Last week I wrote about the legendary Mapes Hotel in downtown Reno Nevada. Well, if you cross the Truckee River and walk down a block you’ll run into another landmark hotel, the Riverside.
The Riverside. Today it contains low cost artist lofts and studios.
As you can see, it’s a good, solid structure, almost boring in design. However, at one time it was more notorious than the Mapes. Not because it was a rocking, rioting fun place to stay but for a different, almost more scandalous, reason.
The current structure was built in 1927 reportedly on the spot where the city of Reno was founded in 1861. During its heyday (1930 to approximately 1950) its select clientele stayed in two or three bedroom suites on the upper floors which were equipped with kitchenettes and had been designed specifically for them. Generally they were women traveling alone or with children and servants in tow. Many books and movies set during that time contain references to the Riverside including the “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand and the movie “The Women.”
Another clue to the hotel’s notoriety (if you haven’t guessed yet), the old courthouse is virtually right next door.
Lobby of the Riverside from Historic Reno
After the women no longer needed to trek to Reno for its special services, the hotel went into a tailspin and by the time I knew of its existence it was a moldy though dignified and staid sort of place where one’s grandparents might stay. Finally it closed in 1987. But, unlike the Mapes, preservationists prevailed and the building now serves a community of artists and has an organic coffeeshop in the lobby. What an interesting life that old gal has had!
As to why the Riverside has a place in my heart, well, according to a popular urban myth the Beatles once stayed in one of those multi-room suites on the sixth floor. Only, I know it never happened. It was just the mind fart of a couple of silly girls that somehow got out of control, resulting in an assault on the sixth floor of the Riverside. Unfortunately the word got out at school and for years after I was the butt of many jokes.
I left Reno shortly after high school and only returned for short visits with my family thus I rarely saw any of my old classmates. So when I found out at my 10 year reunion that the kids who’d made fun of me now firmly believed (and supposedly had evidence) that in October 1965 the Beatles hid out in the Riverside Hotel, I felt like I was on an episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Even when I told them it was hokum, they stuck by their stories. I, the instigator, was irrelevant. The story had a life of its own and was now entrenched in the minds of people who wanted to believe. (I fictionalized the whole thing a few years back on Wattpad.)
So if you haven’t guessed the Riverside’s claim to fame, here’s one last clue: For many years the phrase “I’m going to Reno” meant only one thing and it generally wasn’t something any man wanted to hear.
Saying nothing in particular 
Son of a gun – how times have changed, eh?
They sure have! Thanks for stopping by!
Interesting. There’s a great chunk of nuance with the facts. ”
People believe what they wanna believe, when it makes no sense at all.”
It was funny to hear all the “evidence.” Limo drivers, an employee at the South Tahoe airport and of course, a couple of hookers all claimed to have seen them. But I was at the hotel – no way. Still it was an unforgettable night and quite amusing to see how an urban legend evolves.
By now, I’m guessing they performed a few songs in the lobby and your classmates caught the show.
That would be a sight! Sorry I missed it.
Noooo, I’m sure they were there. They told me. (Oh, wait. The asylum nurses are coming.)
You and a group of middle-aged ex cheerleaders!
So easy to turn fiction into historical fact. :)))))
Too true!
so you’re a fake news guru, huh? Who knew? But hell if you read it on social media it must be true – that said I just checked Wikipedia and it’s not there yet…
Back then there wasn’t any internet. There was word of mouth spread by silly teenage girls on their pink princess phones! (probably a more potent source of fake news than the internet.)
I’m sure there’s a role for you as special adviser to someone…
I’m sure beetles did visit at one point, especially as the upkeep went down – but I hear it was an act most preferred to miss.
Woodchip beetles were responsible without a doubt for the demise of the Mapes but the Riverside survived!
Well, you know what they say Jan… “Rumour has it.” So it must be true! Why I even remember getting their autographs as the four of them snuck out the back door. It’s framed and hanging on my wall right now! 😀
I’m amazing they were able to stop and give autographs considering they were being chased by a screaming horde of teenagers! You were a brave guy!
You know I keep trying to tell my wife that same thing, that I’m a brave guy, but she acts like she can’t hear me. Probably has gone deaf—all that screaming—I’m amazed anyone could even hear the lyrics to their songs! 😀
Being such a beautiful hotel, full of such stories and Touristy awarded to a certain extent, the Beatles´issue is not that relevant I´d say! 😉 Wishing you the best Jan! 😀
Thank you! It was just so bizarre.
Man, I love the film, ‘The Women.’ I remember when the lead character had to reside in Reno for six weeks to secure a quickie divorce!
Yup – Reno was at one time the Divorce Capitol of the World!
Fantastic story Jan!! It’s fascinating to watch fiction and real life intertwine, and then being at the source of it must be such a curious feeling. Great Riverside info and photos too. Wonderful post~~
Thanks Jet!
At least they have a tale 🙂 I mean, we here don’t even have a tale related to the Beatles 🙂
They never came to Ireland? Bad lads!
No, they have been once 🙂
I loved this and would enjoy seeing the lofts. My artist brother, Randy, would enjoy living there.
This had some scandal, juicy gossip and the Beatles! 🙂 How much fun, Jan! I cannot imagine this story, pre-internet! 😀
I imagine the lofts are quite drafty considering the age of the building. If I were an old hotel, I think that’s the way I’d like to spend my final years – as a place where people make art!
I’ll be back JT, to read further : )
Cool Sloanie – thanks!
Ha! Aren’t those stories the best! The ones that we are initially mocked for, but in time, somehow the myths we accidentally started gain momentum and take on a life of their own.
On a different note, wouldn’t it be awesome to spend a casual artist-type residency in downtown Reno? I suspect I’d be too distracted by all of the fun diversions to get anything meaningful done, but it would sure be fun.
Thanks for sharing Jan!