📧 The History of Reno's Former Casinos: Demolished or Repurposed

From glittering beginnings to new purposes here is a look at the rise, fall, and reinvention of Reno's historic casinos. Some are gone but some survive.

Have you seen the buildings in Reno that resemble casinos but are something else now? I wondered about them and did some checking. The historic casinos that once dotted the downtown area are now faded memories or repurposed spaces. Their stories are a part of Reno’s transformation. Join me as we take a walk through time, looking back at some of Reno's now-forgotten casinos and how they shaped the city we know today. Most of the buildings that I write about are still here, although a few have been demolished, and I include them for their history. I have not included some very old, smaller, and less well-known casino clubs that are now gone, as this is more about learning what an existing building was, and not a history of casinos in Reno.

🏞️ Riverside Hotel & Casino

17 S Virginia St - Opened: 1927 | Closed: 1986 - Repurposed
The Riverside was the first major hotel in Nevada to cater to women seeking divorces during Reno’s "Divorce Capital of the World" era. It went through many owners until it closed its doors in 1986. The current building is not the first on this location; there was Lake’s Crossing. In the 1950s and 60s, it had a motel wing and swimming pool, where the Eddy is now. The main building was saved from demolition in 1997 and transformed into artist lofts, and hosts the popular Wild River Grill restaurant and some art event spaces.

🎰 Harold's Club

236 N Virginia St - Opened: 1935 | Closed: 1995 - Demolished
Once one of Reno's most legendary casinos, Harold’s Club was at the heart of the golden era of Reno’s gaming scene. Opening in 1935, it was renowned for its Western-themed interior. It was family-friendly and catered to tourists. By 1995, it closed its doors, and the building was demolished in 1999. It became part of the plaza at Harrah’s. Its western mural was relocated to the Reno Livestock Events Center.

🏨 Harrah's Casino

219 N Center St - Opened: 1937 | Closed: 2020 - Repurposed
What began in 1937 as a small bingo hall grew into a casino empire. The casino closed in 2020, marking the end of an era for Reno. Today, Harrah's is undergoing a renovation to commercial and residential spaces, hopefully bringing some much-needed life to downtown Reno, although it’s been slow coming. I’d like to see Sammy’s Showroom and Harrah’s Steakhouse return. We can thank Harrah’s for the National Auto Museum, where the remainder of Bill’s cars are on display.

🏛️ Nevada Club

Virginia St - Opened: 1946 | Closed: 1997 - Demolished
The Nevada Club was one of Reno's longest-running casinos, operating for over five decades before it shut its doors in 1997. It was one of the last small, independently operated casinos on Virginia Street. Lincoln Fitzgerald operated it, and it was next to Harold’s Club. The building was demolished by Harrah's, along with Harold’s Club, in 1999 to make way for their event space.

🤠 Mapes Hotel & Casino

10 N Virginia St - Opened: 1947 | Closed: 1982 - Demolished
A defining piece of Reno’s Art Deco history, the Mapes Hotel & Casino was a high-rise that symbolized the city’s post-war boom. It was known for the Skyroom and was a hangout for Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe during the filming of The Misfits. Financial struggles led to its closure in 1982, and after years of disrepair, it was demolished in 2000 by the City of Reno, which owned it. People lamented its passing, but an engineer’s report explained that the building was beyond renovation, which was relied on despite opposition and attempts to buy the building. Today, the site serves as a space for congregating. Locals are still waiting for the city to develop it.

🚢 Riverboat Hotel & Casino

34 W 2nd - Opened: 1947 | Closed: 1998 - Repurposed
The Riverboat Hotel & Casino was another casualty of Reno's changing gaming scene. Though it remained a fixture in the city for decades, the casino's abrupt closure in 1998 led to the repurposing of the space as apartments. Redevelopment has been in the works for a year or more, and it is fenced off.

🍔 Little Nugget

233 N Virginia St - Opened: 1954 | Closed: 2020
Known for its famous "Awful Awful" burger, the Little Nugget was a beloved spot in Reno for decades. It opened in 1954 and became a fixture in the city’s gaming and dining culture. After closing in 2020, the building remained vacant and boarded up. The building is for sale, but so far, there have been no takers. But at least the boards got a paint job thanks to some beautification program by the city.

💃 Primadonna Club→Siri’s Casino

241 N Virginia St - Opened: 1955 | Closed: 1970s
The Primadonna Club was a major player in Reno’s casino scene from the 1950s onward. It was known for the large statues of showgirls on the facade. It closed in the 1970s. The building became part of the casino for the Golden Phoenix and is now home to Siri’s Casino, which opened in 2014. Siri's Grill serves comfort foods 24/7, with a full-service bar so that you can get a burger, fries, and a beer anytime.

🐴 Horseshoe Club

223 N Virginia St - Opened: 1956 | Closed: 1990s
Part of Reno’s historic casino district, the Horseshoe Club opened in 1956. While the casino has long since closed, the building remains. The ground floor is closed. Some of the original interior is there. The owner was going to put in a restaurant, but that didn’t happen. Upstairs is the Wolf Putt mini golf, which seems to be slow, probably due to the lack of parking, visibility, and the difficulty of accessing it upstairs.

🎉 Holiday → Siena

1 S Lake St - Opened: 1956 | Closed: 2015 - Repurposed
Originally launched as the Holiday Hotel & Casino, when it opened, the city abandoned part of the street to create a parking lot and eliminate through traffic, causing some controversy. It became the Siena Hotel & Casino in 2001. It had a nice mezzanine bar and was reasonable. I stayed in 2015 for $75. It was repurposed as the Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel in 2017. It operates as a non-gaming hotel. It still features a lovely patio overlooking the river and a rotunda bar with happy hour. Johnny Rockets is gone, but the long bar is still there, and the casino floor is Bundox Bocce. The Shoreroom restaurant survives.

🌲 The Ponderosa Hotel & Casino

200 E. 2nd Street - Opened: 1956 | Closed: 1978 - Repurposed

The Ponderosa was a fixture in Reno's mid-20th-century casino scene. Opening in 1956, it became a popular destination for both locals and tourists, offering a combination of gaming, entertainment, and dining. However, as Reno's casino landscape evolved, the Ponderosa closed its doors in 1978 and was rebranded as the Bonanza Inn. In 2017, it was bought by Jacobs Entertainment, and is in the process of renovation into “affordable” housing, provided that they get the tax incentive.

🏜️ The Comstock Hotel & Casino

245 West St. Opened: 1957 |Closed: 1991 - Repurposed

The Comstock offered a full range of casino games, including slots, blackjack, and poker, attracting both locals and tourists seeking entertainment and excitement. It was adorned with extensive lighting on the exterior, making it highly visible. It closed in 1991, was repurposed, and is now a high-rise condo property, Riverwalk Towers. It sits across from the West Street Market and has views of the city and mountains.

🌟 The Kings Inn

303 W 3rd - Opened: 1974 | Closed: 1986 - Repurposed
After opening in 1974 and adding a casino in 1975, the Kings Inn became a fixture of mid-1970s Reno. However, it closed in 1982, and the hotel followed suit in 1986 due to fire code violations. Redeveloped as 3rd Street Flats in 2016, this mixed-use property now offers 94 apartments and retail space, hosting Bab Cafe and 3rd St. Market.

🌊 The Reef

564 W 4th - Opened: 1974 | Closed: 1979 - Repurposed
The Reef Hotel & Casino had a short-lived existence and went through several owners, operating from 1974 to 1979. It originally had a Tiki theme. Today, the building has been repurposed as the Sierra Vista Towers, with a high HOA fee and 40 units owned by one investor, and an abandoned casino building.

🏢 Sundowner Hotel & Casino

450 N Arlington - Opened: 1975 | Closed: 2003 - Repurposed
The Sundowner Hotel & Casino opened in 1975 and was later rebranded as The Belvedere when converted to condos in 2007. There were plans for redevelopment, including retail space on the ground floor, that were hindered by legal and financial obstacles. Although the upper floors are occupied, the ground floor is abandoned.

🍀 Fitzgerald's Reno

255 N Virginia St - Opened: 1976 | Closed: 2008 - Repurposed
Fitzgerald's was a mainstay in Reno from its opening in 1976 until its closure in 2008. The property briefly transformed into CommRow in 2011 before closing again in 2013. In 2014, the building was gutted and reopened as the Whitney Peak Hotel, an upscale, non-gaming boutique hotel. It hosted the Roundabout Grill, now the Cafe Whitney.

🔥 The Golden Phoenix Reno

255 N Sierra - Opened: 1978 | Closed: 2005 - Repurposed
What began as the Sahara Reno in 1978 eventually rebranded into the Golden Phoenix Reno before its closure in 2005. The 2003 Movie The Cooler was filmed there, although it was set in Las Vegas. The property was transformed into the Montage in 2007 and has the second-most-expensive condos in Reno after the Palladio.

🏙️ Nevadan / Virginian Towers

N Virginia between 1st & 2nd - Opened: 1982 | Closed: 2015 - Repurposed
The Nevadan and Virginian Towers marked a moment in Reno’s casino history when they opened in 1982 as hotel towers for the Cal Neva, which is still operating as a casino. They were eventually sold and became Siegel Suites in 2015, and are now long-term occupancy monthly rentals with pay by the week.

📝 Conclusion: A Shifting Landscape

Reno's once-thriving casinos may have vanished or been transformed, but their legacy lives. From artist lofts, hotels, and plazas, these buildings continue to play a role in Reno. As the city grows and changes, the stories of these former casinos offer a glimpse into a time when Reno was mainly a casino town and a testament to its continuing change. What is interesting is the number of ownership changes casinos underwent, with many changing hands four times, and how they were rendered uneconomic by competition with twenty to forty years as the typical lifetime.