In the late 1960's and the early 1970's Ernie Primm purchased most of the land on the west side of Sierra Street in hopes of one day building a hotel - in fact at one time Ernie Primm was the largest landowner in downtown Reno.

The original Primadonna Club was located on the west side of N. Virginia street and went back to Fulton Alley (the alley between Virgina and Sierra). Primm later expanded the club over Fulton Alley to Sierra Street. Primm sold the club and the downtown holdings to the Del Webb Corporation. In 1978 Del Webb opened the Sahara Reno on the west side of Sierra Street and connected the hotel to the Primadonna Club via skybridge. Later changed the name to the Sahara Reno. Hilton took over on Dec 31, 1981 and a couple of years later re-named the site on Virgina Street the Virginia Street Casino and later rethemed it to Paco's and it later became the Flamingo Hilton.

Hope this helps.