Reno’s last link to 1960 Winter Olympics to be demolished

Martin Griffith

Saturday, Dec. 2, 2000 | 9:07 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Reno's last tangible link to the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley will soon vanish.

A two-story, A-frame building that served as a visitor center during the games near Lake Tahoe will be demolished by the city next week after being declared structurally unsound.

"It'll be sad to see it go," said Reno history buff Harry Spencer. "That's our last tangible vestige of the greatest international event ever staged in this area, bar none."

As the closest major city to the event - only 45 miles away - Reno provided lodging and transportation for thousands of Olympics spectators from around the world.

The downtown visitor center, built by the Reno Chamber of Commerce in 1959, was one of the busiest places during the games.

Spectators went there to get information about bus and Olympics schedules, as well as promotional materials from local resorts.

"They made sure you knew how to get to Squaw Valley for what event you wanted to see," said Reno native Neal Cobb. "They had anything and everything that could be of use to a visitor."

The visitor center became city property after the Olympics and was used by various groups over the years.

It has stood vacant on South Virginia Street just south of the Truckee River next to the Park Wedding Chapel since the Nevada Opera Association moved to a new location earlier this year.

Historic preservationists prefer the 2,276-square-foot, wooden-frame building to be moved to a new location, but have no plans to fight the demolition.

"I think there could have been some people who rallied around it and moved it, but it's too late now," said Cindy Ainsworth, president of the Historic Reno Preservation Society.

Mella Harmon of the State Historic Preservation Office agreed: "There are so many other preservation battles it does take a backseat. I think it's hard to make a case for a small outbuilding to be that significant."

City spokesman Chris Good said it would have cost too much to relocate it. He noted the building also was scheduled for demolition at least two other times in its first 15 years.

"City management decided that if we don't demolish it in a controlled way, it's likely to fall over by itself," he said.

Plans call for heavy equipment to raze it Wednesday, then for the site to revert to an open public plaza.

The visitor center was located near the historic Mapes Hotel, which served as the news media headquarters during the 1960 Olympics. The Mapes was imploded in January.

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