Ormsby House
Ormsby House was a hotel and casino in Carson City, Nevada, that closed in 2000 and never completed its prolonged redevelopment.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Ormsby House was a hotel and casino property in Carson City, Nevada, named after Major William Ormsby, an early Nevada figure. The original Ormsby House was built in 1860 at the corner of Second and Carson Streets. Major Ormsby was killed later that year during the Pyramid Lake War, while the hotel continued operating into the early twentieth century. It was subsequently acquired by Dominique Laxalt and eventually demolished. A new Ormsby House was constructed in 1972 at Fifth and Carson Streets by Paul Laxalt, Dominique Laxalt's son and a former governor of Nevada. The replacement property operated as a hotel, casino, and entertainment venue during a period when Carson City was developing as a regional gaming and hospitality destination. In 1975, the Laxalt family sold the property to Woody Loftin. After Loftin's death in 1985, ownership passed to his son, Truett Loftin, who invested in a substantial parking structure on Curry Street connected to the property by an elevated walkway. The property later encountered increasing competitive pressure from casinos outside Nevada, including Native American casinos in California. Ormsby House entered bankruptcy protection in 1990, was foreclosed upon and closed in 1993, and reopened in 1995 under Barry Silverton. It entered bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings again in 1997. The subsequent owners appointed former Nevada lieutenant governor and future Reno mayor Bob Cashell as general manager. During Cashell's tenure, the operation reportedly improved and the property was stabilized for a time. In 1999, Carson City businessmen Al Fiegehen and Don Lehr, who were associated with Cubix Computer Corporation, purchased Ormsby House for $3.75 million. They initially considered keeping the hotel and casino operating while work proceeded, but instead dismissed the workforce and pursued a comprehensive interior and exterior redevelopment. The property closed on October 30, 2000. Reopening was originally targeted for July 4, 2001, but repeated construction delays, design changes, permit issues, management changes, and disputes or perceived difficulties involving municipal requirements prevented completion. The proposed redevelopment was substantially broader than a conventional hotel renovation. Plans described a hotel, casino, convention facilities, four bars, a wedding chapel, coffeehouse, fine-dining restaurant, buffet, nightclub, and entertainment center. For several years, a limited slots and video-poker operation known as the Winchester Club operated on Fridays and Saturdays in the Curry Street parking structure, in part to preserve the property's Nevada gaming license. That operation ended by 2012. In March 2018, the owners allowed the renovation building permit to expire and indicated that the site might be converted from a hotel and casino into a combination of housing and retail space. The property had reportedly attracted prospective buyers, but several transactions had failed. As of the latest information in the supplied reference, the Ormsby House remained closed and was still being offered for sale, with possible residential and retail reuse under consideration. Don Lehr died in March 2022 at age 92. The Ormsby House is therefore best understood as a defunct hospitality and gaming brand associated with an unfinished redevelopment rather than an operating casino resort.
History
The Ormsby House name has been used for two Carson City hotel properties separated by more than a century. The first was built in 1860 at Second and Carson Streets by Major William Ormsby. Ormsby was killed later that year in the Pyramid Lake War, but the hotel survived him and continued as a Carson City landmark into the early 1900s. Dominique Laxalt later acquired the property, which was eventually demolished. The modern Ormsby House opened in 1972 at Fifth and Carson Streets. It was built by Paul Laxalt, Dominique Laxalt's son and a former Nevada governor. The property combined hotel rooms and casino gaming and became part of Carson City's hospitality and gambling economy. The Laxalts sold it to Woody Loftin in 1975. Following Loftin's death in 1985, his son Truett Loftin inherited or assumed control of the property and funded a large Curry Street parking structure linked to the hotel-casino by an airwalk. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the competitive environment for Nevada casinos became more difficult. Casinos operated by Native American tribes in California created additional competition for regional gaming businesses. Ormsby House entered bankruptcy protection in 1990. The property was foreclosed upon and closed in 1993, then reopened in 1995 under Barry Silverton. A second bankruptcy and foreclosure episode followed in 1997. New owners appointed Bob Cashell, a former Nevada lieutenant governor who later became mayor of Reno, as general manager. His management reportedly improved the operation and produced a temporary turnaround. The property changed hands again in 1999, when Carson City businessmen Al Fiegehen and Don Lehr purchased it for $3.75 million. Both were associated with Cubix Computer Corporation and lacked prior hotel-management experience, according to the supplied reference. They considered operating the property during construction but ultimately dismissed the employees and pursued a complete remodel. Ormsby House closed on October 30, 2000. The redevelopment was initially expected to finish by July 4, 2001. That target was repeatedly missed as the project encountered construction delays, multiple redesigns, permit complications, management changes, and conflict or perceived conflict with Carson City requirements. At one point, the owners reportedly threatened to demolish the building because of their frustration with requirements associated with asbestos-related remodeling. The project continued for years without producing a completed reopening. The proposed finished complex was intended to include a hotel, a large casino, convention and meeting areas, four bars, a wedding chapel, a coffeehouse, fine dining, a buffet, a nightclub, and an entertainment center. A small casino and bar called the Winchester Club operated on selected Fridays and Saturdays in the Curry Street parking structure for several years, primarily to help preserve the Nevada gaming license. That limited operation ended by 2012. In March 2018, the renovation building permit expired. The owners then indicated that residential and retail conversion was more likely than restoration of the hotel-casino concept. Potential buyers had expressed interest, but three prospective deals reportedly failed during the preceding six months. Don Lehr died in March 2022. By the latest supplied account, through January 2026, Ormsby House remained closed and the property was still for sale, with possible housing and retail reuse. No operating hotel or casino business is identified in the reference material.
- 2022
Don Lehr dies
[1]Don Lehr, a 1999 purchaser and owner, died in March at age 92.
- 2018
Renovation permit expires
[1]The building permit for the renovation expired, and owners discussed housing and retail conversion.
- 2012
Winchester Club operation ends
[1]The limited slots and video-poker operation in the Curry Street parking structure had ended by this time.
- 2000
Hotel-casino closes for renovation
[1]The property closed on October 30 for an extensive remodel that was originally expected to finish in 2001.
- 1999
Fiegehen and Lehr acquire Ormsby House
[1]Al Fiegehen and Don Lehr purchased the property for $3.75 million and began planning a comprehensive renovation.
- 1997
Second bankruptcy and foreclosure
[1]The property went through another bankruptcy and foreclosure, after which Bob Cashell became general manager.
- 1995
Property reopens
[1]Ormsby House reopened under Barry Silverton.
- 1993
Foreclosure and closure
[1]The property was foreclosed upon and shut down.
- 1990
Bankruptcy protection
[1]The hotel-casino entered bankruptcy protection amid increasing regional gaming competition.
- 1985
Ownership passes to Truett Loftin
[1]After Woody Loftin's death, ownership passed to his son, Truett Loftin, who invested in a connected parking structure.
Products and positioning
A Carson City hotel-casino intended to combine lodging, Nevada gaming, dining, nightlife, conventions, and entertainment in a centrally located property. Its later identity became closely associated with a long-running, incomplete redevelopment project.
Hotel · 1972
Ormsby House Hotel
The lodging component of the modern Ormsby House at Fifth and Carson Streets. It operated as part of an integrated Carson City hotel-casino complex before closing permanently for redevelopment work in 2000.
Casino · 1972
Ormsby House Casino
The property's principal gaming operation, associated with the hotel and broader entertainment complex. It faced financial and competitive pressure, including competition from California tribal casinos, and did not resume normal operations after the 2000 closure.
Slots and video poker
Winchester Club
A small slots and video-poker casino with a bar that operated on Fridays and Saturdays in the property's Curry Street parking structure for several years. It helped maintain the Nevada gaming license while the principal property remained closed and was no longer operating by 2012.
Brand decisions
2018
Consideration of housing and retail conversionStrategyBackground
After years of incomplete renovation work, the building permit expired and several potential sale transactions reportedly failed.
Action taken
The owners indicated that converting the property into housing and retail space was more likely than reopening it as a hotel and casino.
Aftermath
The property remained closed and continued to be associated with possible sale and redevelopment rather than active hospitality or gaming operations.
2000
Complete closure for inside-out renovationStrategyBackground
The owners initially discussed keeping the hotel and casino open during renovation but concluded that a full redevelopment would require shutting the operation and dismissing its employees.
Action taken
Ormsby House closed on October 30, 2000, for a comprehensive remodel.
Aftermath
The planned 2001 reopening was repeatedly postponed because of construction delays, plan changes, permit problems, and management issues.
1999
Purchase by Al Fiegehen and Don LehrM&ABackground
The property had experienced bankruptcy, foreclosure, and operational instability before being acquired by Carson City businessmen associated with Cubix Computer Corporation.
Action taken
Fiegehen and Lehr bought Ormsby House for $3.75 million and assumed responsibility for its redevelopment.
Aftermath
The new owners closed the operating hotel-casino in 2000 and pursued a much larger renovation that never reached a completed reopening.
Purchase price. $3.75 million (1999 acquisition)
Sources1 sources
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