Q:
Re your QoD on April 12 about the oldest building in Las Vegas. I stayed at the Hotel Nevada in Ely, Nevada, in 2014. A huge sign claims it's the oldest hotel in Nevada. AWESOME tiny place and super clean. Did it start in downtown Las Vegas where the Golden Gate is (which was originally named the same)? I was surprised to read about it there!
And the new poll is now live: What was the primary purpose for your last trip to Las Vegas?
A:
Okay. Let's clear this up.
The Hotel Nevada in downtown Las Vegas is Nevada's oldest continuously operating hotel in the same building. The name changed to the Sal Sagev in 1931 and the Golden Gate in 1955.
The Nevada Hotel (notice the transposition of the two words) in Ely in east-central Nevada is the state's oldest continuously operating hotel in the same building and with the same name. It opened in 1929, so the Hotel Nevada and Nevada Hotel overlapped by a couple of years.
The Gold Hill Hotel in Gold Hill, just down the hill from Virginia City in northern Nevada, is the state's oldest hotel building. It's also the second-oldest standing structure in Nevada, second only to the Old Mormon Fort, which predates it by four years. The hotel opened in 1861, though part of that building went up in 1859, but it hasn't operated continuously between now and then and it changed its name from the original Riesen House. Also, it was actually a private residence for a while and it's been renovated and expanded several times. The original wing, called the Great Room and now a cozy lounge with a fireplace and antique furnishings, remains in place 158 years later. The bar itself was added in 1960, but made to look 100 years older. Great spot to spend the night if you're tramping around the Reno area.
As you can see, it's all in the historical qualifications.
And here's your link to the new poll: What was the primary purpose of your last visit to Las Vegas?
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