A historic 1929 brick landmark in Ely featuring a vintage casino, sidewalk brass stars, and ranch-branded wood walls.
Hotel Nevada & Gambling Hall opened on July 7, 1929, as a six-story brick landmark that was, for two years, the tallest building in the entire state of Nevada. Commissioned by the Hotel Nevada Realty Company at a cost of 400,000 dollars, the structure was designed by H.L. Stevens & Company of San Francisco to be completely fireproof. It quickly became the social and economic anchor of downtown Ely, attracting miners, ranchers, and travelers motoring along the Lincoln Highway. When gaming was officially legalized in 1931, the hotel added slot machines and card tables, cementing its status as a premier high-desert destination. Today, the property is managed by Gaughan Gaming, preserving its historic character while offering 64 updated guest rooms and suites.
The ground floor casino maintains the sensory texture of midcentury Nevada, where vintage taxidermy, historic photographs, and display cases showcasing antique firearms and rattlesnakes line the walls. A unique architectural detail of the main hall is the collection of wooden wall panels branded with the actual marks of local ranches, seared into the wood by area cattlemen who brought their physical branding irons into the hotel. Outside, the sidewalk features a Walk of Fame with brass stars commemorating the Hollywood elite and historic figures who stayed here, including Ingrid Bergman, Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, and Wayne Newton. A giant, historic hand-painted burro mural adorns the building's exterior, alongside classic neon signage that illuminates the high-desert night.
Upstairs, the lodging quarters have been renovated to balance modern comforts with historical themes, with several rooms dedicated to the specific celebrities who once slept in them. The rooms feature nameplates on the doors, high-definition televisions, and updated bathrooms, though they retain their original 1920s dimensions and vintage layout. For dining, the hotel houses a Denny's restaurant that serves as a central gathering place for early morning breakfasts and late-night meals. On the casino floor, guests can still play classic slot machines, join live blackjack games, or place bets at Ely's only live sports book.
Look for the brass stars embedded in the sidewalk outside the entrance to see where guests like Ingrid Bergman and Jimmy Stewart once walked, then head inside to find the cattle brands burned into the wooden walls by local ranchers.
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