Ormsby House
Encyclopedia
The Ormsby House is a hotel/casino in Carson City, Nevada
. Originally opened in 1971, it closed in 2000 for extensive renovations. It was planned to reopen on July 4, 2001, but the opening date has been pushed back many times due to construction delays, and management changes. No re-opening date has been announced, as of April 8, 2009.
, at the corner of 2nd and Carson Streets. Major Ormsby was killed later that same year in the Pyramid Lake War. The hotel lasted until the early 1900s, when it was purchased by Dominique Laxalt and later demolished.
In 1972, a brand new Ormsby House was built by Dominique's son, former Nevada governor Paul Laxalt
, at the corner of 5th and Carson Streets. In 1975 the Laxalts sold it to Woody Loftin, and on his death in 1985 it passed to Truett Loftin. The hotel was forced into bankruptcy protection in 1990, and in 1993 the property was foreclosed and shut down. The Ormsby House stayed closed until 1995, when it was reopened by Barry Silverton. In 1997, it went through bankruptcy and foreclosure again. This time the new owners appointed former lieutenant governor and future Reno mayor Bob Cashell
as general manager. Cashell managed to turn the property around, and in 1999 it was sold to Carson City businessmen Al Fiegehen and Don Lehr, owners of Cubix Computer Corporation. They toyed with the idea of keeping the casino open during renovation, but finally decided to lay off all the employees and perform a complete inside-out renovation. The re opening has taken over 11 years, which is an unofficial Nevada state record for a renovation project. There is a small slots and video poker casino and bar open daily in the hotel's auto parking structure, in order to keep the gaming license current.
The Ormsby House Hotel was closed in September 2000. Renovation was supposed to be completed on July 4, 2001, but a combination of construction delays, numerous plan changes, permit problems, and ongoing perceived problems with the city have stretched the project out to more than ten years. At one point the owners became so frustrated with dealing with the city and the imposition of rules that do not apply to a remodel that they threatened to demolish the building. Currently there is no announced opening date, as of 9/11/2011.
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. Originally opened in 1971, it closed in 2000 for extensive renovations. It was planned to reopen on July 4, 2001, but the opening date has been pushed back many times due to construction delays, and management changes. No re-opening date has been announced, as of April 8, 2009.
History
The original Ormsby House was built in 1860 by Major William OrmsbyWilliam Ormsby
William Matthew Ormsby was an early settler of Nevada who was instrumental in the establishment of Carson City and the Nevada Territory. Major Ormsby was killed leading a vigilante force against Paiute Indians near Pyramid Lake.-Early Life:...
, at the corner of 2nd and Carson Streets. Major Ormsby was killed later that same year in the Pyramid Lake War. The hotel lasted until the early 1900s, when it was purchased by Dominique Laxalt and later demolished.
In 1972, a brand new Ormsby House was built by Dominique's son, former Nevada governor Paul Laxalt
Paul Laxalt
Paul Dominique Laxalt of Nevada was a former Republican District Attorney, Lieutenant Governor, Governor and U.S. Senator. In the media, the words "son of a Basque sheepherder" often accompanied his name. He was one of Ronald Reagan's closest friends in politics...
, at the corner of 5th and Carson Streets. In 1975 the Laxalts sold it to Woody Loftin, and on his death in 1985 it passed to Truett Loftin. The hotel was forced into bankruptcy protection in 1990, and in 1993 the property was foreclosed and shut down. The Ormsby House stayed closed until 1995, when it was reopened by Barry Silverton. In 1997, it went through bankruptcy and foreclosure again. This time the new owners appointed former lieutenant governor and future Reno mayor Bob Cashell
Bob Cashell
Robert Alan "Bob" Cashell is an American politician. He is the current mayor of Reno, Nevada since 2002. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Nevada from 1983 to 1987, and on the University of Nevada System Board of Regents from 1979 to 1982...
as general manager. Cashell managed to turn the property around, and in 1999 it was sold to Carson City businessmen Al Fiegehen and Don Lehr, owners of Cubix Computer Corporation. They toyed with the idea of keeping the casino open during renovation, but finally decided to lay off all the employees and perform a complete inside-out renovation. The re opening has taken over 11 years, which is an unofficial Nevada state record for a renovation project. There is a small slots and video poker casino and bar open daily in the hotel's auto parking structure, in order to keep the gaming license current.
The Ormsby House Hotel was closed in September 2000. Renovation was supposed to be completed on July 4, 2001, but a combination of construction delays, numerous plan changes, permit problems, and ongoing perceived problems with the city have stretched the project out to more than ten years. At one point the owners became so frustrated with dealing with the city and the imposition of rules that do not apply to a remodel that they threatened to demolish the building. Currently there is no announced opening date, as of 9/11/2011.