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Report From Reno: The Silver Legacy

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 407 N Virginia St [map], Reno, NV, United States, 89501
October 9, 2006 at 8:45 AM | by juliana | 0 Comments

[Ed Note: While everyone else was gambling in Las Vegas, Hotel Maven Dzot decided to check out the  scene in Reno. So this week we are bringing you his reports from Nevada's other big little city. Enjoy.]

Reno bills itself as the Biggest Little City in the World.  It's often thought of as Las Vegas North.  Well, speaking as a confirmed Vegas junky, I was ready to have a good laugh at that claim.  But, you know, Reno does OK.  Style and attitude-wise, the Vegas Strip it ain't.  It's somewhat like downtown Vegas in that it is well downscale (and even seedy in parts) when compared to the glitter at the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvd., but it's not without its charms.

First off, what might be termed the Reno strip is small-ish.  The only really big complex is a co-joined casino threesome of Silver Legacy, the El Dorado, and Circus Circus.  Stay at one and you have easy access to all three.  

The Silver Legacy, where I was staying, was the central of the three properties.  The first thing you notice is that just off the lobby, there is huge, multi-story Victorian era contraption serving as its centerpiece.  The device had no obvious function at first glance; it was just an enormous concoction of giant gears and lever arms and pulleys.  It looked like a prop from League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or a time machine as imagined by a contemporary of Jules Verne or H.G. Wells.

More on the Silver Legacy post-click.

It turns out this monstrosity is an old silver stamping machine, which cranks out some sort of coins (presumably souvenirs).  This goes hand in hand with silver mining theme of the Silver Legacy.  Which begs the question: Did they have the gargantuan machine and name the casino based on it, or did they want a silver mining themed casino and go out and find the gargantuan machine?  Which begs a further question: What is the lamest casino theme ever?  I gotta go with The Silver Legacy.  At least until someone comes up with a zinc mining or gravel pit theme.

Lame theme aside, the Silver Legacy is not a bad spot.  The rooms are straight out of the Howard Johnson's playbook from the 1970s, but they are clean and functional.  The staff is friendly and sharp.  The price is right -- the night before Labor Day, when the place was packed, the rate a bit over $100, but on subsequent nights the price plunged to $45.  Toto, we're not in Vegas anymore.

The restaurant options are good and cover the full range from high-toned steakhouse to food court staples.  Parking is plentiful.  There is a nice workout facility.  The pool, on the other hand, is sorry-looking, although it is up on the roof with a decent view.  There are two -- count 'em -- two cabanas and if they charge for them, they shouldn't.  Wi-fi support comes though being an AT&T hotspot and so is not free, and you all know how we feel about that.

Stay Tuned Tomorrow when Dzot reports on the El Dorado

Image via Hanneorla/Flickr

Related Stories:
· Silver Legacy Reviews [TripAdvisor]

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