Rick Gunn/Nevada Appeal Part-time Carson City residents Sandra and Thomas Wallace are partners in Business and and in play. They enjoy photographing and watching wild horses.
Almost every Thursday, Thomas and Sandra Wallis drive their yellow Hummer over Donner Pass and into the driveway of their Indian Hills home.
Coming over that mountain feels akin to dropping a heavy weight, Sandra Wallis said - Bay area life behind them; Nevada's big blue sky ahead.
"When you drive down over the hill, you just sort of relax," Sandra said. "It's another planet over here."
The Wallises moved to Douglas County in June 2004 for the business opportunities in Nevada, which include low workers' compensation costs and less-expensive labor and rent. They are both in their 60s and have been in the structural steel business for more than 30 years. The couple expanded Este-Wallis Development & Manufacturing Inc. to Carson City last year.
"We used to bring work over with us, but now we use (weekends) more as recreation," said Thomas Wallis.
In addition to the steel business, the Wallises have a patent on an adjustable hinge fabricated by Mound House business Vineburg Machining for heavy metal gates.
When Californians come to Nevada, so does their business.
"Every item we use in California we purchase from here," Thomas said.
Western economic pundits say industries that leave California for Nevada isn't a big concern. They may make it over the border, but the products always come back to California. This is what makes the area economy strong, experts say.
The Wallises' plan is to downsize their Livermore, Calif., plant and grow here over the next year. The 5576 Bighorn Drive plant employs five fabricators. Este-Wallis Development takes bids in California for retailers and restaurants, fabricates items here then installs them in Northern California.
Over the border, enter a new culture
Sandra Wallis has discovered a new love in Nevada: photographing wild horses.
"It's so different and unique and very special," she said.
"In all sincerity, we didn't know there were wild horses anymore," Thomas said. "Then we were driving in Mound House, and we saw wild horses on the side of the road."
The fat horses grazed between tufts of sagebrush and pillows of snow. Wallis said the horses just stared at their Hummer and flicked their ears. She captured that alertness with a digital camera.
That moment in the gauzy mist spurred further wild-horse expeditions. Now they research wild horses and spend one day a week driving around looking for herds.
"It has turned into a hobby," Thomas Wallis said.
The couple plans to build another home in Northern Nevada, and, Sandra said wistfully, perhaps adopt a wild horse of their own.
n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
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