I thought Richard's Rancho Bar ashtray posted yesterday was worth commenting on.
The Rancho Bar was formerly known as Farley's Dude Ranch and included 25-30 motel
units, that had been constructed of cobblestones. At one time they had been used as
horse stables by George Wingfield for his racehorses. Farley eventually lost the
place to the bank and Pete Cladianos, a slot operator, acquired the place. At the time,
(mid-forties) Swede Oleson and his partner were leasing the bar and running card games.
Cladianos began to run the place as a motel rather than a Dude Ranch and it was probably
around this time he began calling it the El Rancho. Eventually the place offered 21 and
roulette. In the 70s, I had an apartment across Virginia St. and remember the stone motel
units. They are long gone and were located where Jimboy's Tacos parking lot is now. I
remember old-timers talking about all the stuff that went on in there. Today the place is
known as Carl's. Much of this information comes from the book, "My Father's Son" well
worth reading if you like old Reno gambling.