Famous old Nevada resort to be restored

Frank Sinatra’s old hotel and casino is to receive a major makeover to bring it back to its former glory. The Cal Neva hotel-casino on Lake Tahoe which is on the California/Nevada state line will get a multi-million dollar upgrade.

The ten storey hotel that has 219 bedrooms and the 6,000-square foot casino was owned by Frank Sinatra and was a regular haunt for his Rat Pack gang consisting of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford, it was famed for its celebrity visits including Marilyn Monroe who stayed there on her last weekend before she died of a drug overdose in Los Angeles in 1962.

Robert Radovan, co-owner of Criswell-Radovan who now own the property said, “Our goal is to bring it back to its former glory and to make it what it was like in Sinatra’s day,” Radovan continued. “It has such great soul and character, and it’s needed this redo for many decades.”

Since its heyday in the early 60’s the casino and hotel fell victim to Las Vegas and its ever expanding resorts, until it closed its doors in 2012 when much of the resort was in urgent need of renovation.

Frank Sinatra renovated the place in his time as owner and is rumoured to have several underground tunnels which he used to smuggle mobsters and celebrities in and out of the development without being noticed by the general public.

The showroom will be improved with modernized equipment, painting and new carpets, Radovan said, and the tunnels will be preserved. Public tours of the cabins and tunnels will resume after the project is completed. Bigger plans are in store for the showroom.

“The acoustics in that place are amazing. The modernized equipment will allow for high-end concerts,” Radovan said, adding the room where Sinatra, Martin and Davis once performed will continue to be named after Sinatra.

Once completed the developers hope that the resort will be upgraded from a 4 star resort to a 5 star

In 1963 the resort lost its gambling license when owned by Sinatra because infamous Chicago gangster Sam Giancana was seen gambling in the casino.