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Feeling A Little Nostalgic

 
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Mailguy55



Joined: 02 Dec 2008
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Dec Tue 16, 2008 6:30 pm    Post subject: Feeling A Little Nostalgic Reply with quote

I am currently 53 years old and am planning a trip back to Reno in June with my wife and 2 adult children. It got me to thinking about the first trip I made to Reno in Aug of 76. It was for my 21st birthday. My wife and I drove to Reno from Fremont CA.

Now this was before they had Indian Casinos and even before Atlantic City. Only 2 places to gamble, Reno or Vegas. We stayed at Jessie Beck's because being military, they gave us a discount.

I seem to recall that there was a bunch of smaller casinos and bar's around Jessie Becks that we visited during the day.

I remember some of the casinos that we hung out at. I remember going to the MGM and recalled seeing a movie in the theaters they had there. I remember the Harold's Club and the gun collection and Silver Dollar Bar. Had a great prime Rib at Comstock's for 4.95. We visited the auto museum, which back then was very informal and was in a kind of warehouse.

Of course we saw the Fitz's Fun Forrest and I still have my deck of playing cards that I "won" there.

The other things that stick out in my mind was the fact that you had to put coins in all the various slot machines. There was no ticket in, ticket out system. I also remember the various change ladies that were in the slot carosels, telling you what machine was going to hit. There was something very satisfying hauling up a couple of buckets of quarters to the cashier and watching the machine count them.

The biggest rippoff was when I tried to cash my Well's Fargo Check at a Well's Fargo Bank and they informed me that they did not cash out of state checks. This was before ATM's. I ended up having to go to a check cashing place where it cost me $35 to cash a $100 dollar check.

But all in all, it was a great trip and one I remember fondly. I have been back to Reno a few times since then. The last time was about 5 years ago and it kind of saddened me how the downtown area has kind of gotten seedy.

I am still looking forward to the trip and trying to show my kids their first trip to Reno through my eyes.
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BC Dave
Site Admin


Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 1592

PostPosted: Dec Tue 16, 2008 7:30 pm    Post subject: Trip report from 1976 Reply with quote

Hey we haven't had any trip reports from way back in the last millenium for awhile.

Except for the Wells Fargo bank and the (new) automobile museum, none of the places you mentioned exist anymore. (The MGM has metamorphosized several times since it's inception. It's now the Grand Sierra.) You've, of course, been back and seen the sad state of our favorite place.

There are still lots good times to be had there as you'll see from the many comments on this board. The remaining casinos are as good as anything you'll find in Las Vegas and sometimes better. The price of the rooms and meals are usually a bargain.
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RenoLady



Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 316

PostPosted: Dec Wed 17, 2008 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for your memories, I first saw Reno in the 90's, though many of the places you mentioned were there then.

Most of the changes have been good. No more dirty hands now with the TITO; newer hotels, better restaurants. You know, you were kind of describing Virginia City, you ought to take a run up there with your family, very entertaining, and historic.
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