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The El Cortez Hotel is an examle of
the Art Deco style
Photo by Charles Miller,
Courtesy of Nevada State Historic Preservation Office |
Built in 1931, El Cortez Hotel is one of only three remaining major Art
Deco buildings in Reno, and is an excellent example of this style. The
foliated motif found on the terra cotta design on the building's base
and parapet are remarkable Art Deco details. At the time it was built,
it was Reno's tallest building. The hotel experienced such extensive use
early on that an addition was built just a few years after its construction.
The hotel included the Orchid Room, a swanky bar and a popular restaurant
called the Tracedero Room. These rooms were elegantly appointed with stylish
Art Deco ornamentation. The El Cortez was a high-class hotel, garnering
an astounding $6 per night, compared to the prevailing room rate of $2.50
per night. The El Cortez was built in anticipation of increased divorce
traffic after Reno's divorce law was liberalized in 1931. The residency
period for those seeking a divorce in Reno was reduced from three months
to six weeks, to boost the already lucrative divorce trade. El Cortez
was one of several temporary residential complexes constructed during
this time.
The El Cortez Hotel
Photo by Mella Rothwell Harmon, courtesy of Nevada State Historic
Preservation Office |
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Reno-based architect, George Ferris and his son, Lehman A. "Monk" Ferris,
designed this hotel for real estate investor Abe Zetooney. George Ferris's
career in Nevada lasted over 30 years. He was educated at Swarthmore College
and settled in Reno in 1906, where he opened his own architectural office.
He was responsible for the Spanish Quartet of schools, including Mount
Rose and McKinley Park, as well as the Governor's
Mansion in Carson City, and later in his career he served as the
State Architect for the Federal Housing Authority. Ferris formed a partnership
with his son Lehman in 1928, which lasted until 1932. Lehman had studied
at the University of Nevada and worked with Frederick DeLongchamps before
going to work for his father. He was one of the first architects in Nevada
to specialize in steel frame construction, served as the City of Reno
building inspector, was instrumental in the adoption of a Uniform Building
Code, and chairman of the first State Architectural Registration Board
in 1947.
The El Cortez Hotel is located at 239 West Second St. in Reno.
The lobby and casino are open to the public; for reservations call 775-322-9161.
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