I came across an article the other day discussing the possible demolition of a truly iconic hotel in Lake Tahoe, CA. The Cal Neva Lodge, known for entertaining regulars such as the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra even owned the hotel for a short time), Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and others, went into foreclosure last April and for the first time in a long time the roulette wheels stopped spinning. Canyon Capital Realty Advisors took control of the property and now hopes to reopen the storied casino, built in 1937, but analysts question whether the gaming industry in the region has suffered too sharp a decline for the casino to operate profitably. I sure hope it doesn't come to that.
A little history behind the Cal Neva Lodge
"The original Lodge was built in 1926 by wealthy San Francisco businessman, Robert P. Sherman, who used the Lodge as a guesthouse for his friends and real estate clients. The Lodge was designed after Frank Bacon's log cabin in the hit Broadway play "LIGHTNIN," starring Will Rogers. The Cal Neva Resort. Spa & Casino quickly became the playground for celebrities and socialites who wanted to escape from the public eye.
The original Cal Neva Lodge burned to the ground on May 17, 1937 and was rebuilt in just over thirty days by Norman Biltz and Adler Larson, both early Tahoe pioneers and developers. Over 500 men were employed to work around the clock to finish the new building which is seen today in the Indian Room, Circle Bar and main Casino area.
The Cal Neva Resort. Spa & Casino earned the nickname "Lady of the Lake," weathering heavy snowfalls and the remodeling of a succession of owners including serious gamblers with names like "Pretty Boy," "Bones," and "Baby Face" during the 1940's and 1950's. During the Frank Sinatra ownership years of 1960 to 1963, along with his associates "Wingy" and "Skinny," Sinatra built the now famous Celebrity Showroom and entertained celebrities from around the world. History says Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Juliet Prowse, and Marilyn Monroe (among others) "sang for their suppers" in the Celebrity Showroom and the Indian Room while politicians and Hollywood stars played at the tables and in the private cottages overlooking Lake Tahoe.
Today it's a new era in the life of the "Lady of the Lake" with the Cal Neva Resort, Spa & Casino positioned as the leading destination Lake Tahoe resort with services and accommodations that will meet the needs of the most discriminating traveler." - excerpt from www.calnevaresort.com