, 2025, Rep. Mark Amodei helped unveil the newly dedicated “Guinn Summit” in honor of the late Kenny C. Guinn, who served as Nevada’s 27th governor from 1999 to 2007.

The sign, installed at an elevation of 5,361 feet, reads: “Guinn Summit — In Honor of Governor Kenny C. Guinn.”

It now stands as a permanent tribute along one of Nevada’s most heavily traveled stretches of highway, just south of Washoe Valley, where the road climbs over the mountain pass between two of the state’s biggest cities.

Amodei shared the moment in a post on X, highlighting Guinn’s impact on education, seniors, working families, and Nevada’s budget.

“He was a leader who focused on common ground, not party lines,” Amodei said during the ceremony.

A Governor Who Put Nevada First

Kenny Guinn wasn’t your typical politician.

He was a businessman and educator before running for governor — and when he did, he ran as a Republican with a moderate, problem-solving style.

Many Nevadans remember him best for starting the Millennium Scholarship program. That program, funded by tobacco settlement money, helps Nevada high school students with good grades pay for college.

It’s still going strong today.

Guinn also stood up to the federal government’s push to store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. And while some conservatives didn’t love his 2003 tax plan, others say it was a necessary move to keep the state budget balanced during tough times.

Whether you agreed with every decision or not, it’s hard to deny that Guinn cared deeply about Nevada’s future.

Why a Summit?

Naming highway summits after local leaders isn’t new.

Nevada has others, like Hancock Summit and Queen City Summit, along remote stretches of State Route 375.

But this one hits closer to home for many residents because of its location on a major corridor.

“It’s a fitting tribute,” said GOP political consultant Randi Thompson. “Thousands of people cross this summit every day. Now they’ll see his name and maybe remember what he did for this state.”

“He wasn’t flashy,” Amodei said. “But he got things done. That’s rare these days.”

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) likely handled the installation, given the presence of utility trucks and a cherry picker at the site.

While the exact decision-making process hasn’t been made public, it’s clear the dedication had support from lawmakers and state officials.

The timing — just over a week after the anniversary of Guinn’s death on July 22, 2010 — was likely intentional.

More Than a Sign

This isn’t the first time Guinn has been honored.

UNLV has a bronze portrait of him on its Pioneer Wall. The Guinn Center for Policy Priorities, now tied to the University of Nevada, Reno, carries on his focus on education and good government.

The new summit sign adds to that list, turning a piece of Nevada’s landscape into a lasting reminder of the kind of leadership that puts people before politics.

So the next time you’re heading up or down I-580 between Reno and Carson, take a glance at the sign.

It’s more than just a name. It’s a reminder of a Nevada governor who believed in service, solutions, and putting the Silver State first.