Visitreno

[spinner]

I returned from three day/nights in Reno. I stayed at the Peppermill, but went to downtown a few times. I was amazed that on a Friday night, there was plenty of street parking available near the casinos, not many people walking around, and beautiful spring weather.

Is it my imagination, or is the Cal Neva starting to really go into disrepair and seems to be not maintained at all? I am also dismayed at the amount of empty buildings still in downtown. There seems to be some improvements going on, but I think too little, too late.

Peppermill seems to be going great with expansions going on. Atlantis seems busy too. I had been in Las Vegas for 6 days previously and the difference in these two Nevada gambling locations is unbelievable.

I especially liked the way the skateboarders make use of the old Mapes site. I am sure glad that we tore that down to replace it with a concrete slab. I still have bad feelings about that one....

[stan_allen]

It's to my great chagrin to have to read of such goings-on in the downtown, but I'll grudgingly admit that no one could possibly be surprised by such developments.

Cal-Neva, for all my lavish praise over the years as a fountain of low-budget entertainment, seems to have absorbed a rising tide of declasse aspiration, although there is of course a chicken/egg point of origin mystery in conjunction with the bums, weirdos, and other hangers-on wandering around in that once-lovely vicinity of downtown Reno, inspiring other would-be return visitors to never come back.

So that's a shame - perhaps the pendulum could swing the other way sometime soon, and a recovery of some sort will bring back some of downtown's long-lost luster?

[lvbear584]

[remano]

I don't think the Cal Neva has been going downhill. It's always been a low roller's joint, which I like, and it seems to be continuing in that vein. They've just moved the poker "room" from the Top Deck area to nearer the sports book. This gives them more room but other than moving the tables and putting up some stanchions and ropes to delineate the area, they aren't adding any improvements. The old poker room is being filled with the slot machines that used to be where the new room is.

While downtown has changed a lot recently, there are some bright spots. The T-shirt shop at second and Virginia recently closed to add to the closed store fronts, but several condo projects are making progress, the ballroom/kitchen expansion to the Events Center is going full speed, there is a new restaurant planned where the Jazz Cafe used to be, the Virginia Street upgrade is almost done, etc. BTW, I agree with cutting down Virginia Street to one lane in each direction with a middle turn lane. The street on either side is one way for better traffic flow, and it's a good idea to route through traffic to those streets and off of Virginia Street.

The old Mapes property is pretty unimpressive at this time of year but it is bustling in the winter when the ice rink is in operation. That's part of the city's plan to get families downtown. There were plans to add retail or restaurant space at one end of the block and a canopy over the ice rink which failed under the guidance of one developer but the city hasn't given up on the idea and it will still be a reality.

Out in Sparks, there are plans for a major (1,000 room or larger), casino on the Sparks Marina. This would be 3 or 4 years in the future but I'm sure looking forward to it, along with the two Stations Casinos projects that have been announced.

[Bob972]

I agree with Remano. I don't think Cal Neva is in a state of disrepair either. I was just there 2-3 weeks ago for March Madness (6 days)and it seemed to be the same ol Cal Neva. Matter of fact I ate all of my breakfast meals at the Top Deck restaurant and they were all very tasty. I stayed at their hotel across the street and had a nice view of Virginia Street right across from the casino. My only complaint about the hotel...they had TONS of cable TV stations, but a remote control that only channeled up or down...no channel selection numbers. ha My understanding is that type of remote control is the exception rather than the rule there.

I also saw police on foot while I was down there. Maybe that was because of the March Madness crowds...not sure.

[Dave]

Hey all I still have to post a trip report but I have to say I thought Reno was pretty darn busy when I was there. Granted it was March Madness and St. Patrick's Day was during our stay but it didn't feel so slow to me at all. I have had trips before where I felt a little depressed when I got back and kept thinking back on "old" Reno. Maybe it is just me being optimistic but I thought things are looking up. I am really anxious to see how those Condo projects- Sundowner, Comstock and Golden Phoenix turn out. Quite a few cops out and about when we were there as well and NO I didn't actually interract with any of those cops on foot or in cars!
Dave

[stan_allen]

See, this is more like it - if there are times when that ghost-town feel is supplanted by even a small resurgence of vibrance, then there's hope - thanks for giving us something to counter our gloomy prognostications!