Reno Hotels <2026>
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.
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" reno hotels
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 As Interstate 80 bypassed old routes in the
Post-WWII auto tourism led to unique "Googie" style motels like the Roulette and the ski-themed Chalet Motel . Motel Culture and "The Motel Life" Originally built
Opened in 1947, it was the first property in the country designed from the ground up to be a hotel-casino. Its Sky Room was the place to see and be seen, hosting legendary performers like Rudy Vallee. Despite intense preservation efforts, it was famously imploded in 2000 after sitting vacant for 18 years.
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'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"