Occupying the former site of the Holiday Hotel (Reno’s first motorist-focused hotel), this property has shifted between gaming and non-gaming models several times before its recent sale.
Originally a primitive log "hotel" built in 1859 by Charles William Fuller to serve miners bound for the Comstock, it later became the face of Reno’s "divorce trade" . Rebuilt as a six-story Gothic-style luxury destination in 1927, it hosted celebrities and wealthy socialites. Today, it has been repurposed into artist live/work lofts. reno hotels
Once Nevada’s largest hotel, the Golden met a tragic end on April 3, 1962, when an acetylene tank explosion in the basement ignited the building. The fire claimed six lives and destroyed a lifetime of work for its owners. Motel Culture and "The Motel Life" Occupying the former site of the Holiday Hotel
Originally built as the Royal Hotel in the early 20th century to serve transient workers and divorcees, it has been restored into a modern boutique hotel. Why you're seeing this ad unit Today, it has been repurposed into artist live/work lofts
As Interstate 80 bypassed old routes in the 1970s, many family-run motels shifted to weekly or monthly rentals, becoming "housing of last resort" for low-income residents.
Post-WWII auto tourism led to unique "Googie" style motels like the Roulette and the ski-themed Chalet Motel .
Reno's hotel history is a rich collection of grand ambition, tragic loss, and urban transformation. From the mid-20th-century luxury "Big Three" to gritty motels that served as the final sanctuary for those seeking a fresh start, these buildings are central to the city's identity. The Rise and Fall of the "Big Three"