People Drive From All Over Nevada For The Mouth-Watering Treats At This Charming Candy Store
A screen inside this candy shop plays the famous I Love Lucy chocolate factory scene. That alone makes me want to pull over.
The treats behind the counter keep the nostalgia going. Peanut brittle comes from a third-generation family recipe, and fudge samples often wait for visitors.
Who can drive past a cabin full of taffy, honeycomb, and dipped pretzels?
The family story began decades ago with a candy-making kit and a door-to-door route. Today the shop sits along an old highway in western Nevada.
Is a bag of brittle a good reason for a detour? Plenty of Nevada road trippers say yes.
Travelers plan stops here year after year, and the shelves explain why.
So what exactly is waiting inside the door?
A Roadside Stop With Real Staying Power
Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory sits at the edge of old US-395 in Washoe Valley, Nevada. It has become a beloved local landmark between Reno and Carson City.
Drivers headed to Virginia City often make it a planned stop.
The business is active and has been marking its 90th anniversary. That is a long run for any candy shop.
Few roadside stores can claim that kind of staying power.
The roots go back even further than the Nevada location. Frank Feriance began the family candy tradition in Akron, Ohio, in 1936.
His son Dan and Dan’s wife Caroline brought the tradition west in 1983.
That means three generations of candy makers are part of the story. A shop like that earns its reputation slowly.
It is built one batch at a time.
Parking is easy, and the cabin-style building is simple to spot from the road. Plan a short break and you will see why travelers keep returning.
The place makes a road trip feel more like an outing and less like a commute.
Bring a little patience for deciding, because choices are everywhere. Your sweet tooth will do the steering.
Brittle That Will Not Break Your Teeth
Peanut brittle usually has a tough reputation. The version here is thin, crisp, and light.
It comes from an award-winning third-generation recipe.
The shop says it will not break your teeth, and that is a bold promise. It is also a big reason the brittle is a best-seller.
Plenty of shoppers describe that same easy crunch.
Fans do not stop with peanuts. The brittle lineup has included flavors such as cashew, coconut, and jalapeno peanut.
Choosing one can feel like a small quiz.
One customer in Hawaii even called it the best brittle they had ever tried. That kind of praise travels far from a roadside shop in Nevada.
It also shows how well a simple recipe can do its job.
If you cannot decide, ask about a sample first. Free tastes are part of the welcome here.
Brittle is also easy to pack for the road, which makes it a smart snack to carry along.
A bag rarely lasts as long as planned, though. Maybe buy two.
Fudge Worth The Free Sample
Walk up to the counter and a sample of fudge may be waiting. That small bite has a way of becoming a bigger purchase.
Good luck stopping at one piece.
The fudge is fresh, smooth, and creamy. Flavors include chocolate and rocky road.
Pecan divinity also shows up among the popular treats.
Fudge is one of the most talked-about items on the store’s Google listing. It sits right beside taffy and the friendly staff in popularity.
That tells you where many shoppers head first.
The candy is made with pure cocoa, fresh dairy cream, and butter. The factory also skips preservatives and extenders.
Simple ingredients keep the focus on flavor.
A slab of fudge makes an easy gift. It also makes a fine reward after a long drive through the valley.
Pick a flavor you know, then add one you do not.
Fudge keeps well enough for a trip home. Still, the ride might test your willpower.
Keep the box out of reach of the driver.
Taffy Nuggets By The Handful
Taffy gets a Nevada twist here, since the nugget name fits the state’s mining history.
The Taffy Nuggets are known for a melt-in-your-mouth texture. They are made with pure oils and extracts.
That choice gives the flavors a clean taste. It also keeps the chew soft rather than stiff.
Taffy is one of the top topics on the store’s Google listing.
Gift fans can look for the Nevada Taffy Basket. It packs the local theme into a present that travels well.
A bag of taffy is also an easy souvenir.
The shop offers a long list of flavors. One of them, huckleberry, is hard to find in the area.
Finding it feels like a little treasure hunt.
Try mixing a few flavors in one bag. Share them with the car, or keep them all for yourself.
Nobody has to know.
Taffy rewards the slow eater. Unwrap one piece, enjoy it, and then decide whether to open another.
That plan rarely holds up.
Gold Strike Chocolates For Gifting Or Keeping
Chocolate is the headline act at a place with this name. The Gold Strike Assorted Chocolates are handcrafted and individually wrapped.
That makes them neat for sharing.
Deluxe assorted chocolate boxes are on the menu of gift options. Truffle gift boxes round out the choices.
Each one is a ready-made present.
The shop also dips treats in chocolate. Pretzels, Oreos, and gummy bears are all on the list.
The chocolate-dipped pretzels are known for a good balance and a crunch that is not too sweet.
Milk chocolate malt balls give nostalgic fans something to chase. Dark chocolate gets its own attention, too.
Customers often mention it by name.
If you like a plan, start with a small box. Then add a few loose pieces for the drive.
That way you taste the range without a huge commitment.
Hand-crafting matters here because the shop avoids mass production. Each piece is made in small batches by people who know the recipes.
You can taste the care.
Caramel Popcorn And Honeycomb Surprises
Some shoppers come for chocolate and leave with popcorn. The caramel popcorn is fresh and described as addicting.
That is a risky word near a road trip.
Honeycomb is another fun find. It is made with brown sugar, molasses, and honey.
The shape resembles a bee’s honeycomb.
The crunchy candy is available in both dark and milk chocolate. It has a light bite that sets it apart from heavier sweets.
It also makes a good conversation piece.
English toffee joins the lineup, too. So do rocky road and other classic favorites.
Each treat covers a different mood.
The store carries more than candy, too. Ice cream is part of the experience, and huckleberry is one flavor that stands out.
Chocolate-dipped ice cream has drawn praise from a visitor as well.
Popcorn is a smart pick if you want something to share in the car. Honeycomb is better for the person who likes a mystery.
Pick both and everyone wins.
A Screen Playing Lucy In The Chocolate Factory
Few candy stores include a comedy classic as decor. This one plays the famous I Love Lucy chocolate factory scene on a screen.
It adds a dose of nostalgia to every visit.
The scene is about a conveyor belt that moves too fast. It fits a candy shop perfectly.
You will likely smile before you reach the counter.
The inside has a cabin-like feel. Shelves hold bulk candy, boxed chocolates, and novelty items.
A glass counter shows off more delicate pieces.
Families have stopped after watching Willy Wonka at home. A child might even look around for an Oompa Loompa.
None are on staff, but the smells make up for it.
Adults tend to get just as curious as the kids. The shop feels vintage and full of history.
It is a good place to slow down.
Take a moment to browse the whole room before you buy. The small details are part of the charm.
You might spot something you did not plan to find.
Three Generations And A New Chapter
Family businesses carry stories, and this one has plenty. Frank Feriance started with a candy-making kit in Akron in 1936.
He sold his treats door-to-door.
His son Dan and Dan’s wife Caroline opened the Nevada factory in 1983. Third-generation candymaker Eddie Feriance later took the lead.
In 2024, he sold the business to Cesar Acosta.
Acosta had apprenticed at the factory for five years. He also founded his own chocolate business earlier.
That background helps the recipes carry on.
The main candy-making kitchen is at a second location in Mound House. That site is at 56 State Route 341.
The Washoe Valley shop is the one most travelers know.
Hand-crafting remains the heart of the operation. Pure cocoa, fresh cream, butter, and roasted nuts do the work.
No preservatives are used.
That commitment makes each bite feel personal. A new owner with deep roots in the kitchen keeps the tradition going.
The next chapter looks sweet.
Planning Your Visit And Celebrating Together
The address is 611 US-395 North, New Washoe City, Nevada 89704. The shop sits between Reno and Carson City.
It makes an easy detour on the way to Virginia City.
Hours run daily from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM on the shop’s own schedule. Google lists a 6 PM close, so check before a late arrival.
A quick look ahead saves a disappointment.
Community fun is part of the picture. The 90th anniversary party had music, food trucks, bounce houses, and games.
It showed how much the shop means to its neighbors.
Gift baskets make a nice takeaway. The Nevada Gift Basket is one choice for visitors who want a local present.
Mailing orders is possible, too.
Lake Tahoe travelers and Carson City visitors both pass nearby. Many plan stops year after year.
The shop has become a tradition.
Come ready to taste and browse. Leave room in the car for a bag or two.
Your future self will thank you.