Nevada's oldest hotel, operating since 1861. Features historic stone rooms, a legendary saloon, and Comstock Lode history near Virginia City.
The Gold Hill Hotel stands on State Route 342, just one mile south of Virginia City, as the oldest operating hotel in Nevada. Established in 1861 during the height of the Comstock Lode, the property began as a single-story stone boarding house known as the Riesen House, built by A. Riesen. By late 1862, Vermont native Horace M. Vesey acquired the property, renamed it the Vesey House, and added a wooden structure to the south of the original stone building. Over its long history, the building has served as a private residence, a boarding house, a brothel, and a saloon. It has hosted pivotal moments in Western labor history, including an August 1864 gathering where local miners assembled out front to draft a constitution for the region's first labor union. Today, owners Tony and Jill Clough, who acquired the property in April 2021, maintain the landmark's dual identity as both a living museum and a fully functioning country inn.
Lodging at the hotel is split between the original nineteenth-century stone structure and a newer wing constructed during a major renovation in 1987. The historic wing features five original rooms characterized by uneven floors, period antiques, double beds, and a complete absence of televisions or phones. Among these is Room 4, widely known as Rosie’s Room, which is named for a legendary former resident and is said to carry the faint scent of roses. Room 5, or William’s Room, is another historic space with its own resident lore. For guests seeking modern conveniences, the 1987 addition offers eight larger rooms, some of which feature private balconies looking out toward the canyon. The property also includes freestanding historic structures, such as the Miner’s Cabin, situated near the headframe of the nearby Yellow Jacket mine, and the Bullion Lodge, providing a variety of ways to experience the property's deep roots.
The social heart of the hotel remains its historic saloon and the Crown Point Restaurant. In the Great Room, guests can sit by a massive stone fireplace that still features its original iron cooking pot-hanger, a spot where Mark Twain reportedly warmed himself during his days as a reporter for the Territorial Enterprise. The adjoining bar is famous for its original wooden counter where miners once settled their tabs. The Crown Point Restaurant, which underwent a careful restoration to preserve its historic wainscoting and vintage photographs, serves robust dinners and a popular Sunday brunch. Because it remains the only full-service lodging in the immediate Virginia City area, the hotel offers a rare opportunity to dine, drink, and sleep under a single historic roof, connected by the creak of floorboards that have settled over more than a century and a half of Comstock history.
To experience the oldest part of the building, book one of the five original rooms in the 1861 stone wing, which feature uneven floors, antique furnishings, and no televisions. If you prefer modern amenities, ask for a balcony room in the 1987 addition.
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