Masonic Memorial Gardens Mausoleum & Crematorium

This is such a cool, little known place that I’m almost hesitant to review it.
Yesterday, I was showing Reno’s cemetery’s to a friend. It turns out there are several of these not far from my old SW neighborhood. I’ve been driving by this location on Stoker for more than 25 years, yet have never gone inside.
Yes, it’s a cemetery. But it’s so much more.
Whether or not you care for the Masons (I don’t particularly), you’ve got to admire the effort and money they’ve put into the grounds of this place.
Most headstones are flat, but there are a number of older, Victorian era crypts here. It would be a perfect location for filming a horror movie.
There must be 30 crypts, mostly situated around the edges of the cemetery.
When driving in, you climb a steep hill that hides the expansive grounds until you summit and are greeted by an huge expanse of park-​like grounds that go for acres and acres. I’d estimate there are at least 8 or 9 acres that continue across the sunken freeway. You cross above the freeway on a somewhat scary, narrow bridge that I’d guess is used as a shortcut by bike riders. On the North side of the freeway, a number of homes back up to these grounds, so far unpaved and undeveloped.
With our diet programs in full swing, Krista and I have been looking for out of the way idyllic spots to take walks when the weather is better. This is it!
There are perhaps 10 named and paved streets that you can drive around, so we drove the entire cemetery at about 15 miles per hour, because, you know me, I want to be sure the place is safe, or else I’ll need to get a concealed weapons permit.
Safe, safe, safe, though I’d rather go here with a buddy than alone because NO ONE IS HERE! Unless you count dead people, and I’m not one of those who can, or want to, talk to them.
I’d guesstimate that we could walk for 3 or 4 miles easily by taking a circuitous route. And, the gate is wide open to the public, so apparently one and all are welcome.
I’m Jazzed!