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Category: Ormsby House Renovation Gallery

She used to be the grand old dame of Carson City. The Ormsby House was not only the biggest hotel and most opulent casino in Carson City, but also the tallest building in town. The neon on her roof shone like a beacon, drawing travellers towards downtown. Plus, notice the emblem in the portecochere above. She was using the Guns N’ Roses motif before Axl Rose was cool.

But the 90’s came and hit her hard, and she went through a rough patch – bankruptices, foreclosures, shuttered doors for two years, and a handful of different owners. In those dark years she was still limping along, but just barely, and she was definitely a shadow of her former self.

In the year 2000 she was bought by a local computer company, and she finally had a parent who had some money and was willing to fix her up. Their solution? Shut her down, gut the building, and renovate it from the inside out. “Grand Re-opening July 4th, 2001,” they proclaimed!

Now, here we are, several years later. Is it open yet? No. In fact, they’ve just now started on the exterior renovation. All the usual excuses have been given: construction snags, inadequate original blueprints, unforeseen problems, etc. The owners have even gone so far as to say it would have been cheaper and easier to tear the whole thing down and start new. In fact, at one point they threatened to do just that. But no, through it all they’ve stuck to the promise of renovation.

In November 2002 work started in earnest. They’re building a mini-casino, the Winchester Club, on the lower level of the parking garage. It’s supposed to keep people occupied while the main renovation goes on. They’re planning for a new sky bridge, valet parking, luxurious hotel suites, and the title of “Best Buffet in Town”. They promised a Five Star experience. The opening date was pushed back to July 4th, 2003, and then beyond. And so the cycle continues.

This derelict phoenix at the heart of town will eventually rise again, and I’ll be there to document it. These pages are a chronicle of the exterior renovation. Nothing fancy, just me and my spiffy new digital camera walking around and taking pictures. No interior pictures, since that would require a hard hat and the owner’s permission, and I have neither. No insider information, either, since I’m just a local goof with no connections. All I know is what’s in the newspaper, and what I can see with my eyes. I’ll write about the former, and post pictures of the latter. Half-assed reporting at its best.

Now, on to the pictures! Pick a page from the list below, or click on the marquee to jump in at the beginning! Check back often for updates.

October 27, 2020October 30, 2020Scott Schrantz

Ghosts of Carson: The Ormsby House

October 2, 2019November 11, 2019Scott Schrantz

New Plans for the Ormsby House

November 19, 2016November 19, 2016Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Update

November 3, 2015March 2, 2016Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Hits 15 Years of Dormancy

February 10, 2012February 29, 2016Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Update

January 31, 2011January 31, 2011Scott Schrantz

Another Article on the Ormsby House

September 21, 2010October 27, 2020Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Hits 10 Years of Dormancy

October 29, 2009August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Construction

October 20, 2008September 25, 2019Scott Schrantz

A(nother) Opening Date for the Ormsby House!

September 24, 2008August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – Summer, 2008

May 20, 2008August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – Spring, 2008

February 10, 2007August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – Winter, 2006

November 12, 2006August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – October, 2006 Special Report – Inside the Ormsby House – Page 5

November 12, 2006August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – October, 2006 Special Report – Inside the Ormsby House – Page 4

November 12, 2006August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – October, 2006 Special Report – Inside the Ormsby House – Page 3

November 2, 2006October 19, 2017Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – October, 2006 Special Report – Inside the Ormsby House – Page 2

October 26, 2006August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – October, 2006 Special Report – Inside the Ormsby House – Page 1

September 16, 2006August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – September, 2006

May 21, 2006August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – May, 2006

March 2, 2006August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – February, 2006

December 5, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – November, 2005

November 10, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – October, 2005

October 14, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – September, 2005

September 8, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – August, 2005

August 2, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – July, 2005

July 2, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – June, 2005

June 4, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – May, 2005

May 4, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – April, 2005

April 3, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – March, 2005

February 27, 2005August 26, 2010Scott Schrantz

Ormsby House Renovation Photos – February, 2005

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