Bonanza Inn Then and Now

215 W Fourth Street – Reno, Nevada

The lots along Fourth Street just south of the former Reno High School were occupied by residential structures and outbuildings well into the Twentieth Century. Former Reno mayor Robert C Turrittin and his wife, Georgie, owned a two-story home at the northwest corner of Fourth and West Streets.

This property was purchased by the school district in 1936 for future expansion. The home was rented out while the district made plans for its future. At the end of 1937, the Reno High School carpentry class began renovating the house for use as a music conservatory for the school. Most of the main floor interior walls were removed to create an open rehearsal space with the second floor used for storage.

This structure survived until around 1951 when the new Reno High School was built. Having younger students at the new Central Intermediate School created a need for playground space so the children crossed the alley for recess.

Walter and Patricia Gorham purchased this land in November of 1967 as the district attempted to deal with the closed school building. In March of 1968, they announced plans to construct a four-story motel on the corner property. The Gorhams also obtained property on the north side of the alley to for use as a parking lot once the old high school was demolished.

Architect Russell H Clopine designed the motel constructed out of concrete blocks with an elevator and heated pool. The Bonanza Inn advertised as being Reno’s newest luxury motor inn with 57 deluxe king-queen bed units.

Guests at the motel, often advertised as Bonanza Motor Inn, experienced the same types of petty crimes as nearby establishments like cars being broken into and personal items stolen from rooms. Possibly the most interesting incident was when a man robbed First Interstate Bank to pay for an extra night in his room in January of 1996. He was arrested minutes after leaving the office.

I’m not privy to what took place between the Gorhams but it appears they divorced in the 1990s and Patricia kept the motel. Advertising was sparse with simple listings in various travel guides. A website was attempted but it doesn’t look like it was ever fully functional. Trip Advisor reviews were sparse but surprisingly positive. Amazingly, that small circular pool was never filled in.

The property began receiving regular citations as early as the Summer of 2012 when the City of Reno focused on code enforcement projects in the neighborhood. 2015 and 2017 were also big years. The Bonanza’s aging elevator and stairs became an issue when city codes were updated. If you’ve ever needed to repair or (God forbid) replace an elevator, you know what a nightmare that can be.

Patricia Gorham died, apparently without a will, in July of 2020. Her six children then had some serious decisions to make and they were not on the same page. Son John seemed to be the only one interested in keeping the Bonanza open. However, he said the City wouldn’t allow them to bring in any new tenants due to the access situation. That meant as residents moved on, rents continued to decline until they had no choice but to close and hold a probate sale. By this time, neighbors reported broken windows, used needles in the parking lot, and people actually staying in their cars out in the lot.

Reno Housing Authority looked at buying the Bonanza in 2022, as did developer Jeff Jacobs. He was in and he was out. And then he was in again, finally buying the property in July of 2024. As he generally does, Jacobs claimed he would rehab the facility and turn it into a housing property called The Breeze. Indeed, a permit was issued to renovate all units in June of 2025. Asbestos was detected in the walls, ceilings, flooring, and boiler so remediation was the first order of business. And the property sat.

That December, Jacobs issued another whoopsie and stated the Bonanza would have to be demolished because it was his first day as a developer and did you guys know this stuff is expensive? So another permit was issued and the asbestos was supposed to be removed by the end of January. The completion date has been extended a couple times. The plastic was still up when I stopped by at the end of February to grab some photos.

It’s no wonder so many Renoites think the fix is in after hearing the same story repeatedly and getting a completely different outcome. These developers are either insanely incompetent or they’re just straight up lying every single time. There has to be some middle ground between gentrification and slums.

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April 20, 2026 0

Oberon Saloon Then and Now

20 E Commercial Row – Reno, Nevada

Attorney Isreal B Marshall arrived in Reno on a train from Sacramento around 1868. He set up an office on Commercial Row across from the passenger depot and built a house near the Depot Hotel.

A fire in November of 1873 destroyed more than 100 buildings covering several blocks of Downtown Reno. Marshall’s place was one of them and he carried no insurance. He also invested in commercial real estate and again lost structures to fire in 1876.

Lot 6 on the south side of Commercial Row between Virginia and Center Streets was filled with a one-story brick building in late 1877. Marshall hosted dance parties in the stone basement in the Spring of 1878. In December of that year, Elia Chielovich rented the ground floor for a card room toward the back of the building and made an opening into the Wine House, which was next door to the west. The front storeroom was sublet to S. N. Davidson for his jewelry store. The drug store of John F Myers joined Davidson in the Marshall Building in the Spring of 1879.

Marshall leased the building to a variety of tenants before a new financial institution called The Bank of Nevada signed a three-year agreement in April of 1887.

The bank constructed their own quarters and vacated the Marshall Building at the end of their lease. Charles Coleman and Mark Morris moved their barbershop into the former bank in May of 1896.

Well-known saloon operator Alex Dromiack opened the Reception in the Marshall Building in August of 1898. It was referred to as a “resort,” meaning a place for “gentlemen” to meet and be merry. The Reception became known as a bit of a political hangout as well.

Judge Marshall died in June of 1899, leaving his widow Phebe to manage their commercial properties. Charles Dreyer of Napa purchased the Reception in January of 1902 but Phebe Marshall initially retained ownership of the property.

Dreyer immediately began remodeling the newly renamed Oberon inside and out. The front of the building was removed and replaced with plate glass. An elaborate back bar made of English quartered oak and mahogany was installed in the front. “Sporting rooms” were located in the rear. A grand opening event was held on March 1, 1902.

Later that month, an electric sign with flashing lights was installed outside the Oberon. It was reportedly the first of its kind in Nevada. Wine rooms were built at the rear of the building in April and a mineral cabinet was installed that August. Another brick addition was constructed in October. Dreyer bought the building from Phebe Marshall in November of 1902.

In the Spring of 1903, a second story was added to the Oberon connecting to the Louvre Lacey building to the east, which Dreyer also purchased. This space was dedicated to electric keno and assorted table games. Although the Victorian Era was essentially over, the light-colored exterior of the building was adorned with decorative moldings, gingerbread trim, and a decorative ironclad parapet. The ceiling on the first floor was also described as being ironclad but it’s possible based on the year of installation that this was actually pressed tin. The Oberon had a cigar stand and lunch counter in addition to the drinking and gambling operations.

Dreyer sold the Oberon to William Wacker and P. J. Campbell in July of 1905 but retained ownership of the property. The partnership reportedly paid $16,000 for the business and $300 per month in rent.

Crowds are shown here outside the Oberon on July 4, 1910, the day of the Johnson-Jeffries fight.

The anti-gambling law of 1909 put a damper on his income stream so Dreyer leased the full upstairs area to the Danish Society in November of 1911. This space became known as Dania Hall, which hosted meetings of Modern Woodmen of America and Women of Woodcraft in addition to various social functions.

Charles Meyer obtained Dreyer’s liquor license in June of 1913 and he transferred it to the partnership of Nels Bloch Christensen and Tobias Boel in July of 1914. Frank Mitchell, who was still running percentage poker games in the Oberon, was arrested during a police raid in September of 1915.

Mitchell testified someone named Curley paid him to run the games but it doesn’t appear prosecutors were able to discover Curley’s identity. The ordeal cost him about $1,500 and he got on with his life.

Prohibition caused the Oberon to lean further into food service.

However, the establishment wasn’t fully compliant and bartender Charles V Schmidt was shot while working at the Oberon in March of 1921. The shooting apparently stemmed from a disagreement over the poker operation and W. K. Johnson received a 10 to 20-year sentence for second degree murder.

The Oberon was raided again for selling liquor in July of 1922. Bartender Frank Smith was fined $1,500.

The bar and back bar were advertised for sale that September and that was the end of the Oberon.

Ernest and Silvio Sessa then leased the main floor for their tailoring and men’s furnishing goods business.

The new Dania Hall at Seventh and Sierra was completed in 1926, making the second floor available for lease in August of that year. Merryland Dance Hall and Danceland later occupied that space.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* August 25, 1926, 4. Newspapers.com.

Sessa and Co. held a close-out sale in November of 1927 and the building became occupied by Emil Weichert, who operated an eatery alternatively known as the Peerless Bakery and Cafe or Peerless Coffee Shop.

The end of Prohibition in 1933 signaled the return of drinking and gambling in the former Oberon Saloon.

Nels Fisher and Martin Jensen operated the Tivoli Bar until around 1940 and shared space with Star Taxi Co.

The upstairs dance hall became vacant around 1938 but the taxi company operated until around 1946. The second floor was remodeled into apartments. John Lawrence was issued a cabaret license and a permit to operate a craps game at the newly remodeled Cherokee Club in June of 1947. The club’s grand opening was on July 2.

The building also housed the Cherokee Cafe, which was operated by H. M. Messervy. Both were heavily damaged in a fire on December 11, 1948. Steve Brown, a janitor at The Den bar next door, died of asphyxiation in a stairway near his basement living quarters. Residents in the upstairs rooms were unharmed.

Building owners Jack and Barbara Jo Douglass were issued a permit for reconstruction in January of 1949 and they reopened for business that April.

The building was damaged again in January of 1950 when The Den was destroyed by a fire ruled to be caused by arson.

Repairs were made and the establishments continued operations until it became known to police that people were using firearms to play pinball at the Cherokee Club in November of 1951. That incident, combined with a series of assaults and other bouts of general unruliness, precipitated a name change to the Montana Club under the management of Joseph La Rango.

The Montana Club was shut down by the IRS due to unpaid taxes and the contents were sold in November of 1955. Palmist Madame Rosetta began solving customers’ problems in the Oberon Building around that time.

Palace Jewelry and Loan moved to 20 1/2 E Commercial Row around the middle of 1958. Those two tenants rode it out until the very end.

1977 brought plans for Harolds Club to expand along Commercial Row with a four-story red brick building housing gaming, restaurants and bars, and office space. Demolition of the old buildings, including the Oberon, began that September.

A museum on the second floor housed an extensive gun and music machine collection. The third floor was mostly dedicated to the restaurant and bar area. Some materials from the old buildings were salvaged for the new structure including the pressed tin ceiling in the Nickelodeon Bar. The general motif was described as “1905 Teddy Roosevelt.” Business offices and the employee credit union were located on the fourth floor.

The grand opening was celebrated from February 15 through March 11, 1979.

Fitzgeralds Group had an agreement in place to sell Harolds in December of 1994 but the sale took months to finalize. Buyers Emerald/American Gaming announced a massive remodeling project in March of 1995, which would connect the two Harolds structures at the west end of Douglas Alley to create a more unified appearance. The building was designed to resemble Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station, apparently since it was across from the railroad tracks.

Harolds club closed for remodeling on March 31, 1995 with plans to reopen by February of 1996. At that point, the only business operating on the property was Dick Clark’s American Bandstand nightclub on the second floor.

Plans kept changing, however, and suddenly Reno was asked to approve a huge skyway which would take up nearly an entire block, creating a tunnel over Commercial Row. Meanwhile, the financing was in shambles. Not only was there a bankruptcy but it turned out the lots where the 1970s expansion was constructed were never sold to Harolds!

Property owners weren’t paying all of the utilities with the case still stuck in bankruptcy court and that’s kind of a problem during severe weather. The Bandstand was temporarily closed by the City in January of 1998 due to malfunctioning sprinkler and heating equipment. The City had received an anonymous tip that the sprinkler system was frozen. The club had also been operating without air conditioning in the summers.

The owners were also required to provide 24-hour security because the building had been accessed by people trying to escape the cold. City officials were concerned about unhoused individuals starting fires to cook and stay warm in a huge building without any kind of fire protection in place.

Harrah’s was rumored to be interested in buying the property throughout all of this but refused to comment. However, they did hire engineers to evaluate the site in 1998. City officials confirmed the deal was in progress at the beginning of October but Harrah’s people still acted like nothing was happening.

American Bandstand finally left the building after a broken water line flooded the building on Christmas Day in 1998. They had intended to stay open for a big New Years Eve party but that had to be cancelled.

Harrah’s formally acknowledged the purchase of Harolds Club in June of 1999. They had been able to negotiate purchases of the old Commercial Row lots, including the former Oberon property, which was still owned by Jack and Barbara Jo Douglass.

The following month, Harrah’s announced the Harolds site would be demolished with asbestos removal set to begin in August. The famous Harolds mural was removed in September and donated to the City as demolition began.

The old seven-story portion of Harold’s was imploded in the early morning of December 15, 1999 for a “temporary plaza.” A gas line was ruptured, causing Harrah’s to be evacuated. Rather than falling in on itself as intended, the building broke apart and actually fell on its side. At least some of the beams had been welded rather than bolted together, making the structure much stronger than anticipated.

In February of 2000, a model was unveiled for a plaza leading to the new Harrah’s entrance at the northwest end of the complex. This provided space for live entertainment as well as food and beverage areas.

A grand opening event was held at The Plaza at Harrah’s Memorial Day Weekend in 2000. Entertainment included a free concert featuring Little Richard and a performance by The Flying Wallendas.

In January of 2020, it was announced that Harrah’s Reno was being sold to Reno City Center, LLC. The facility was ordered closed by the governor that March due to COVID and the deed was officially recorded in September of 2020. In February of 2023, Reno City Center was supposed to start construction at what they were calling the Reno City Center Courtyard. Reno City Center filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 16, 2024 with the case being dismissed on February 26, 2025. Many signs have been printed. Websites have been created and gone dark.

This is how the former site of the Oberon Saloon looks today:

After playing the developer hokey pokey in 2025, there’s supposedly a new mystery buyer for the decaying Harrah’s property…which allegedly is also not really for sale. Interior work is said to be ongoing. We shall see.

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April 6, 2026 0

Sundowner Hotel Casino Then and Now

450 N Arlington Avenue – Reno, Nevada

After the former Reno High School was demolished in 1968, the property along the east side of Arlington Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets was purchased for construction of a hotel to be owned by Lake Tahoe Inn H.K.M. Architect William Morris designed a complex which included an 11-story hotel with 349 rooms connected by a passageway to a four-story building at the south end. The restaurant, bar, and registration desk would be located in that building. This new structure would be the largest hotel in Reno at the time, beating Harrah’s by about 25 rooms.

The complex would include 300 parking spaces and construction was estimated to cost $6 million in the early stages. Financing was provided by Prudential Insurance Company of America. Initially, the developers said they wouldn’t pursue a gaming license and that turned out to be an elaborate ruse because Prudential didn’t lend to casinos.

The City received the permit application around September of 1973 with the applicants hoping to have the hotel completed in the summer of 1974. So many nopes. By that October, owners Max Hoseit, George Karadanis, and Robert Maloff had announced it would be branded as a Quality Inn but they hadn’t chosen a name. They had, however, suddenly decided to add a casino. Wink, wink.

The Sundowner Hotel opened on May 23, 1975 with plans for the restaurant and bar plus the newly considered casino to open around July 1.

The gaming license application was initially denied due to allegations Max Hoseit was involved in fraud and usury. He was also accused of polluting Lake Tahoe at one of his other job sites. Incidentally, Hoseit’s former business partner, Jack Van Sickle of Carson City, was indicted in 1969 for conspiracy to murder his ex-wife, a judge, and four attorneys…one of whom was Max Hoseit. All charges were later dropped.

A final decision was scheduled for June 26 but by that time, Hoseit had withdrawn from the corporation (Sundowner Hotel, Inc.) He was still part of Lake Tahoe Inn, which owned the property and leased it to the Sundowner. The trio successfully convinced the gaming board Hoseit wouldn’t be involved in casino operations and the application was approved in July of 1975.

Episodes of mischief plagued the Sundowner during its first summer. Someone turned on a seventh-floor firehose and left it running, causing damage to walls, ceilings, and elevators. That August, the hotel was a victim of what we now call swatting. The 911 caller said an officer had been shot in a room which ended up being vacant. The officer was at home at the time of the incident.

Reno’s biggest hotel also boasted the biggest TV screen at 4×6 feet in the Rawhide Room Lounge on the second-floor mezzanine.

Expansion of the Sundowner was announced in July of 1976. A larger 19-story tower with additional gaming space and about 250 additional hotel rooms would be constructed directly east of the south building, which would require demolition of the Star Dust Motel. It would also require water saving measures and negotiations for additional sewer allocations. That was the tricky bit.

Meanwhile, hotel guests experienced a string of robberies in their rooms. In October of 1976, two couples were bound and gagged and robbed of about $18,000 in cash and jewelry to two men with guns. They were fortunately unharmed.

The Sundowner rebranded as a Best Western in February of 1977 and demolition of the neighboring Star Dust was completed that summer. Construction began on the new tower before the sewer issue was settled. The casino addition was allowed to use the former Star Dust allotment but they did not have permission to build out all of the hotel rooms. Believe me when I tell you they built that new tower less than two inches from the back wall of the Bonanza Inn.

While all of this was happening, Prudential found out they had accidentally leant to casino operators. They threw a fit that November but there wasn’t anything they could do other than try to sell the property. Their own work was sloppy and they failed to include a clause in the mortgage stating no casino could be operated on the premises. It was an awkward time.

Back to the sewer. In December of 1977, the City told the owners they could only have 10,000 gallons per day rather than the 17,000 gallons they requested. This meant they could still build everything but could only put the number of rooms in service that would keep them from exceeding their permitted usage.

Construction worker Larry Newcomb was crushed by a lift on the jobsite and paralyzed in 1978. He later sued and was awarded $4.45 million due to the placement of the lift.

Canadian tourists were shot at in the Sundowner parking garage during a failed robbery attempt in January of 1979. The husband fought back and got pistol whipped but they weren’t seriously injured and they kept their money.

The following month, a federal grand jury subpoenaed the City’s records as part of an FBI investigation into its sewer allocation list. The new water treatment facility was still years away and property developers were all competing to get their projects approved. Lots of fingers were pointed with regard to campaign contributions and what the insurance industry calls moral hazards.

City workers also discovered more plumbing than was approved had popped up in the Sundowner expansion so they issued a stop work order until the unauthorized plumbing was removed. Architect Morris had submitted plans to switch 59,000 square feet of office space over nine floors to 162 additional hotel rooms, which required more sewer capacity. It was a whole thing and the application was rejected that April. The request was then resubmitted in June of 1979 and withdrawn in July, resubmitted again in September, and finally approved that December.

Meanwhile, progress continued with the Sundowner’s new coffee shop opening in December of 1979.

The Roundup Buffet opened on the third floor in March of 1980 followed by GK’s Steak House.

The Sundowner advertised 600 rooms by June of 1980 and a piano bar opened in the Rawhide Lounge that July. That lounge didn’t last terribly long, however, and the space became occupied by the Reno Press and Commercial Club around May of 1981.

From the time the Sundowner opened, numerous police reports had been filed due to money and property being stolen from hotel rooms. In some cases, it was asserted that a passkey was used but that was never proven. In March of 1984, that pattern came to a head when three women were robbed at gunpoint and threatened with rape in their room. The women sued because they said the Sundowner knew they had a security problem with multiple reported incidents and refused to act. Trial testimony included statistics indicating the number of burglaries at the Sundowner was more than triple the closest local hotel. The hotel was found liable in 1986 and the plaintiffs were awarded $1.3 million.

The lesson didn’t seem to stick because on March 25, 1987, police stated a passkey was used to enter 32 rooms and more than $1,100 was taken. Also in 1987, a 79-year-old woman had her hip broken during a purse-snatching incident in a hallway as she returned to her room. She was later awarded $350,000 in damages. The Sundowner’s attorney told the jury they shouldn’t award high punitive damages because the facility had “made extensive efforts to ensure the safety of patrons.” Obviously.

In 1989, Karadanis demolished the Gaslite Motel in the block west of the Sundowner for future expansion. By that time, visitors had begun to expect resort amenities and all the Sundowner really had to offer was a pool. Karadanis envisioned a live entertainment venue to complement the hotel and casino offerings.

By 1990, however, business was really slumping. That Christmas Eve, an electrical fire in an unoccupied room in the north tower ignited a mattress. Firefighters’ efforts were complicated by frozen emergency equipment. Because the sprinklers and standpipes couldn’t be used, they had to break a window and drag hoses to extinguish the fire. The room hadn’t been occupied in three days and management actually said only about 40 of the north tower rooms had been in use. They apparently decided not to heat the upper floors to save money. That created additional problems when the water used to fight the fire froze the elevator, closing the entire north tower for several days.

Reno’s continuing casino building boom, including the giant Project C complex just to the east, didn’t help matters.

Events like Hot August Nights would sell out rooms but the Sundowner couldn’t maintain that momentum throughout the year.

The hits kept coming, literally. In November of 1996, a woman was robbed of $580 in a Sundowner elevator. She was hit in the face and thrown on the floor during the ordeal. A June 1997 editorial complimented the Sundowner on their new night lighting project, which made the area look cleaner and safer. However, this didn’t do much for interior security. The following month, an elderly couple was robbed by someone who had entered their room while it was empty and waited for them to return.

The Sundowner rolled into the new millennium with enthusiasm for their upcoming 25th anniversary year. Unfortunately, that would be their last major milestone.

That November, an elderly lady was dragged off her slot chair as she tried to hold onto her purse while it was being stolen. Her knee was injured in the fall and she suffered a dislocated shoulder. If you can’t even secure your gaming floor, what are you even doing?

In January of 2001, Karadanis acknowledged publicly that the Sundowner hadn’t made money since 1995. He and Maloff had been trying to sell the property but were having trouble finding buyers, despite putting about $2 million into property and gaming upgrades over the previous two years. There was added concern about possibly having to pay additional taxes to help fund a new event center. Both men were looking forward to retirement.

Screenshot from February 5, 2001 snapshot via Wayback Machine, https://web.archive.org/web/20010205004300/http://www.sundowner-casino.com/frames.htm

That August, Bill freaking Gates played in a bridge tournament at the Sundowner and that was possibly the last fun moment in its history. Shortly afterward, the Garden Gazebo Buffet began having trouble maintaining appropriate food temperatures due to worn equipment. Advertising spending was cut drastically in 2002, dwindling to almost nothing in early 2003.

On October 3, 2003, the Gazette-Journal reported the Sundowner would be closing that December 1 due to ongoing losses. No severance was offered to the approximately 375 employees. They didn’t even allow a full month of insurance, with coverage being terminated effective October 17. This was a bit of a gut punch, especially for staff who had worked at the Sundowner for 20 years.

But then it got even worse! Most employees were told on Friday, November 7 that they shouldn’t come to work the following Monday. That shorted them another three weeks of pay right before Christmas. Several sued for lost wages due to the abrupt change.

Rumors about a potential buyer saving the day failed to materialize. A small group of employees worked to secure the building, clear out the vault, prepare financial statements, and help the Nevada Gaming Control Board with a final audit. Casino patrons were given until March of 2004 to redeem outstanding chips and tokens.

In January of 2004, it was reported that the Sundowner hotel rooms in the north and south towers could be converted into entry-level condominiums as part of a first-time homebuyer program. It was suggested that the casino areas could be repurposed as retail space. The potential buyer was not named at that time but by April developer Siavash Barmand of San Francisco was mentioned in conjunction with the deal.

The newly renamed Belvedere Towers received approval to change the zoning in July of 2004, the same month Barmand took possession of the property. Plans called for a 377-unit condominium and retail complex. Interior demo was underway in the north tower by March of 2005 and plans for the south tower were nearly completed. By August, Barmand was no longer involved with the project and Bijan Madjlessi had picked up the baton. The interior ended up needing a lot more demo than initially planned, causing the Belvedere to experience one delay after another.

Two additional floors were added to the north tower for penthouse units. By April of 2007, only 98 units had been sold, just in time for the Great Recession. The sales office kept saying the condos would be ready for occupancy in a few months but the first residents didn’t begin moving in until July 2, 2008. Advertised amenities included a heated rooftop saltwater pool and spa, movie theater, fitness center, recreation center, and business center and conference room. In addition to studio, one and two bedroom units, they also had two-bedroom penthouses listed for $850,000.

A July 29, 2008 fire, quickly determined to be arson, started on the roof of the four-story building and then went up the west and north walls of the south tower while its interior was under construction.

A little smoke infiltrated the north tower but no damage was sustained. Fewer than 15 people occupied those units and no injuries were reported. Damage to the south tower was estimated at $120,000.

At the same time, notices of foreclosure were popping up in the paper. Taxes hadn’t been paid, loans hadn’t been paid, and vendors hadn’t been paid. Trustee sale notices were posted and updated for a couple years. During that time, the City cited the management company several times for code violations. The Belvedere finally cleaned up the fire damage in November of 2010.

Multiple units were up for tax sale in April of 2011. Belvedere developer Bijan Madjlessi’s attorney, David Lonich, bought 92 of them for just under $2 million. At that time, only 80 condos were owned by individuals. Mountain Air Enterprises had purchased the unfinished south tower and a civil suit was filed over that sale.

Madjlessi was also charged with felony insurance fraud. He submitted multiple claims for the same losses netting almost $1.5 million. The arson case was still open at that time. He received the insurance money and then failed to make building repairs for two years. Madjlessi also defaulted on a huge development in Petaluma, California around that time. The insurance fraud trial was scheduled for October 28, 2014.

Madjlessi, Attorney Lonich, and two former bank executives were arrested in April of 2014 for fraud related to construction loans on the Belvedere. Before any of these charges could be resolved, Madjlessi was killed in a automobile crash in May of 2014. His body was found in his car 400 feet down an embankment after his family reported him missing. He had been wearing his seatbelt, had no drugs or alcohol in his system, and there was no evidence of suicide or foul play so his death was ruled accidental. The surviving three men were convicted in 2017.

While the condos in the north tower seem to have done fairly well, the south tower was never completed. It has changed hands a few times but no one has been able to solidify any plans. In 2022, the Reno Housing Authority looked at it as a potential spot for affordable housing. Unresponsive owners were blamed for the lack of progress but the building has been decaying for quite some time. I found a listing which stated the casino floors were demolished as well as two hotel floors. It probably needs to have elevators replaced as well as the roof and HVAC but hey, it comes with 255 keys!

This is how the site of the former Sundowner Hotel Casino looks today:

Photo by Anna King
Photo by Anna King
Photo by Anna King
Photo by Anna King
Photo by Anna King

If you’re interested in seeing the condo interiors, there are loads of listings on Zillow and other real estate websites. They look quite nice, if maybe a bit on the small side. Some residents have complained about a lack of responsiveness from the management company and there has been some turnover on the condo association board.

The Sundowner sign is still painted on the east side of the south tower advertising the Best Rest in the West! I saw a rumor a few weeks ago that the south tower was being torn down to create more parking but with all of the lots nearby already sitting empty, that seems insane. No permits are popping up on the County website so I’ll believe it when I see it. The last listing I saw had an asking price of nearly $17 million. Bananas.

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March 23, 2026 0

Reno High School Then and Now

447 West St. – Reno, Nevada

In 1878, Reno’s school system consisted of Bishop Whitaker’s School for Girls on Eighth Street, Mount St. Mary’s Academy on Center Street, and a public school at First and Sierra Streets. The school district recognized the need for expansion and passed a resolution in March of that year to explore options for new schoolhouses both north and south of the river.

The building at First and Sierra was in poor condition and the site for its replacement consisted of just over half a block between what was then Chestnut (now Arlington) and West Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets.

The purchase was finalized in March of 1879.

Reno Savings Bank agreed to purchase approximately $20,000 of school bonds to fund construction. The district approved plans submitted by architect A. A. Cook of Sacramento on August 2, 1879.

Bids were solicited the following week and the contract was awarded to I. T. Benham, who was expected to finish construction by January 1, 1880. That was most definitely not going to happen. Benham was tasked with building a two-story brick schoolhouse with a basement containing eight classrooms with a tower and mansard roof.

Daily Nevada State Journal, October 5, 1879, 3. Newspapers.com.

The corner stone was laid on October 4, 1879 but construction was delayed by severe weather throughout the winter. Finally, the tower and mansard roof were painted reddish brown with gray accents. Redwood exterior trim was painted gray and the interior was finished with stained sugar pine. Furniture, including seating for 408 students, was ordered in August of 1880. The bell was moved from the old building on August 13. A public open house was held the weekend before the new term began on September 6, 1880.

This school initially housed all grades so classes for the smaller children were located on the main floor. High school classes were held upstairs with some math classes in the basement. The basement also had a sort of makeshift science laboratory. It appears a wood outhouse was constructed at the south end of the property adjacent to the alley.

As the district grew, this building became known as Central School. The facility itself also grew. By early 1894, the schoolhouse was completely overcrowded and the district acknowledged a need for more space. An additional $10,000 bond issue was approved by voters in December of that year. A four-room annex was added to the north end of the building in 1895.

It didn’t take long for this expanded building to once again run out of room. By January of 1904, the small bookkeeping room was used as a classroom and the principal’s office was used as a recitation room. Central School had also fallen into disrepair. In May of 1906, pupil Mildred Holcolm’s shoulder was struck and bruised by falling plaster.

That December, the City of Reno’s health officer delivered a scathing report on the state of the Central building in particular, noting the presence of leaky sewer pipes among other hazards.

A special election was held in October of 1908 and voters approved a $100,000 bond issue to make improvements across the district. However, no immediate action was taken. In August of 1909, Judge William D Jones called the Central School building “…an eyesore, a menace and a disgrace to the citizens of Reno.” School board President Dr. M. R. Walker said the building was a “death trap” due to the poor condition of the building as well as the severe overcrowding.

The district finally advertised for plans in December of 1910. The following January, the school board had SIXTEEN architects submit plans for review. George A Ferris was the successful candidate.

As students were finishing up their last year in the Central School building, a fire broke out in a basement laboratory in May of 1911. No injuries were reported.

Despite all of this, the school continued to operate with the last class finishing up closing exercises in June of 1911. Contractor W. G. McGinty began demolition that summer. During construction, displaced students were temporarily relocated to other properties throughout Reno. The cornerstone was laid on November 25, 1911. Building was temporarily halted in January of 1912 due to a strike by bricklayers. Labor stoppages continued throughout the spring.

In July of 1912, the Gray, Reid, Wright Co. was awarded the contract for equipping the science labs and manual training areas. The school was meant to be completed in time for the fall term in September but students reported to Whitaker Hall on Seminary Hill as finishing work continued.

The new high school reportedly cost $140,000 to $150,000, depending on the source, and was constructed in the Spanish Renaissance style. The structure was in the shape of an E with a planned capacity of around 500 students. Exterior brick was finished with white cement and colored tiles.

Interior woodwork was slash-grained Oregon fir with maple floors. The school had a 900-seat gymnatorium with a large stage and three sets of scenes. The basement held labs as well as domestic and industrial arts. Located on the first floor were offices for the high school as well as the school board and 14 classrooms plus a library and large study hall. The tower rooms were for science and geography classes.

Approximately 240 students reported to the new school on December 2, 1912 with an open house on Friday, December 13.

High School, Reno, Nev., postcard. Postmarked September 4, 1914. Author’s collection.

This postcard shows the gold lettering over the main entrance as well as the tiles with gold and light blue accents around the windows.

The building was later enlarged with an addition at the back of the building for a bigger stage and more elaborate scenery. Exterior stairs made of reinforced concrete were also added to comply with evolving fire and safety codes.

Reno continued to grow and this school also became severely overcrowded. The district began exploring locations for a new high school in the 1940s. It took about six years to complete the process but the Class of 1951 was the last to graduate from the Reno High School on West Street.

The school district dropped their traditional junior and senior high configuration for the 1951-52 school year so the old high school, in a return to its roots, was renamed Central Intermediate School. This meant elementary schools served kindergarten through fourth grade with fifth through eighth grades at the intermediate school.

Additional classrooms were added to the back of the south wing and the building eventually had a capacity of 800 students. By 1959, 830 students were enrolled and growth in the district continued. The white cement finish was painted cascade aquamarine blue in August of 1961. Brighter interior colors were also added along with fluorescent lighting. The 1960s also brought a change back to the junior and senior high school arrangement so the school was called Central Junior High School.

The building reached the end of its use with the completion of Swope Junior High School on Keele Drive in early 1966. It was left vacant that March and demolition was approved in June of 1966 but work was delayed because the district wanted the buyer to handle the demo. The large property was divided into six parcels that December and they were listed for sale by January of 1967.

As the building sat in limbo, it burned for five hours on Thanksgiving Day in 1967. All utilities had been disconnected so investigators believed it was caused by kids. Three firefighters were injured.

Demolition finally began once the structure was deemed safe enough and work was completed in the Spring of 1968.

This is how the site of the former Reno High School looks today:

Photo by Anna King
Photo by Anna King
Photo by Anna King
Photo by Anna King

It’s a shame this building had to go but there was only so much that could be done with a structure of this size and age in the 1960s. We’re extremely fortunate that techniques for repurposing these properties have become so popular, not to mention the grants and tax credits which enable them. In later posts, I will delve into the establishments which were constructed on the former Reno High School property as well as the drama which ensued.

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March 9, 2026 2

Masonic Temple Then and Now

First and Virginia Streets – Reno, Nevada

Myron C Lake, who was not a good guy, obtained Fuller’s Crossing from Charles W Fuller via trade in 1861. This land included a timber bridge crossing the Truckee River and a hotel on the south bank called Fuller House. Lake rebuilt the bridge in 1862 after it was destroyed in a flood and finagled a way to make it a toll bridge.

He continued acquiring property and the parcels on either side of Virginia Street just north of the river became known as Lake’s Reserve. A toll house stood at the north end of Lake’s Bridge on the west side of the road.

S. W. Kimball purchased the property where the toll house stood in November of 1876. He constructed a wood frame foundry and machine shop which began right at the end of the bridge and ran lengthwise along Virginia Street.

The roof was raised in the Spring of 1877 to accommodate a dance hall on the second floor. Exterior stairs at the north end led to a ticket office which patrons passed through to access the hall.

Amity Lodge No. 8 Knights of Pythias held their grand ball in Kimball’s Hall on April 10, 1877.

W. T. Remington relocated his blacksmith shop to Kimball’s building in June of 1878.

The 1885 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the building positioned between two irrigation ditches. You can click on the image to see the full sheet.

George Graves and Fred Holmes took possession of the building in September of 1888 and transformed it into the Iron Bridge Livery Stable.

By the time this photo was taken around 1890, the red stable building was already missing a porch support.

Graves sold the stable to Abe Scott in December of 1899 and it changed hands a few times before being operated by A. M. Campbell in about December of 1903. Around that time, Reno Lodge No. 13 Free and Accepted Masons bought the property. By 1905, the building was so dilapidated the lodge refused to renew the lease.

Instead, they announced plans to build a new temple on the site that January. The property was deeded to the newly formed Reno Masonic Temple Association for $10,000 in March of 1905. The existing temple was put up for sale at that time but the area lodges continued using it until the new building was ready.

Architect Henry F Starbuck of Long Beach, California was hired to design the new temple, which would have 140 feet of frontage along Virginia Street. The ground floor would accommodate five storerooms. Nine offices plus the Blue Lodge room would be located on the second floor. The third floor would hold another lodge room, a chapel with anterooms, lockers for all of the Knights Templar regalia, and a banquet room.

In May of 1905, workers began diverting a ditch crossing the south part of the property which ultimately went under part of the building. The granite corner stone was installed at the northeast corner of the building along with a time capsule on September 16, 1905. Members of various masonic organizations came from lodges all over the state. The ceremony, reportedly with a thousand people in attendance, took place after a procession of around 200 marched from the old temple to the new site in full regalia.

After requiring a rebid due to high costs, the building contract was finally awarded to W. G. McGinty on September 19, 1905. Construction took a full year to complete.

M. F. Goodwin and Company’s millinery store opened for business on Monday, September 10, 1906. Their grand opening was held the following Saturday.

The Wiley B Allen Company music store moved to the new temple that October.

W. P. Baker and W. R. Toombs opened their men’s store on October 20, 1906. No merchandise was sold at the formal event, which was planned as a social gathering with a musical program.

Nixon National Bank, of which Senator George S Nixon was rumored to be a mere figurehead, opened on the main floor November 12.

The Dalton, Clifford & Wilson Company drug store opened December 1. N. E. Wilson was Mayor of Reno at the time.

The first meeting in the new temple appears to have been held on December 8, 1906.

Office spaces were rented by Dignowity Exploration and Exploitation Company, Great Updyke Mining Company, Ramsey Consolidated, Reno-Mispah Mining Company, and Dr. Robert O’Neal.

The new temple was officially dedicated on St. John’s Day, December 27, 1906, with hundreds in attendance. Every masonic organization in Nevada had a representative present and there were many attendees from outside the state as well.

Drs. William L Samuels and J. LaRue Robinson are shown here around 1912 in Dr. Robinson’s office, which I believe was located in Room 10.

It was very common for masonic lodges and temples to have very high ceilings in the top floor ceremonial rooms as seen in this postcard. They were often decorated with opulent handstitched carpets and elaborate ceiling and wall treatments.

Tenants came and went over the decades. Nevada Bank of Commerce began moving to the building in the Summer of 1946. The main floor housed the lobby plus the coin and safety deposit vault while the trust department, bookkeeping, restrooms, conference rooms, transit department, and a customer storage vault were located in the basement. NBC officially opened November 12, 1946 and they planned to double their square footage the following year.

The bank took over the space formerly occupied by the Grey Shop around June of 1947 and interior work was completed by the end of the year.

At the same time, the temple association hired Salt Lake City architect A. B. Paulson to design an expanded modern exterior which eliminated the huge granite columns and boasted loads of plate glass. That building permit was finally issued in September of 1948 and work continued for several months.

In 1953, the temple association accepted plans created by architect Russell Mills for a four-story annex to be constructed on the west side of the temple. This annex was completed in the Spring of 1955.

Nevada Bank of Commerce relocated its trust department and some additional staff to the annex but the main part of the bank remained in the old temple.

A large section of the temple, including the bank, was destroyed by fire on August 15, 1965. The blaze was prevented from entering the annex but it did receive some smoke and water damage.

Two lodge rooms were condemned. Some retail stores were able to reopen by August 18 but the bank had to operate from its other branches. Gene Christensen’s photo studio above the bank was completely destroyed.

The temple association preferred to repair the building but since about 40 percent had been damaged, they decided a replacement was in order. To avoid disrupting Christmas sales for the remaining retail tenants, demolition was postponed until January of 1966.

NBC was able to reopen their main floor branch on February 20, 1967, before upper floor interiors were finished. The new corner stone was installed at a dedication ceremony on April 9.

Menards Ltd. reopened on April 13.

The jewelry store of R. Herz and Bro. reopened on June 1. Wilton Herz and his father, Frederick Herz, are shown below.

I should note the building had been designed so additional floors could be added for a total of eight. Clearly, that expansion never materialized.

This is how the Masonic Temple at the site of Fuller’s Crossing looks today:

The building on the corner is currently home to Brüka Theatre and Antique Angel Wedding Chapel with offices and lodge spaces on the upper floors. I liked the first structure better but this one looks appropriate in its surroundings. With so many lodge and temple buildings sitting vacant across the county, Reno is fortunate to have this one occupied and put to good use.

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January 26, 2026 0

Town House Motor Lodge Then and Now

303 W Second Street – Reno, Nevada

In July of 1889, the First Baptist Church on Second Street between Virginia and Sierra was destroyed by a fire which swept through the neighborhood. The congregation wasted no time purchasing property at the northwest corner of Second and what was then Chestnut Street.

Plans were completed in August for a wood frame structure measuring approximately 40 x 60 feet with a 100-foot spire. The new church was dedicated on May 25, 1890.

[WA-02787], [Photographs], Nevada Historical Society

At that time, the rest of the block was residential, bordering on rural. The 1890 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the church between Second Street and what would become known as Church Lane. You can click on the photo to see the full sheet.

By 1904, members of the Vietti family occupied homes north of the church and operated a blacksmith shop at 205 or 207 Chestnut Street, depending on the year and how street numbers were adjusted. Partners in the blacksmith shop included Carlo Marmo and John Bottini. This undated photo was taken after Bottini exited the business around 1917.

*Nevada State Journal,* July 29, 1956, 5. Newspapers.com.

You can click here to see a photo of this building from 1914 before Bottini’s name was covered on the sign.

The Baptist congregation received a $10,000 gift for construction of a new brick building in December of 1916. Architect Fred De Longchamps designed functional spaces to include a banquet hall, dedicated club rooms, and Sunday school rooms. Fundraising continued into the Spring of 1917 with the building contract awarded that August. Tapestry brick was supplied by Reno Pressed Brick Company. The corner stone was laid November 5, 1917.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* November 5, 1917, 3. Newspapers.com.

This photo was taken on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1918, the date of the opening service.

[Baptist Church, Reno UNRS-P2000-06-0177.tif
collection_3259], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.

Vietti Blacksmith Shop was remodeled with what appeared to be a brick veneer in 1939. The name was changed to Nevada Blacksmith and Welding Company around 1940, at which time the wood frame section of the building was extended toward the west. Around 1941, John P Sapparrat became a partner in the business. The company also sold Minneapolis-Moline and Furguson agricultural equipment.

*Nevada State Journal,* August 7, 1955, 9. Newspapers.com.

The First Baptist congregation again ran out of space and sold the property to Town House Motor Lodge, Inc., which announced plans to replace the church with an 80-unit motel in July of 1955. As this motel would require additional lots to the north of the church property, Vietti family members became shareholders of this company rather than simply selling their lots. Plans were provided by the architectural firm Russell Mills and Associates.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* July 27, 1955, 15. Newspapers.com.

A decommissioning service (pictured below) was held on January 19, 1956.

[Decommissioning Service, First Baptist Church of Reno UNRS-P1991-47-10.tif, collection_4655], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.

The replat of this block required part of Church Lane to be vacated from Chestnut to Stevenson. A construction permit was issued in February of 1956 for $473,600. The heating installation permit was issued that April and a package liquor license for the attached mini mart was granted by the city in June. Town House Motor Lodge opened on July 24, 1956. The facility included a pool which could be converted into an ice rink. It had two bridal suites and a governor suite with Italian decor. Other rooms were decorated in a Chinese style.

Chestnut Street was renamed Arlington Avenue in April of 1957, presumably to make things less confusing. This particular street had a few different names, depending on the block.

Martin B Johnston bought the Town House in December of 1962 with plans to expand and remodel. Meanwhile, the motel was robbed over and over again. Some criminals used guns and knives but a woman held up the place with either a comb or hairbrush in her pocket. She broke down in tears and gave the money back but was still arrested.

Possibly the most brazen was a man who robbed the Town House thrice in January of 1963: Once on January 1, again on January 12, and yet again on January 19. The third time was not a charm for Milton R Ross, as the clerk had reached his limit and started blasting. Ross, who was not injured by the clerk’s bullets, was arrested on May 4, 1963 and admitted to his crimes.

Town House Motor Lodge, SC7702, postcard. Natural Color by Mike Roberts, circa mid-1960s. Author’s collection.

In January of 1976, a collision at the intersection of Second and Arlington caused the car driven by F. B. Goslow (pictured below) to hit the corner of the building. Injuries to the motorists were relatively minor and no serious damage was reported.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* January 13, 1976, 2. Newspapers.com.

Ownership changes and robberies continued regularly throughout the 1970s and ’80s, with a motel clerk being pistol whipped in January of 1982.

pho003941. Neon in Nevada Photograph Collection. PH-00225. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/d1tm7209b.

In the mid-1990s, Reno experienced a glut of rooms and not enough visitors. Part of this was blamed on a lack of conventions in the area. The Town House, more specifically, began to host the type of people who snatched purses from unsuspecting tourists.

On Christmas Day 2000, a man reported to police he fell off a balcony after being chased by someone with a knife. Upon further investigation, police learned a combination of drugs and mental health issues caused him to jump off the balcony.

A drug bust in April of 2002 netted $1,000 and seven grams of crack. The motel mini mart was caught selling alcohol to a minor in February of 2003. There was another drug bust in January of 2004 with a convicted felon arrested for being in possession of a firearm among other charges. In October of 2011, a 67-year-old woman was killed when she was run over by a car in the parking lot.

The Town House was on the delinquent tax list for several years. Secundo Vita Duo, LLC bought the property in 2015 with big plans to demolish and redevelop it and several other mid-century motels. That entity transferred the Town House to Secundo Vita, LLC. in 2016 and the project stalled.

Amazingly, the motel still hosted events including the NadaDada art exhibitions throughout its decline. I believe the last year may have been 2016. In May of 2017, management hired people to dispose of mattresses and other items infested with bed bugs. New furniture was purchased. All of this was done to accommodate new residents who were being displaced from other gentrification projects in the area.

This Google Street View image from March of 2020 shows the Town House Motor Lodge with the neon sign and swimming pool long gone. This was about the time Jacobs Entertainment became involved with the property.

Town House Motor Lodge became vacant around Thanksgiving of 2020 and was demolished in February of 2021. Piles of bricks were still lying around on the empty lot that November.

Ground was finally broken on the 245 North Arlington luxury apartments in May of 2022. This building was originally meant to consist of 130 condos but construction costs caused a pivot to 60 apartments. Lease applications were accepted beginning January 1, 2025 and the grand opening was held on March 6.

This is how the site of the former Town House Motor Lodge looks today:

Generally speaking, preservation of old buildings is better than having them end up in landfills. However, this one wasn’t aesthetically pleasing and probably needed to go. I haven’t been able to find any information about what happened to that beautiful neon sign, though. If anyone knows, please drop a comment.

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January 12, 2026 0

Hotel Golden: Total Destruction

In early 1954, brothers William and James Tomerlin negotiated what ended up being a swap with Frank Hofues for the New Golden. The deed was transferred to New Golden Hotel Company on February 10, 1954 and the sale was completed that April.

The brothers were not initially interested in the gaming operations but that changed in 1955 when a license was approved for the new operators of the Golden Bank Club. The Tomerlins were listed as officers in full control of the partnership with an additional 25 limited partners.

Photo: Reno Fire Antique and Classic Apparatus, Inc.

A press conference was held November 15, 1955, at which time the Tomerlins announced they had bought out the Bank Club, casino, and restaurant lease effective December 1. The main casino and theater restaurant closed at midnight November 16 so a massive remodeling project could begin. The hotel, slot machine bar, Bank Club and coffee shop remained open and several employees were shifted over to those areas. Architects for the project were Bill Wagner and Wayne McAllister and the project was expected to cost $200,000 to $250,000.

Center Street, Reno, Nevada, BBR-49, postcard. Published by The Old Lamp Post, Virginia City, Nev. Photo by Walt Mulcahy, circa mid-1950s. Author’s collection.

A six-day closure of the Golden Bank Club occurred at the beginning of December for cleaning and redecorating.

*Nevada State Journal,* December 1, 1955, 2. Newspapers.com.

The Mardi Gras Show Lounge and Golden Casino opened May 25, 1956. Visitors were entertained by the Kirby Stone Four.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* May 25, 1956, 2. Newspapers.com.

The Malt Shop opened that August with an entrance to the Lincoln Alley. This space was designed by Frank Green with red and white stripes and white wrought iron furniture. Management was very clear about welcoming children as long as they were accompanied by an adult.

*Nevada State Journal,* August 17, 1956, 3. Newspapers.com.

Another remodeling project was announced in the Spring of 1957 which included a new cocktail lounge with a coin arcade connecting to the Mardi Gras. A new glass entrance to the Carnival Room was constructed along Lincoln Alley measuring about 44 feet along with a marquee and neon sign. The grand opening was held July 3, 1957.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* July 2, 1957, 15. Newspapers.com.

The Mardi Gras Show Lounge was redone again in April of 1959, at which time the first sunken bar was installed in Reno. This bar curved around the base of the stage to make performers visible from every seat in the house. That August, Harrah’s was rumored to be interested in buying the Golden Bank Hotel and Casino but Bill Tomerlin, who lived in a penthouse and actually grew corn on the rooftop, insisted it would more likely be the other way around.

In early 1960, the Mardi Gras was refreshed with waterfalls bookending the newly enlarged stage. At that time, the keno bar was also updated with a venetian glass mosaic. The Bank Club closed for remodeling in December of 1960. It was redone in a clash of Victorian and Rococo styling with red and gold punctuated with brass and crystal chandeliers.

Bank Club Gay Nineties Saloon and Gambling Hall opened February 3, 1961. The Tomerlins added live entertainment to this venue, where it had previously been in the lounge only. Employees wore handmade Victorian costumes, which were all different.

*Nevada State Journal,* February 18, 1961, 22. Newspapers.com.

The Girl in the Gilded Cage was unveiled at the February 24 formal grand opening, which revealed (like, literally revealed) a true commitment to the Naughty Nineties. Ragtime pianist “Nickelodeon Jimmie” Kellogg provided the entertainment.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* February 23, 1961, 23. Newspapers.com.

Hotel, casino, and lounge remodeling projects were still in progress at that time. An elaborate revolving neon sign was installed in April of 1961. It was more than 50 feet tall and was said to weigh more than 8,000 pounds.

*Nevada State Journal,* April 9, 1961, 22. Newspapers.com.

The enlarged Mardi Gras Show Lounge reopened May 11, 1961. In addition to the gilded cage, there were girls on a swing under the Roaring 20s marquee. The main attraction that season was Barry Ashton’s “Playmates in Paris” with dancers who performed nude from the waist up. It caused quite a stir. A colorful rain curtain was added across the front of the lounge stage for the production of Ashton’s “Les Girls” in November of 1961.

The Mardi Gras Show Room closed again for remodeling to increase seating capacity to around 350 on January 3, 1962. Cafe La Rue, modeled after a Paris sidewalk, opened at the beginning of March.

*Nevada State Journal,* March 3, 1962, 24. Newspapers.com.

Ashton’s “Paris Playmates of ’62” opened March 22. Three tiers had been added to allow for better visibility in the Mardi Gras Show Room. The show included dancers inside a giant champagne bottle and glasses, “brimming over with pink flesh.” Food service was also added to the three nightly shows.

*Nevada State Journal,* March 22, 1962, 7. Newspapers.com.

Twelve days later, Hotel Golden was destroyed by a deadly fire. Like the one in 1912, this blaze started in the basement. Building engineer William H Smith reported a welding tank pressure gauge exploded as he prepped furnace cleaning brushes needing new handles. Smith attempted to extinguish the flames and cut the gas and electricity before being overcome by fumes. He was treated at a local hospital. Photos: Reno Fire Antique and Classic Apparatus, Inc.

Six people lost their lives, including 20-year-old Carol Maye Snelgrove, who was a “Paris Playmates” cast member. Other victims were hotel barbershop bootblack Nathaniel Banks, guests Gertrude Holbrook, Marie Colnar, and Walter Klitz, and permanent resident Lucia Pedlar. More than 20 people, including five firefighters, were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

Jon Wagner’s YouTube page has incredible footage of the blaze.

Those dreadful metal louvers covering the windows were blamed for hindering firefighters’ efforts. Survivor Margaret McCollum claimed there was no fire alarm on the fourth floor. She credited Golden security officer Paul Gallo with saving her life by carrying her through the smoke to safety. In an interview from his hospital bed, Gallo claimed Reno firefighter Lloyd Davidson saved them both. McCollum was apparently the last guest out of the building before it fully collapsed. Gallo, left unemployed after the fire, was later arrested and charged with armed robbery and vehicle theft.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* April 3, 1962, 6. Newspapers.com.

The neighboring Dondero Building, home of Harrah’s Bingo, was demolished due to severe structural damage. Numerous lawsuits were filed against the hotel and its owners. Meanwhile, Reno building codes were changed to disallow louvers and other window coverings.

The Tomerlins hired architect Martin Stern of Beverly Hills to design a new entertainment, casino, and hotel complex. This project was planned to be constructed in multiple phases with the ground floor casino being the first priority.

*Nevada State Journal,* May 25, 1962, 1. Newspapers.com.

Construction of Phase One began in November of 1962.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* June 28, 1963, 23. Newspapers.com.

A grand opening was held in the Golden Casino’s Carnival Room on July 3, 1963 with entertainment by Buddy Greco and Helen Boice. Not even Phase One was fully completed at this time. Cafe La Rue began serving food a few weeks later and the basement barber shop opened on August 23. Plans called for a three-story parking garage above the casino and entertainment spaces and the steel framing was in place.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* July 4, 1963, 8. Newspapers.com.

Meanwhile, retired Golden bartender Charles “Chick” LaMonte had a couple fountains installed at his home which were made using glass salvaged from the demolition debris.

*Nevada State Journal,* August 8, 1963, 12. Newspapers.com.

The basement Gourmet Room opened September 26, 1963 and “Paris Playmates” returned to the Golden that October in the Carnival Room. Phase Two, the Mardi Gras Theatre Restaurant, didn’t open until June 30, 1964. Barry Ashton was back again with his new “Mardi Gras Follies” in an enlarged space with seating for 500. This floor had four tiers instead of three. The stage had a hydraulic lift, rain curtain, steam curtain, and a portable ice rink for good measure.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* May 27, 1964, 17. Newspapers.com.

Rumors that the Golden had been sold were flying by December of 1964. The Tomerlin brothers issued denials and said that was all news to them. The Mardi Gras Room was completely redecorated that month in a Japanese theme for the December 23 opening of “Hello, Tokyo.”

Work on Phase Three, the parking garage above the casino, was supposed to begin in the Spring of 1965. The steel girders for the parking levels still extended upward from the main floor. Phase Four was to cover the convention center, pool deck, and health clubs. The 24-floor hotel tower was planned for Phase Five. None of those things happened under Tomerlin ownership.

By February of 1966, rumors were again floating about the Golden being for sale. A piece in the March 16, 1966 Nevada State Journal included quotes from both William Harrah and William Tomerlin denying any agreement had been reached.

However, Harrah and the Tomerlins announced that Harrah’s had signed a five-year lease on the Golden the evening of March 28, 1966. This deal was effective April 1 and the Golden closed for business the morning of March 29. At that time, William Tomerlin stressed that it was only a lease, with an option to renew, and the brothers did not intend to sell the property.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* March 29, 1966, 1. Newspapers.com.

The Golden’s sign was removed on April 7, 1966. Harrah’s Reno Theatre Restaurant held a grand opening on June 20, 1966, which was the 20th anniversary of Harrah’s in downtown Reno. Eddie Fisher headlined the event.

*Nevada State Journal,* June 20, 1966, 2. Newspapers.com.

The former Mardi Gras became known as the Headliner Show Room.

*Nevada State Journal,* June 21, 1966, 10. Newspapers.com.

Bill Harrah announced plans for a 24-story hotel on January 10, 1968. Its design appeared to have been recycled from the plans created by Martin Stern back in 1962. In fact, Stern was rehired for the project. Construction would begin in early Spring.

Harrah’s Hotel Downtown Reno, postcard. Published by Harrah’s Club, 1969. Author’s collection.

Harrah’s 24-story tower became Reno’s tallest building. The first event to be held in the new Harrah’s Hotel was a members-only gathering of The Prospectors club on October 9, 1969 in their space on the fourth floor.

*Reno Evening Gazette,* October 10, 1969, 7. Newspapers.com.

The hotel officially opened for business the following day. At that time, work hadn’t been completed on about 40 percent of the upper floors. Danny Thomas headlined the formal dedication on November 8, 1969. Harrah’s Reno opened its new convention center on May 19, 1970.

Bill Harrah died in June of 1978 and Holiday Inn bought Harrah’s in 1980. The business has been sold and spun off and reorganized several times since then. Those corporate maneuvers are widely accessible on the interwebs. In addition, Harrah’s expanded several times to take up the better part of two full blocks downtown.

The Headliner Room was renamed Sammy’s Showroom in honor of Sammy Davis, Jr. who died May 16, 1990. Jay Leno performed the night of the dedication, April 19, 1991, with repeat performances April 20-21.

*Reno Gazette-Journal,* April 18, 1991, 68. Newspapers.com

In January of 2020, it was announced that Harrah’s Reno was being sold to Reno City Center, LLC. The facility was ordered closed by the governor that March due to COVID and the deed was officially recorded in September of 2020. Reno City Center filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 16, 2024 with the case being dismissed on February 26, 2025. There have been hard feelings and probably some strongly worded letters.

I won’t attempt to describe the cast of characters doing the partner hokey pokey in this saga. It’s extremely convoluted. As of this writing, the project has been rebranded as Revival Reno. There have been many, many plans…with jazz hands. The project had a developer, until it didn’t. Tommy Ahlquist of Ahlquist, LLC exited stage left this December. As of right now, the property sits in limbo.

This is how the site of the former Hotel Golden looks today:

I randomly selected Hotel Golden from a batch of vintage postcards with the idea that I learn a new city best by digging into its history. This choice was made with zero knowledge about the fire or its evolution into the Harrah’s property. Now that I know, I’m very interested in what happens next.

You can catch up on the first two parts of the Hotel Golden series by clicking the links below:

Hotel Golden: A Three-Story Beginning

Hotel Golden: The Prodigal Son Returns

Many thanks to Reno Fire Antique and Classic Apparatus, Inc. and the University of Nevada, Reno Special Collections and University Archives Department for graciously allowing me to use historical images in this series.

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December 29, 2025 0

Hotel Golden: The Prodigal Son Returns

The first installment of this series covered the Hotel Golden from its beginning as a three-story structure through Charles Sadleir’s tenure as Manager.

Frank Golden, Jr. served in the US Army from June 8, 1918 until August 1, 1919. After his discharge, he worked for the Vulcan Oil Company in Tiffin, Texas and also spent time in San Francisco. Golden then returned to Reno upon Sadleir’s resignation in December of 1924 to resume management of his father’s old hotel.

A young man in military uniform sitting casually, smiling at the camera. — “Frank Golden, Jr.” Reno, A Book of Short Stories and Information, by Lilyan Stratton Corbin, Colyer Printing Company, 1921, p. 269.

Another 60-room addition was completed in 1926 and the annex was remodeled and enlarged in 1929. Hotel Golden received all new walnut furniture in 1930.

The Golden’s Reichel automatic fire alarm system successfully detected a series of fires in the hotel’s metal garbage chute in the early 1930s. No damage was caused to the building from the four instances I counted.

Vintage advertisement for Hotel Golden highlighting its Reichel Automatic Fire Alarm System, detailing fire detectors in each room and direct connection to the fire department. — *Nevada State Journal,* January 6, 1933, 6. Newspapers.com.

In 1935, the old section of the Golden was modernized. At that time, the lobby shrank a bit to make room for a separate bar and an expanded restaurant and kitchen. Air conditioning was added to the lobby, bar, and dining areas.

A historical advertisement for Hotel Golden in Reno, Nevada, highlighting its amenities, including 250 rooms, modern furniture, dining facilities, and various services. — *Nevada State Journal,* June 30, 1935, 15. Newspapers.com.

Due in large part to twelve of his banks failing during the Great Depression, George Wingfield became personally bankrupt in December of 1935. Reno Securities Company was entangled in all of that as a loan guarantor, causing Crocker National Bank of San Francisco to assume ownership of the company and thus, Hotel Golden.

Historical postcard of Center Street in Reno, Nevada, featuring the Hotel Golden and surrounding buildings, with vintage cars and pedestrians. — Center Street Looking North, Reno, Nevada, 7A-H902, postcard. Published by Curt Teich & Co., 1937. Author’s collection.

In early 1937, Frank Golden became ill and was away from work for about two months. He returned toward the end of May but resigned in July of 1937. Golden expected to spend two or three months at his Lake Tahoe vacation home. He was replaced by co-managers Gordon Davey and Earl Harrington.

Crocker National Bank kept Wingfield on the payroll as what amounted to an executive manager of the Golden and Riverside hotels. On September 1, 1937, Wingfield announced he had regained control of Reno Securities Company.

Work was constantly being done on various sections of the building. The newly remodeled Golden Coffee Shop operated by William Pappas opened in June of 1939. This space seated 60 and featured a large, refrigerated show window.

Advertisement for the Golden Coffee Shop and Dining Room, featuring details about the cafe's interior and dining offerings, located in the Golden Hotel in Reno, Nevada. — *Nevada State Journal,* June 4, 1939, 11. Newspapers.com.

This photo from 1940 shows the Hotel Golden with painted friezes below the cornice. The entire brick façade also appears to be painted with spots, possibly an optical illusion.

Black and white photo of a historic street scene featuring the Hotel Golden, Northern Club, and Bank Club with vintage cars parked along the road. — [Center Street, Reno, Nevada UNRS-P1988-63-194.tif collection_4645], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.

Hotel Golden was sold to a new entity called Golden Securities Company in November of 1946. John V Mueller was President and the hotel was leased to James H Lloyd. The bar and restaurant were to be operated separately.

A newspaper clipping detailing the transfer of ownership of the Golden Hotel by Reno Securities Co. to Golden Securities Co., including information on the location of the hotel. — *Nevada State Journal,* November 13, 1946, 6. Newspapers.com.

However, Golden Securities then announced the building would undergo extensive remodeling with the lobby decorated in a western theme. Lloyd took over management of the Golden Coffee Shop effective December 1, 1946. Gordon Davey and Earl Harrington stayed on but only as managers of the Rooms Department. Lessees were only given a couple weeks to vacate the premises.

Advertisement for Goldwater Jewelry Co. announcing a forced business closure sale with items at half price, including jewelry, watches, and luggage. The notice outlines the terms and conditions related to the business closure. — *Reno Evening Gazette,* November 20, 1946, 11. Newspapers.com.

The entire transition could have been handled better.

"SORRY FOLKS" notice announcing closure of the business, expressing gratitude to patrons and indicating hope to relocate, signed by Victor Petroni, formerly of the Golden Hotel Bar. — *Nevada State Journal,* December 5, 1946, 11. Newspapers.com.

Golden Gulch, which had a bingo parlor, gaming room, and bar, opened on June 14, 1947.

Vintage advertisement for the Grand Opening of Golden Gulch Bingo at Hotel Golden, featuring game details and staff names. — *Reno Evening Gazette,* June 13, 1947, 17. Newspapers.com.

A formal grand opening event was held June 27 followed by the Golden Wheel penny casino grand opening on July 12, 1947. The old hotel safe, which had survived the basement fall in the original fire, was moved into storage in August of 1947.

A man is seen handling the heavy vault door of the Hotel Golden, with the hotel's name prominently displayed on the door. — *Nevada State Journal,* August 28, 1947, 6. Newspapers.com.

It was somewhat inaccurately reported that Hull Hotels, controlled by Thomas E Hull and his sister, Sally Lewis Crofwell, acquired controlling interest of Golden Securities Company in June of 1948. Regardless, Hull hired architect Frank W Green to completely overhaul the Golden into something both the Journal and Gazette called “gaudy.”

The main floor transformation included approximately 30,000 square feet of casino, bar, and restaurant space costing around $300,000, depending on whose version of the agreement you believe. A new entrance with approximately 172 feet of Herculite glass was installed. The casino was decorated in a sort of Virginia City western theme. There was a giant kidney-shaped bar and the space had a golden ceiling, of course.

This was done even though the ground floor had just been remodeled the year before. Hull also had the three upper floors redecorated. At the time, it was said to be the most expensive remodeling project in Nevada’s history.

Center Street and Hotel Golden, Reno, Nevada, 9B-H286, postcard. Published by Curt Teich & Co., 1949. Author’s collection.

A gala premiere was held at the new Golden Club with its theatre restaurant on October 7, 1948 and was by all accounts well-attended.

Advertisement for the gala premiere of 'Grandfather's Follies' at Reno's Golden Club, featuring a flamboyant dancer in a theatrical outfit and promoting nightly dancing events. — *Nevada State Journal,* October 7, 1948, 13. Newspapers.com.

However, Hull’s tenure was short-lived. Contractors went unpaid and liens were in place for more than $350,000. Hull left Reno in January of 1949 and his publicist had no comment. James Lloyd stepped in to manage the Golden once again as Hull faced multiple lawsuits.

At that time, Golden Securities announced Hull was no longer associated with the hotel or the company as an executive or as a shareholder. In court documents, the company further attested that Hull had not, in fact, acquired 51 percent ownership of the company. He had simply taken an option but had never actually followed through with the purchase. Hull had subleased the hotel personally from Lloyd and then subleased it again to El Rancho Reno, Inc., a subsidiary of Hull Hotels. Since El Rancho hired the construction companies, Golden Securities’ position was that they had no legal obligation to pay any of it. Bolstering their argument was documented evidence that they had posted signs on the property during construction stating the project was in no way connected to Golden Securities.

El Rancho was bankrupt and went into receivership. The lawsuits dragged on until September of 1950, when Hull finally settled his debts with a significant assist from the Bank Club. Creditors were over the moon about receiving 100 cents on the dollar in a bankruptcy case, which never happens. Everything was totally, one hundred percent legit.

That same month, Bugsy Siegel’s alleged friend, Joseph “Doc” Stacher, withdrew his gaming license application and had his shares in the Hotel Golden and the Bank Club bought out by James McKay and William Graham. Stacher still held a mortgage on the property, however. Totally legit.

In March of 1952, it was announced that Frank Hofues bought the Hotel Golden and neighboring Bank Club. Hofues was to take possession May 1 but the ugliest remodeling project you can imagine began that same month.

Black and white vintage photo of the Golden Hotel and Bank Club in Reno, with signage visible on the building facade and parked cars in front. — *Nevada State Journal,* March 11, 1952, 14. Newspapers.com.

Architect Edward Fickett’s design of the New Golden included horrendous metal louvers over the windows along with a streamlined façade.

Postcard depicting the exterior of The Golden Bank Casino in Reno, featuring the sign of the Bank Club and a coffee shop entrance. — The Golden Bank Casino, Reno’s Finest Entertainment Center, K7203, postcard. Published by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc., circa 1952. Author’s collection.

The club and casino closed for about ten weeks. Hofues completely remodeled the interior with colorful plastics and confetti finish on the walls. A door was also opened between the Golden and the Bank Club. The grand opening was held May 28, 1952 with headliner Cab Calloway. Work on the hotel floors continued throughout the summer.

Advertisement for the grand opening of the New Golden Hotel and Casino in Reno, featuring highlights like newly decorated rooms and entertainment shows. — *Nevada State Journal,* May 28, 1952, 17. Newspapers.com.

By February of 1954, negotiations were once again underway for an ownership transfer of the New Golden. That’s where we’ll pick up in the last installment of this series. Click here to read Part One.

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December 15, 2025 0

Hotel Golden: A Three-Story Beginning

209-221 N Center Street – Reno, Nevada

I know what you’re thinking; Hotel Golden was a four-story building. That is correct, but it didn’t start out that way. When I started reading about this building, I saw it had been covered extensively and I wasn’t sure I would have anything new to add. Then I noticed some discrepancies.

Francis Bernard “Frank” Golden owned a jewelry store at the corner of Second and Virginia Streets in Reno plus some very successful mining claims in Tonopah. In March of 1903, Golden announced he had hired architect Morrill J Curtis of Holesworth, Curtis and Co. to design a new three-story brick building to be constructed on the west side of Center Street between Commercial Row and Second Street.

A historical newspaper article announcing the construction of a three-story brick building in Reno, Nevada, by Frank Golden, detailing its design, cost, and planned features. — *Daily Nevada State Journal,* March 17, 1903, 7. Newspapers.com.

Golden wanted a four-story building but there was a debate over whether Reno fire protection was sufficient for that additional level. Plumbing bids were solicited for the Nevada Block in August of 1903.

A newspaper clipping announcing bids for plumbing fixtures for the New Golden Building, known as the Nevada Block, with a deadline of August 25th. — *Daily Nevada State Journal,* August 15, 1903, 5. Newspapers.com.

Ground floor spaces were completed first so Golden could begin collecting rent from business owners. Those rooms were ready in early January of 1904 with Vitagraph Theatre Company opening January 16. The Reno Evening Gazette moved to the Nevada Block January 24, 1904.

Historical newspaper article announcing the relocation of the Reno Evening Gazette to the Nevada Block on Center Street. — *Reno Evening Gazette,* January 24, 1904, 2. Newspapers.com.

The May 1904 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the incomplete three-story brick Nevada Block at 209-221 Center Street. A wooden porch extended along the back of the building. The interior had iron-clad ceilings and wire glass skylights. It was noted that offices and rooms were to be built upstairs.

Other building occupants included Chris Mason’s Coronado Saloon, East Reno Land Company, and the Viavi Company. Workingman’s Friend clothing store opened the morning of October 15, 1904.

A vintage newspaper advertisement announcing the opening of 'Workingman's Friend', a new store located at 211 Center St. in Reno, promoting equality in treatment for all customers. — *Reno Evening Gazette,* October 14, 1904, 5. Newspapers.com.

John L Herron and Al North leased the Nevada Block from Frank Golden in December of 1904 so they could open a new establishment called the Hotel Golden. The building was reconfigured with offices on the first floor. Hotel Golden opened February 1, 1905 with 96 rooms boasting electric lights, steam heat, and hot and cold water.

A vintage newspaper article announcing the grand opening of Hotel Golden in Reno, Nevada, highlighting the festivities and positive reception from attendees. — *Daily Nevada State Journal,* February 2, 1905, 1. Newspapers.com.

In 1906, Hotel Golden claimed to be the largest hotel in Nevada.

Advertisement for Hotel Golden, the largest hotel in Nevada, detailing features such as electric lighting, steam heating, and hot and cold water in rooms. — *City Directory of Reno and Sparks 1906*, 171. Published by Barndollar Durley,
21 E. Second Street, Reno, Nevada.

The May 1906 Sanborn still shows a three-story building with commercial spaces on the ground floor. A brick structure for heating had been added between the hotel and the alley.

Plans for a fourth story addition were announced in July of 1906. At the same time, the building was expanded to fill the lots all the way to the alley. This added approximately 100 rooms and 48 bathrooms to the hotel as well as commercial spaces along the alley.

A newspaper article announcing plans for a fourth story addition to Hotel Golden, detailing the expected improvements and modernization of the hotel. — *Reno Evening Gazette,* July 19, 1906, 8. Newspapers.com

A second contract was let in November of 1906 for an extensive lobby remodeling project, at which time walls were removed where the Golden Grille was previously located to create a “metropolitan” lobby.

The quality of this image is horrendous but I have been unable to locate another photo of this building prior to the fourth-floor addition.

Historic image of Hotel Golden on Center Street, Reno, showcasing a four-story brick building with visible windows and signage, taken prior to its fourth-floor addition. — *Nevada State Journal,* Industrial Section, December 23, 1906, 21. Newspapers.com.

Because the hotel remained open during the expansion, a wooden superstructure was built along the front of the hotel in February of 1907 to protect pedestrians from falling debris as the fourth floor was constructed.

Frank Golden assumed management of the hotel business when Al North relocated to Goldfield in January of 1908. An elevator was installed that March.

A vintage newspaper clipping discussing the installation of a new elevator in the Hotel Golden, highlighting its convenience for guests and staff who previously walked multiple flights of stairs. — *Reno Evening Gazette,* March 3, 1908, 2. Newspapers.com.

This photo from July 4, 1910 shows the updated four-story Hotel Golden.

Crowd gathered on Center Street in Reno, Nevada, on July 4, 1910, during the Day of Jeffries and Johnson Fight, with buildings and storefronts visible in the background. — [Center Street, Reno on Day of Jeffries and Johnson Fight UNRS-P1992-01-8633.tif collection_1933], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.

Frank Golden died December 9, 1911 (rather than in 1914 as generally reported) at only 49 years of age. There was another Frank Golden who died in Nevada in 1914 but he was around 60 and was not a man of means.

Image of a newspaper article titled 'GOLDEN REMAINS ARRIVE TUESDAY' discussing the remains of Frank Golden being brought back to Reno for burial. — *Nevada State Journal,* December 11, 1911, 6. Newspapers.com.

Not that things were going great financially for our Frank at the time of his death. There were some bank failures as well as large mortgages. There was also an outstanding debt to a contractor which seems to have stemmed from a dispute over whether the fourth floor of the hotel was built as per the terms of the contract. First National Bank of San Francisco made a claim for more than $120,000 in early 1912 and it only got uglier from there.

Newspaper article titled 'BIG CLAIM ON GOLDEN BLOCK' discussing a claim against the estate of Frank Golden related to a mortgage on the Golden Hotel in Reno, Nevada. — *Reno Evening Gazette,* March 5, 1912, 1. Newspapers.com.

Widow Mamie L Golden and son, Frank Jr., managed the hotel as the estate went through probate. Mamie attempted to fight the judgment which had been awarded to contractor Eugene Schuler prior to her husband’s death but a sheriff’s sale of the Nevada Block was ordered in February of 1915.

Reno Evening Gazette, February 24, 1915, 8. Newspapers.com.
Reno Evening Gazette, February 24, 1915, 8. Newspapers.com.
Reno Evening Gazette, February 24, 1915, 8. Newspapers.com.

First National Bank of San Francisco redeemed the judgment and took possession of the building, which was then sold to Reno Securities Co. in October of 1915. Former Riverside manager Clarence Farnsworth was announced as manager of the Hotel Golden at that time.

Reno Evening Gazette, October 23, 1915, 1. Newspapers.com.
Reno Evening Gazette, October 23, 1915, 1. Newspapers.com.

Frank Jr. was brought back to manage the hotel in April of 1916 after Farnsworth resigned.

Newspaper clipping announcing Frank Golden as the manager of the Hotel Golden, detailing his popularity and experience in the hotel industry. — *Nevada State Journal,* April 9, 1916, 1. Newspapers.com.

A fire gutted the basement and first floor of the Nevada Block on October 11, 1916. Five hotel rooms were “wrecked” on the second floor. The Golden safe went through the floor to the basement and was recovered without damage. Fortunately, no one was injured and the hotel continued operating while management made plans for repairs.

An advertisement for Hotel Golden, stating it is open to guests with limited availability, featuring rooms on the second floor with lights, cold water, and upcoming extensive alterations. — *Nevada State Journal,* October 12, 1916, 8. Newspapers.com.

A “modern” lobby with tile floors replaced the one gutted in the fire. At that time, the stairs between the lobby and second floor were relocated near the elevator. Previously, the staircase had been just inside the front doors.

W. S. Elliott bought a third of the Hotel Golden in May of 1918 leaving George Wingfield and H. G. Humphery with the other two shares.

A newspaper article headline announcing Ole Elliott's acquisition of a one-third interest in the Golden Hotel, discussing the management and ownership structure. — *Reno Evening Gazette,* May 20, 1918, 8. Newspapers.com.

Frank Jr. left for Leon Springs, Texas that June to join the Army Signal Service in World War I. He had raced motorcycles for a few years and became part of the Motorcycle Corps. Charles J Sadleir was hired to replace him.

I can’t get into all of the details about the various expansions into neighboring lots or this thing will never be finished. However, George Wingfield announced the purchase of the old Russ House in January of 1920 with long-term plans for hotel additions. A building permit was issued in September of 1922 and the existing Hotel Golden was remodeled at the same time. The new addition opened in June of 1923.

In the next installment of this three-part series, I’ll discuss Charles Sadleir’s resignation in December of 1924 and his very familiar replacement.

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December 1, 2025 3

Returning to the US: Who Doesn’t Love a 1,000 Mile Detour?

If you think this series is tedious, you should have been on the road with us! Let’s fast-forward a bit:

Aaron somehow forgot to order the tire and then delivery was delayed twice due to a winter storm so we were stuck in the RV with the dogs for a total of 9 ½ days. That was awesome. We left Ocotillo Wells on January 28 and I had another blowout (driver’s rear) just east of Twentynine Palms. A normal person would wonder what the hell kind of shape they were in for this to keep happening. The tread was still good on the remaining three. AARON CHECKED THEM. So back on the donut I went.

We just happened to need fuel when we made our way to Amboy, California. This place has an amazing history and an ongoing lack of potable water. As such, the café is only a gift shop and there are no working restrooms. This is exactly the kind of place I could spend an entire day exploring so it really sucked that we were so pressed for time. Here are a few pics I was able to grab while we tried to get the dogs to potty.

Kelso is another town I would have loved to photograph but we just couldn’t stop.

We spent the night at a hotel adjacent to a casino in Mesquite, Nevada and hoo-boy, was that an experience. We’ve all seen some sad walks of shame but these were like rock bottom. I had all three tires replaced the next morning and the bf asked the tire guy his thoughts about whether the Mighty Dodge would make it all the way to Idaho with its four bald, mismatched tires. I think he gave it 50-50 odds.

We then attempted to power through Utah but were stopped by heavy, wet snow in Nephi. The truck was hydroplaning on basically anything wet for obvious reasons so we thought it best to take no chances. The place we stayed looked normal on the outside but our first assigned room had water dripping through the ceiling. I guess the pet annex doesn’t get the same level of maintenance.

So we FINALLY made it to our destination in Southeast Idaho on Saturday, January 30…more than two weeks after leaving Todos Santos. We had driven more than 2,000 miles and I rolled about 520 of them on that stupid donut. The dogs and I were so happy to get out of the Jeep and finally get settled again…but were we???

Click the links below to see how we got to this point.

Returning to the US: Motocross Heaven and the Tow of Shame

Returning to the US: He Literally Thought I Was Dead

Returning to the US: Sherman, I Just Really Need You to Poop

Returning to the US: Leaving Todos Santos

Returning to the US: First the Why

March 30, 2021 0