Reno grew up as a gambling town. Although Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, most gambling activities took place in dark, secluded halls with little in the way of frills, until Raymond Smith, the father of Nevada's gaming industry, opened Harold's Club on Virginia Street, Reno's main drag. With its big front windows, gleaming hardwood bars, and fancy card tables, Harold's single-handedly cleaned up the industry's image.

By 1940 western highways were covered with billboards proclaiming "Harold's or Bust," and Reno's gambling industry had quickly become a tourist attraction.

Las Vegas was an up-and-coming but relatively insignificant little town back then. However, during the post - World War II boom, Los Angeles grew into the largest city in the West, with its residents often driving to nearby Las Vegas for a quick weekend getaway. As a result Las Vegas became the state's main gambling oasis. Even so, Reno's boosters (and a neon banner above Virginia Street) still call their town the "Biggest Little City in the World." Indeed, it feels a lot bigger than it is - and in recent years it has been growing very quickly. Retirees and young people alike are flocking to Reno, and suburban subdivisions are popping up like desert mushrooms. Reno's gaming industry is thriving. Newcomers will find plenty of nonstop gambling in brightly lit, shiny new hotels and casinos.

But casinos are not Reno's only major tourist attraction. As other states and Indian tribal nations across the United States introduced legalized gambling, Reno started looking for additional ways to bring in tourist dollars. Last year the city opened a new $47.5 million National Bowling Stadium, boasting 80 lanes and enough seating for over a thousand spectators. Bowling? Yes, bowling. Tourists are packing their bowling shoes and showing up in huge numbers, along with the pros, who are heating up the lanes at national tournaments.

Another popular tourist activity is the "Behind the Scenes Gaming Tour," providing a quick lesson in how the gambling industry works. The tour literally takes you behind the scenes (using one-way mirrors) and lets you watch as people gamble their way to riches (or not!). Another well-known local attraction is the National Automobile Museum, with more than 200 antique, vintage, and classic cars on view. Visitors "drive" through the museum's theater, refuel at Wheel's Roadhouse cafe, and engage in "car talk" with mechanics at the Automotive Shop.

Those interested in astronomy should visit the University of Nevada - Reno's Fleischmann Planetarium, a wonderful public science education and entertainment facility. Exhibits at the museum include meteorites that were found in Nevada. The Sierra Safari Zoo, "The Biggest Little Zoo in the World" is also in town. The facility emphasizes hands-on education and allows kids to interact with all kinds of fascinating animals. For those who want to take a trip back in time, nearby Virginia City (located just a few miles southeast of downtown), offers visitors a fun-filled look at the history of this old mining town. It was on this site that the legendary Comstock Lode was discovered in 1860. Today, Virginia City is known for the tongue-in-cheek quality of its events. The International Camel and Ostrich Race, for example, started as a fictitious story. Now it's one of Nevada's best known events.

Although it's not as big as Las Vegas, in some ways Reno and the surrounding areas were dealt a better hand than their rival to the south.

The weather in Reno isn't nearly as hot or dry as it is in Vegas. Reno also has Lake Tahoe. This magnificent lake straddles the California-Nevada border, and is only a short drive from the Reno/Sparks area. But residents don't have to go to Lake Tahoe to enjoy themselves. The Truckee River flows right through downtown Reno, offering a cool and beautiful urban gathering spot. In the nearby town of Sparks is the popular Victorian Square, an area of turn-of-the-century Victorian mansions. Victorian Square hosts frequent public events year-round, ranging from sentimental, old-fashioned hometown Christmas celebrations to a Labor Day barbecue.

Reno Casinos

Vital Stats

Location: Reno is 440 miles northeast of Las Vegas, on the Nevada-California border, 137 miles north of Yosemite National Park.

Population: Reno 180,480; Sparks 66,346

Average summer temperature: 82� F

Average winter temperature: 33� F

Phone Numbers of Note

Reno Chamber of Commerce
One East First Street #1600
Reno, NV 89501
Phone: (775) 337-3030
Website: www.renosparkschamber.org

Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority
Phone: (800) 752-1177
Website: www.visitrenotahoe.com

California State Employment Development Department
800 Capitol Mall, MIC 83
Sacramento, CA 95814
Website: www.edd.ca.gov/mcaccs.htm

Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation
500 East Third Street
Carson City, NV 89713
Phone: (775) 684-3849
FAX: (775) 684-3850
TTY: (775) 687-5353
Website: http://detr.state.nv.us/
Email: detradmn@nvdetr.org

Newspapers and/or relocation publications:

Reno Gazette-Journal
Phone: (775) 788-6200
Website: http://news.rgj.com

Inexpensive accommodations:

Windsor Hotel - (775) 323-6171
El Cortez - (775) 322-9161
Davis Creek Park Campgrounds - (775) 849-0684

Airport:

Reno Tahoe International Airport
2001 East Plumb Lane
Reno, NV 89502
Website: www.renoairport.com

Bus service:

Greyhound Bus Lines
155 Stevenson St,
Reno, Nevada 89503
Phone: (775) 322-2970
Website: www.greyhound.com

Rail service:

Amtrak
Phone: (800) USA-RAIL
Website: www.amtrak.com

Public transit:

Reno Citifare
Phone: (702) 348-7433
Website: www.CitiFare.com

Map of Reno/Sparks

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