Originally, a wooden structure, the Reception Hotel was located here but burned in 1905. The "New
Reception" was rebuilt and changed to the Star Hotel in 1915. Joe Mackie acquired it 1957 and
enlarged and remodeled it frequently changing the signage. Joe and seven members of his family
were killed when his private plane crashed in 1974. The Star burned to the ground four years later.
I was told melted slots were hauled to the dump with coins still inside. I remember blackened coins
coming out of machines at the Winners Inn. I once asked Joe for old chips but was rebuffed. His
partner, Harold Larragueta, took me in his office and told me stories of the old days and gave me
a couple of the old copper dollar tokens. I got to know Joe's son in law who built the Cattlemen's
casino with a settlement from the plane crash. Joe's high visibility around town caused locals to
call the place "Winnemackie".