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Quirky Casinos Draw the Curious to North Lake Tahoe

By Dan Schlossberg
ConsumerAffairs.com

December 22, 2005
It's not Las Vegas. It's not Reno. It's not even the same as its nearest neighbor, South Lake Tahoe. But casino customers who can't stand the commotion of the bigger gambling centers will find smaller venues steeped in history on the California/Nevada border.

North Lake Tahoe is home to Cal-Neva, the oldest original operating casino in the country. Built in 1926 and later owned by Frank Sinatra, it was a haven for Hollywood hotshots in the �60s, when the celebrity showroom and rooftop helipad were added to accommodate the owner's Rat Pack pals.

Tunnels that run underneath the property were used for illicit bootlegging, escorting Marilyn Monroe in privacy, or providing protection from nuclear attack � depending who's telling the story.

The modern Cal-Neva Resort Spa and Casino straddles the state line, providing the best of both worlds (California recreation and Nevada gaming). Now owned by NAMCAL LLC and managed by Sentry Hospitality, Ltd., the property is planning an expansion that will add 54 two-bedroom suites on the lakefront, a 12,000 square foot spa and health club, a new pool, and state-of-the-art conference facilities.

Like Cal-Neva, the Crystal Bay Club blends pre-war roots with 21st-century needs. Fresh from its own multi-million-dollar facelift, the gaming area includes stone, carvings, giant trees, and starlit ceilings. One of its two restaurants, the Crown Room Caf�, was a bowling alley in the �40s.

The Tahoe Biltmore, built in 1946, also has new features, including Breeze, one of the area's newest nightclubs, and Conrad's BBQ and Grill. Many of its 92 lodge-style rooms have views of the lake � a refreshing break for guests who hike the resort's 10,500 square-foot gaming area in search of the perfect slot machine.

A newer property with an older design, the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa, and Casino, is located in Incline Village. A $60 million refurbishing completed two years ago re-created the resort in the image of a grand alpine lodge of the �20s. Its Stillwater Spa features a 20,000 square-foot, lagoon-style retreat with three pools.

Another Hyatt hallmark is the architecture of the lobby, where rich leather chairs sit under high-beamed ceilings next to an oversized, two-sided fireplace.

North Lake Tahoe is 45 minutes from Reno's airport, two hours from Sacramento's, and three hours from San Francisco's.

For further information, contact North Lake Tahoe Resort Association (800-824-6348, www.PureTahoeNorth.com).

Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is president of the North American Travel Journalists Association, and a frequent contributor to AAA Traveler and USAirways Magazine.

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