- 1. I'll be in downtown Reno. Can I walk to the Peppermill and the Nugget?
Well, no. The Peppermill is more than two miles south of downtown and the Atlantis is about three miles. Grand Sierra Resort (formally the Reno Hilton) and John Ascuaga's Nugget are about three miles east of the downtown area. The downtown core includes Circus Circus, Eldorado, Silver Legacy, Harrahs, Fitzgeralds, Cal-Neva, Siena and the Sands, all within a 6 or 8 block area. The Reno Events Center and the National Bowling Stadium are a short block from the Eldorado and Silver Legacy. The National Automobile Museum is across the street from the Siena. Anything else, take a local bus or taxi. The Reno-Sparks Convention Center is about two miles from the airport and three miles south of downtown and within walking distance of the Atlantis. The Reno Hilton was sold and became the Grand Sierra Resort-Casino in August, 2006. The new owners plan to convert the top floors to hotel-condominiums and build an indoor water park.
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- 2. What about other venues like the balloon races and the air races?
The outdoor fairgrounds and arena, home of the Reno Rodeo and the Nevada State Fair, and the indoor Livestock Events Center, home to many trade shows and monster trucks, are side-by-side on Wells Avenue north of Interstate 80 and about one mile from the downtown casinos. Lawlor Events Center, home to many concerts, ice shows, and the Barnum and Bailey Circus, is on the University of Nevada Reno campus on Virginia Street also about a mile north of downtown. The Reno Balloon Races and usually the July 4th fireworks are held at Rancho San Rafael Park near McCarran Boulevard and North Virginia Street, about 1.5 miles north of the downtown core. The Reno Air Races are held at Reno-Stead Airport (not the same as Reno-Tahoe International Airport) and are about 6 miles north of downtown. The Grand Sierra Resort (formally the Reno Hilton) holds events in their indoor theater and convention area and they're located about one mile from the airport and south of the freeway interchange at Interstate 80 and Highway 395 (take either the Mill Street or Glendale Avenue exit). The Grand Sierra dismantled the outdoor amphitheater that had been used extensively by the Reno Hilton. The Pioneer Theater for the Performing Arts is downtown on Virginia Street at Mill about 6 blocks south of the casinos. The Reno Events Center at Fourth and Center is a block east of the Silver Legacy and Eldorado, just across the street from the National Bowling Stadium. The largest indoor venue is the 500,000 square-foot Reno-Sparks Convention Center on South Virginia Street near the Atlantis. The space can be configured in arena seating for 21,000.
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Reno Venues and Seating Capacity Outdoor in red
The Reno Hilton (Grand Sierra) amphitheater was dismantled by the new owners in 2007
The City Center Pavilion was demolished in 2006 for construction of the Reno Ballroom. When completed
in February, 2008, the ballroom can be configured in theater seating for 2,900. |
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| Mackay Stadium, UNR 31,900 | Peccole Baseball Park, UNR 3,000
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| Reno-Sparks Convention Center 21,000 | Reno Ballroom (open Feb. 2008) 2,900
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| Lawlor Events Center 12,400 | Grand Sierra Theater 1,750
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| Livestock Events Outdoor Arena 9,000 | Pioneer Center Theater 1,500
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Reno Hilton Amphitheater 8,500 |
Silver Legacy Exposition Hall 1,500
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| Reno Events Center 7,500 | Nightingale Concert Hall, UNR 615
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| Livestock Events Center Indoor 6,200 |
Eldorado Theater 580
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| Moana Stadium 4,000 |
Harrah's Sammy's Showroom 440
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City Center Pavilion 3,500 |
Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater 400
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- 3. Where is the airport and how do I get to downtown Reno from there?
Reno-Tahoe International Airport is at the east end of Plumb Lane and there are freeway ramps for easy access to the terminal from Highway 395 south of the junction with Interstate 80. From the airport it's a couple miles to the downtown casinos, the National Bowling Stadium, or to the Peppermill/Atlantis area on South Virginia Street. A taxi is about $12. In 2006 the airport was served by 11 airlines, Alaska, Aloha, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Horizon, SkyWest, Southwest, United and US Airways. The Reno-Tahoe area is considered a vacation destination all over the world and the airport handled more than 5.2 million passengers in 2006. Currently there are 87 daily departures and 10,493 seats per day.
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- 4. What's Reno like during Hot August Nights?
Crowded and fun. The biggest event of the year and the whole town is alive with old cars and people outdoors everywhere. Make your reservations a year in advance if you want to enter your car or if you want a room. There are 5,000 cars officially entered in the event and more than 800,000 visitors counting duplicate visits to different events. There are sock hops, cruises, the show and shine, Elvis and Marilyn impersonators and live music from performers like the Beach Boys and Frankie Avalon. Events are not only in downtown Reno but in Sparks and the Peppermill-Atlantis area on South Virginia Street. It's basically a regional party with parades of vintage cars and people dressed in 1950's style to have fun indoors and outdoors. Come to Reno and have fun, that's what it's all about.
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- 5. How close is Reno to Las Vegas? Can I visit both cities when I'm in Nevada?
Las Vegas is an all day drive from Reno, 400 miles, or about an hour if you fly. Many people think Reno and Las Vegas are close together but they are at opposite ends of the state. Reno, in Northern Nevada, is about 200 miles east of San Francisco on Interstate 80. Las Vegas, in Southern Nevada, is about the same distance east of Los Angeles on Interstate 15. Both Nevada cities sit just across the state line next to California. I've made the drive from Reno to Pahrump (near Las Vegas) many times and I travel from Reno to Fernley to Yerington then across to Nevada Highway 95 at Shurz. My rest stops are at Hawthorne, Tonopah, Goldfield and Beatty and then I cut across on Highway 160 to Pahrump. If you've never seen the wide open spaces of Nevada you'll find it a beautiful and amazing scenic drive on a two lane highway with about 100 miles between each small town. It's worth it to stop and visit and take pictures in these historic places.
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- 6. Tell me more about local Reno transportation. Taxis or the bus?
Taxis are usually easy to find at any major casino hotel except during bad weather (when use by locals is heavy), or during special events that bring in many visitors. During events when Virginia Street and some of the side streets are closed it's easier to find a taxi at the hotel valet parking areas which are usually a block away on Sierra or Center Street, or at the Silver Legacy on West Street. Local bus service on Citifare is excellent and the downtown transfer station is at 4th and Center across from the National Bowling Stadium. At the transfer station you'll find indoor waiting areas and plenty of printed schedules to plan your route. Some bus service is 24 hours especially between downtown and the South Virginia Street convention center area. Most hotels offer free shuttle service to and from the airport.
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- 7. I want to go to some local's casinos, I've heard they're better.
We've got those too, like Rail City, Bonanza, Gold Dust West, Western Village, Baldini's and Tamarack Junction. Western Village is owned by the Peppermill, Rail City is owned by the Sands (Herbst Gaming properties), and the Tamarack is owned by the Eldorado. They're not necessarily better but the atmosphere is different. The neighborhood casinos are smaller with more personal service, usually don't have rooms, and it's easier to park near the door.
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- 8. How about the weather? Reno is in the desert, right?
Yes, but the elevation is 4,500 feet. It can be 80 degrees in the daytime and 40 degrees at night. Be prepared for cool weather by carrying a coat that you'll need outside after sundown. One of the great benefits of this area is that it's cool at night with low humidity even when it's warm in the daytime. In the winter the temperature drops below freezing but it's rare for snow to stay on the ground for more than a few days and even then the roads in town are clear and the snow only lingers in the shady spots. When the snow flies go tubin' at Galena Park, a couple miles west on the Mount Rose Highway or visit the city ice rink downtown.
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- 9. How about the weather over New Year's 2005? You got slammed with snow!
Yes we did, back-to-back snowstorms that didn't stop until January 10, 2005. Four to six feet of snow in the Reno area, the most snow accumulation in almost 100 years. I learned a few tips that I'll pass along. If you stay at one of the tri-properties, Circus Circus, Eldorado, or Silver Legacy, you have a lot of room to roam without ever going outside because of their extensive indoor walkways. Also, it's easier to catch a cab in bad weather if you go to the edge of downtown like the valet parking area at Circus Circus (you don't have to be a hotel guest to catch a cab there). People were fighting for cabs on New Year's Eve but you didn't have to do that if you caught them dropping off passengers as they entered the casino district. I also noticed that the Silver Legacy did the best job in clearing their sidewalks. You don't appreciate how important this is until you have to negotiate the slippery concrete in the winter!
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- 10. Where's the best shopping in Reno? Which stores are open 24 hours?
South Reno has the best shopping along Virginia Street with Meadowood Mall four miles from downtown and Summit Sierra six miles from downtown. There are the usual chain stores all over town like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, CostCo, Best Buy, Kohl's and Target. Sears, Penny's and Macy's are in Meadowood Mall and Dillard's and the Pottery Barn are at Summit Sierra. There are many souvenir shops downtown but the closest real shopping would be sundries at Walgreen's (24 hours at Interstate 80 and Center Street, 4 blocks), groceries at Albertson's (5th and Keystone, 8 blocks) and Wal-Mart (7th and McCarran, 2 miles). Walgreen's and Wal-Mart are 24 hours but the closest Albertson's on Keystone closes at 1 AM. The Albertson's store at Plumb and Lakeside, about 2 miles from downtown, is open 24 hours.
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- 11. I've heard a lot about the river. How close is it?
Reno has improved the area along the Truckee River and the biggest draw right now is the Century Theaters 12 complex at First and Sierra Streets. The theaters are two blocks from the Cal-Neva or the Siena. There's also the city-sponsored outdoor ice rink in the winter at First and Virginia Streets (the old Mapes site) and the Whitewater Kayak Park along the Truckee River at First and Arlington. In good weather the Riverwalk on both sides of the river at Virginia Street and Wingfield Park at Arlington Avenue are good places for a picnic or just a scenic walk. The downtown area next to the river is becoming a hot spot for condominiums in the new 13-story Palladio project at First and Sierra and the remodeled Comstock and Flamingo Hilton buildings, now the Riverwalk and Montage condominiums. Small restaurants and shops are moving into the retail space next to the river and a Long's Drugstore is planned for the old Riverboat building. From Fitzgerald's, at the Arch, the walk to the river is 3 blocks south and it's worth the time in good weather to check out how this area has been improved.
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- 12. What did Reno do with the train tracks downtown?
The City of Reno built a 33 foot deep trench to put the trains below street level for 2 miles from Keystone to Wells Avenue. The 4 year project began in 2002 by moving utilities. Next came the shoofly, the temporary tracks that parallel the trench excavation, and actual trench digging began in April, 2004. The first trains rolled in the trench in late 2005. Construction pictures can be seen on Nevadamax in City Views 3.
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- 13. What are some of the other things to do and how close are they?
If you arrive at Reno-Tahoe International Airport you're right in town and only a couple miles from the downtown casinos. Circus Circus, Grand Sierra Resort and Boomtown (8 miles west of Reno) have large arcades where you can spend all day and the Grand Sierra also has the outdoor Bungee Swing and Go-Karts. The Mt. Rose ski area is only 20 minutes from Reno and in the summer you can cool off at Wild Waters theme park in Sparks. Regional parks (and dog friendly) are Rancho San Rafael, Virginia Lake, Bartley Ranch, and the Sparks Marina. Everything is close and an easy drive from anywhere in the area.
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- 14. How about day trips to Tahoe and Virginia City?
Lake Tahoe is about 30 miles and Virginia City is about 20 miles. The closest ski resorts to Reno are Mt. Rose (20 miles), Heavenly Valley at South Shore (40 miles), and North Star and Boreal Ridge near Truckee (30 miles). Carson City, the state capital, is 25 miles. Fort Churchill, near Silver Springs, is about 50 miles. They're all easy drives, scenic, and worth the trip.
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- 15. I want to cash in some coins. Are there casinos that will take pennies?
More and more casinos have self-service coin machines but they don't take pennies, dimes or chips (chips are plastic as opposed to coins or tokens that are metal). Usually you have to take pennies and dimes to a cashier. Penny machines are everywhere but they don't take coins, just paper currency or ticket vouchers. And, the maximum bet is usually 150 coins so you may feel like you're playing a dollar machine. On ticket-in, ticket-out machines you get a ticket that can be put in another machine or cashed in at an automatic redemption machine or at a cashier.
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- 16. What's the difference between ticket machines and coin machines?
No difference in your chances of winning but the ticket machines are more convenient for the player and the casino. It's easier to carry around and cash in a ticket than it is a bucket of coins, and the casino doesn't have to spend the time and money processing coin. Tickets are labeled for the casino where they're issued and can only be redeemed in that casino. Many casinos have both ticket machines and machines that accept coins, but a slot machine won't take both so look for the coin slot. If the machine takes coins it won't accept or dispense tickets. Also, be careful when you take a ticket for let's say $5.03 from a penny machine to a nickel machine. The nickel machine can't use that odd three cents so it credits the $5 to the machine and immediately prints out a three cent ticket as your change. Some players think they're getting their original ticket back and walk away with the three cents leaving the $5 credit on the machine. Always look closely at the amount printed on the ticket. If it's not the correct amount stay at the machine and call for assistance.
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- 17. Is Reno safe? Can I walk around at night?
Yes. Reno still has a small town atmosphere. There is some pan-handling but major crime is rare. Casinos have security patrols and video surveillance everywhere inside and outside their properties, and they also patrol on bicycles and in plain clothes. Most hotels have key cards and a security check at the elevator to make sure only authorized patrons are allowed access to the rooms. During special events when Virginia Street is closed to vehicle traffic there is increased 24-hour security in the outdoor events area.
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- 18. Do casinos know who I am and how much I spend?
Yes, when you use your player's card, and it's to your advantage to do so because of the comps you get for your play. Other than that, though, there's no hidden switch to make you win or lose, it's all random and employees don't have any control over this.
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- 19. I see people taking pictures in casinos. Is that okay these days?
The no picture policy is still on the books so it can be enforced when needed but it's no longer the strict policy it used to be. As long as you don't disrupt other players and only take pictures of your own group it's usually okay. Pictures at slot machines are easier than table games because you're in a more private location as opposed to a table full of other people. Hand an employee your camera and they'll usually take a picture for you. Smile!
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- 20. How about free drinks, smoking indoors and the brothels?
You have to be at least 21 years old to gamble or loiter in a gaming area in Nevada. Minors are allowed to walk through a gaming area accompanied by a parent or guardian to go to a non-gaming area like a restaurant, arcade or the hotel. Casino-hotels are allowed to employ minors in non-gaming areas so not every employee is over 21, it depends on where they work. Reno does have an ordinance that forbids open containers and drinking alcohol on city streets but this is waived in specific enclosed areas during special events outdoors. Smoking is allowed on the gaming floor and free drinks are served to patrons who are gambling. Brothels are legal in some rural counties in Nevada but they are not allowed in Washoe County (Reno) and Clark County (Las Vegas). That's why you'll find them a few miles away just across the county line. The closest brothels to Las Vegas are Sheri's Ranch and the Chicken Ranch in Pahrump (60 miles) and the closest to Reno is Wild Horse Resort on I-80 at the Patrick exit (20 miles) and outside Carson City (30 miles).
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- 21. Why should I go to Reno instead of an Indian casino where I live?
Choice. Atmosphere. Selection. More games. Walking distance. Out of town vacation. No waiting and better odds! There are many reasons to choose Reno, an out-of-state get-a-way with many rooms, slot machines, card games and casino selections all within walking distance. Downtown Reno has 8 major casinos within a 6 block area with rooms, entertainment and 24-hour action. If you don't mind taking a cab for a couple miles you can also sample the action at the Atlantis and Peppermill on South Virginia Street or the Grand Sierra Resort and John Ascuaga's Nugget east of downtown. Your best chances for having a good time with all the amenities are in the Reno area with competing casinos. Indian casinos don't give you as much choice and Reno offers the whole package with various entertainment besides gambling.
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- 22. I've heard that Reno is growing. What does Reno offer?
Housing prices seem high to us but they're about half what they are in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many Californians are cashing in and relocating, selling a house for $600,000 and purchasing a new home in Reno or Sparks for $300,000. It's less crowded here and you have all the amenities without the rush-hour gridlock, high taxes and government restrictions. Nevada is the fastest growing state in the nation. The Reno-Sparks area had a population of about 350,000 in 2005 with lots of beautiful, scenic areas close by if you choose to get away. Lake Tahoe is 30 miles and you can't beat that for a beautiful scenic drive. The tourist casino industry in Reno is shrinking a bit due to the Indian casinos but the economy is still strong because of the influx of businesses from California and the expansion of neighborhood casinos that serve the local market. Because we've catered to tourists for many years we have built an infrastructure that supports an expanded population. More and more of the Indian casino's customers are moving to Nevada enjoying lower prices, more convenient entertainment and a less crowded lifestyle. Nevada doesn't have a state tax on personal income and that's a big plus. Nevada also doesn't have an inventory tax and with the cheaper land many warehouse businesses have located here. Amazon.com has two huge warehouses (in Fernley and Stead) and Wal-Mart is building an 880,000 square-foot distribution center east of Reno next to Interstate 80. Cabela's is constructing a new destination store near Boomtown and a team of local developers has proposed a twin towers (35 and 21 stories) condominium project near First and Lake Streets. If you're considering a move to Northern Nevada, come on over. You should have done it sooner!
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- 23. Give me some specifics on buying real estate!
Washoe County has online property tax information and I researched a house in my Reno neighborhood that has sold several times to use as an example of the increase in prices. This 1,176 square foot house built in 1963 sold for $68,000 in 1986. In 1993 it sold again for $95,000 and in 2004 it sold for $274,900. The property taxes in 2005 were $972. As I've mentioned many times on this page Reno has all the big town amenities but is surrounded by miles and miles of recreation if you choose to escape the city. That's a big plus for new residents moving from more crowded areas.
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- 24. What's the casino lingo so I'll feel like an insider?
Comps=complimentaries. Tokes=tips. Silver miner=A person looking for money left in a slot machine. Sleeper=Someone asleep at a slot machine. Friday=Last day of the work week. Super Friday=Last day before vacation. Smile=Paying combination left on a slot machine. Taxi=Taxable jackpot $1,200 or more. Going to Section 13=Slot areas are divided into numbered sections but there's usually no Section 13, that's the restroom. Cap a machine=To reserve a slot machine and take it out of play while a player goes to dinner. Hopper=A bowl inside a slot machine that holds coins for the smaller pays (usually 400 coins or less). Fill=To replenish a slot machine hopper or table game. Multi-denom=Newer machines that toggle between different denominations such as 25 cents, 50 cents and $1. Dollar coins are tokens, by the way, and they're manufactured to a standard size by each casino. Chips are plastic and are used on the table games.
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- 25. What are some of the unusual calls you've had working in a casino?
We had a lady who said she had been paid $700 on a one million dollar jackpot and she had been told to come back for the rest of the money because she didn't have any identification. She didn't have any paperwork or receipt from the win and she didn't know where in the casino she had hit the $700. We also had a man who added a one in front of his 2,000 point score in our free slot tournament giving himself a first place score of 12,000. We didn't notice the change until he had left. Another time an employee was no call, no show for 3 days and came back saying he had been to Area 51 and was lost in the desert. He didn't go back to work, the lady mentioned above did not collect one million dollars, and the altered score was not honored.
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- 26. Isn't there a button somewhere to make you win or lose?
No, there are no buttons or computer programs that make you win or lose at any given time. Can you imagine the casino industry keeping a secret like that? The secret is in the payback which is much less than your actual odds for hitting a given combination. Let's say you bet $1 in a poker machine and your odds are 40,000 to 1 in hitting a Royal Flush. When you beat the odds and hit that Royal they'll pay you $1,000 and they still come out ahead. The games and slots are all honest and random but the casino knows the odds better than you do. They know when they have a winner they have still collected more than enough to pay for it.
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- 27. I want more information. Give me some links to find the best deals!
Pictures of Nevada? A couple thousand Nevada wallpaper pictures right here, and they're free. Visit the Nevadamax.com Home Page to start your pictorial journey or take a quick tour in Nevada Exposition. The links below will transport you to other sites that have information on the latest events, where to find the best deals and how to plan your trip to Northern Nevada.
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