Known as “The Biggest Little City in the World,” the city located in northern Nevada may be welcoming tourists with a whole new look, as Reno officials decide whether to give the iconic downtown arch a facelift.
Estimated at $175,000, the improvements being discussed for the current arch, which was installed in 1987, include new electrical wiring and programmable lights and letters. Project options are being reviewed by Reno officials, said spokesman Matt Brown, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal report. The potential renovation has no timeline yet and officials have not held a public meeting, where according to Assistant Reno City Manager Bill Thomas, residents will be able to provide their take on the makeover.
Previous versions of the arch, which spans Virginia Street at the intersection with Commercial Row, date back to 1927. The current arch is the third installed at its current location, with the original being built in 1926 to commemorate the completion of the Victory and Lincoln Highways. The current arch was installed in 1987 and in 2009 it was retrofitted with new lights. After the Nevada Transcontinental Highway Exposition in 1927, which celebrated the completion of the two highways, the city council made the decision to keep the arch as a permanent gateway to downtown Reno, according to Wikipedia.
Prior to the late 1950’s, Reno was once the gambling capital of the United States, however, various factors in the last twenty years, including the rapid growth of Las Vegas, have reduced its business. Larger hotel casinos that call Reno home and have shown significant growth include the Peppermill, Atlantis, and the Grand Sierra Resort. Reno is also the corporate headquarters for numerous companies, which include Bally Technologies and international Game Technology, among others. The city is also the home of the Reno Aces, the Arizona Diamondbacks minor league baseball Triple-A affiliate.