Reno Hotels (No Sign-up)

This era of disappearing motels inspired Willy Vlautin’s gritty novel The Motel Life , which follows brothers navigating life on Reno's margins. Similarly, the memoir Hotel Goodbyes by Stephen Jon Thompson tells of his survival after being abandoned in a Reno motel room as a child in 1980. Modern Revitalization

Reno's hotel history is a rich collection of grand ambition, tragic loss, and urban transformation. From the mid-20th-century luxury "Big Three" to gritty motels that served as the final sanctuary for those seeking a fresh start, these buildings are central to the city's identity. The Rise and Fall of the "Big Three" reno hotels

Occupying the former site of the Holiday Hotel (Reno’s first motorist-focused hotel), this property has shifted between gaming and non-gaming models several times before its recent sale. This era of disappearing motels inspired Willy Vlautin’s

As Interstate 80 bypassed old routes in the 1970s, many family-run motels shifted to weekly or monthly rentals, becoming "housing of last resort" for low-income residents. From the mid-20th-century luxury "Big Three" to gritty

An 80-year-old property transformed into an artist-designed "Burner" hotel inspired by Burning Man culture. Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa 4-star hotel