11 Most Endangered
Mapes Hotel
Year Listed: 1998
Location: Nevada
Current Status: Lost
Threat: Development
When the Mapes Hotel and Casino opened for business on December 17, 1947, it was the tallest building in Nevada and the first establishment to offer luxurious accommodations, fine dining, gambling and entertainment under one roof. Tony Bennett performed in the Sky Room -- one of many celebrities to pass through the doors. Besides being a show-biz hangout, the hotel was a fixture of community life, hosting local proms, club meetings and holiday parties. In 1982 the Mapes closed its doors, the victim of changing times and tastes. In 1998, supporters envisioned it as the centerpiece of a proposed cultural district--but the Reno Redevelopment Agency, which owns the building, was unable to provide the $6 million that a developer says he needs to make the project viable. Unless the necessary funding is found soon, the city council will likely to vote to demolish the Mapes.
Update
After a battle fought long and hard, Reno's city council voted to destroy the historic Mapes Hotel, Reno’s first hotel-casino. On Super Bowl Sunday, 2000, the Reno landmark was imploded, becoming the first ever 11 Most Endangered site to be demolished. Loss of the Mapes galvanized a heightened interest in historic preservation in Reno and throughout the state. In 2002 Nevada's first preservation statewide, Preserve Nevada, was established, partially funded by the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Through Preserve Nevada’s efforts, now Nevada has its own 11 Most Endangered list. The central riverfront site where the Mapes once stood now hosts a civic plaza with an outdoor ice rink and theater stage. The history of the site is interpreted through a permanent historic display on the plaza.
